Choosing to have an abortion with pills is often prefaced by extensive research on the subject, both official and unofficial. Some women may ask their friends or family about their abortion experiences, some will consult their health care providers, but the majority will take their queries online. But buyer beware; while the internet offers us access to vast amounts of information, not all of it is accurate, reliable or safe. It’s imperative to keep in mind the possible risks and side-effects of abortion pills.
We’re here to help you safely navigate these chasms of misinformation by sharing the most common question (and accurate response) young women have when researching an abortion with pills.
So here it is:
What are the risks and side effects of having an abortion with pills?
An abortion with pills is an extremely safe, non-invasive option especially when performed within the first 11 weeks of the pregnancy. The two most commonly used abortion pills are Misoprostol and Mifepristone. To learn more about how to use each pill, visit our instructional page.
Serious complications are extremely rare (3/100 women), but the most common ones are a failed or incomplete abortion, heavy bleeding (occurs in less than 1% of abortion with pills) and a high fever.
It’s important to note that there is a difference between a risk and a side effect. A risk is an unintended outcome arising from the use of a drug, while side effects may be beneficial or undesirable outcomes of using a drug.
An abortion with pills is similar to having a miscarriage and as such the most common side effects are bleeding and cramping. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Remember how we mentioned that not all information shared online (and also via social media) is accurate and reliable? Well here are some common myths and misconceptions about abortion pills.
The pills are complicated to use. Abortion pills are actually very simple, safe and easy to use.
Abortion pills are dangerous. Less than % of abortions with pills result in any major complications. So, rest assured that it’s a safe process.
An abortion with pills is extremely painful. It is always advisable to take pain medications alongside abortion pills to manage pains from cramps, just like you would when on your period.
Abortion pills are not safe for teenagers. Any woman of reproductive age can use abortion pills safely as long as they are used correctly and based on her gestation.
Abortion pills can only be administered by a doctor. In most countries, abortion pills (Misoprostol and Mifepristone) can be purchased directly from pharmacies and safely self-administered at home for women 11 weeks and below.
And there you have it! When deciding to have an abortion with pills and the internet is your go-to resource, please ensure to only visit trusted sites such as ours or those of our partners: safe2choose.org, womenonweb.org and womenhelpwomen.org.
We would like to leave you with a final thought: You can get pregnant again very soon after having an abortion with pills. It’s advisable to always use a contraceptive method to prevent any unwanted pregnancies. For more information on finding the right method for you, visit our friends at Findmymethod.org.
To learn more about the abortion pills and how to safely use them, visit our website https://www.howtouseabortionpill.org/