How the Medical Abortion Pills Work
Mifepristone stops the pregnancy from continuing to grow, and helps to open the cervix (entrance to the uterus). Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract, which will eventually push out the pregnancy.
Once the misoprostol is absorbed into the body, cramping and bleeding will start. This usually begins within 1 to 2 hours of the first set of pills. The abortion usually happens within 24 hours of taking the last pills of misoprostol. Often, it happens before that.
Concerned After Taking Abortion Pills?
Below are a few ways to recognize if the abortion was successful:
- You may identify the pregnancy tissue when it passes. It can look like dark colored blood clots with thin membranes, or a small sac surrounded by a white, fluffy layer. Depending on the age of the pregnancy, it can be smaller than your fingernail, or up to the size of your thumb.
- Bleeding during the abortion process is often similar to a menstrual cycle, or may be more.
- Your pregnancy symptoms will improve. Things like breast pain, nausea, and fatigue should start to get better.
References:
- “Induced Abortion.” American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists.
https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Induced-Abortion - “Care for Women Choosing Medication Abortion.” The Nurse Practitioner.
https://journals.lww.com/tnpj/Citation/2004/10000/Care_for_Women_Choosing_Medication_Abortion.9.aspx - “Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems.”The World Health Organization.
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/70914/?sequence=1