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Can You Buy Abortion Pills Over the Counter?

Dec 7, 2024 | Abortion Pill

Woman thinking "Can You Buy Abortion Pills Over the Counter?"

Can You Buy Abortion Pills Over the Counter?

If pregnancy wasn’t a part of your plan, you may be looking for a private and easy way to end it. You may be wondering if you can pick up abortion pills over the counter at your local pharmacy.

In today’s blog, we’ll discuss whether you can get abortion pills over the counter and what you need to know before moving forward. Keep reading to learn more.

Are Abortion Pills Available Over the Counter?

Over the counter medications do not require a prescription and can be used by individuals without the involvement of a healthcare provider.1 However, abortion pills do require a prescription and oversight by a healthcare provider, so abortion pills are not available over the counter.

Per the FDA, mifepristone and misoprostol (the two pills used in the abortion pill protocol) must be prescribed by a certified healthcare provider.2 Only a pharmacy that is specifically certified to dispense the abortion pill drugs is permitted to do so.

The FDA cautions against using abortion pills purchased online from overseas unregulated pharmacies. These drugs haven’t been reviewed for safety or effectiveness meaning you have no way of knowing what you’re getting and they could be dangerous to your health.3

What Pharmacy Provides Abortion Pills Over the Counter?

As of 2024, only certified pharmacies provide abortion pills to women who have a prescription from a qualified physician. No pharmacy will provide the abortion pill over the counter.

What You Need to Know Before Taking the Abortion Pill

These are a few things you’ll want to know before you search for the abortion pill:

  1. Estimated Gestational Age. Gestational age (how far along you are in pregnancy) can be estimated based on a woman’s last menstrual period, but this can be inaccurate. An ultrasound is a good way to determine a reliable gestational age.4
  2. Location of the Pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy develops outside of the uterus and can be life-threatening if not properly treated. So, before taking abortion pills, it is recommended that a woman receive an ultrasound first to confirm the presence of a pregnancy inside the uterus.
  3. Viability of Pregnancy. Almost 10-20% of known pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and almost 80% of those occur within the first three months of pregnancy.5

You should not take the abortion pill if6:

  • You’re more than ten weeks pregnant.
  • You have an IUD (Intrauterine Device).
  • You have a clotting disorder or some other medical condition. Speak with a healthcare professional before an abortion.
  • Don’t have access to emergency care. In the case that you experience complications after a medical abortion, you should have access to emergency care.

Call Pregnancy Decision Line today for a free appointment at 866-799-1726.

Get the Facts on the Abortion Pill at Pregnancy Decision Line

Making a decision about an unplanned pregnancy can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Pregnancy Decision Line is here to help! We can connect you with a local pregnancy center that provides free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and abortion information, so you can make the best decision for your health and future.

REFERENCES
  1. Q&A On OTC. FDA. (2022, November). https://www.fda.gov/drugs/cder-small-business-industry-assistance-sbia/small-business-assistance-frequently-asked-questions-regulatory-process-over-counter-otc-drugs
  2. Food and Drug Administration. (2023, March 23). Mifeprex (mifepristone) information. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information-about-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation 
  3. Questions and Answers on Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation. FDA. (2023, January). https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation?sm_guid=NTU1NzgyfDYzMDE1OTM2fC0xfGppbUBha2ZhbWlseS5vcmd8NTY4OTI4MXx8MHwwfDE5OTYwMDk4OHwxMDg2fDB8MHx8NTQ3NzI2fDA1  
  4. Ultrasound in Pregnancy. Cleveland Clinic. (2022). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/9704-ultrasound-in-pregnancy
  5. Miscarriage. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2023, September 8). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/symptoms-causes/syc-20354298 
  6. See source #2.

Call 866-406-9327 and get help now.

All of our services are 100% free and confidential. We exist to provide accurate medical information and support to women and men facing an unplanned pregnancy. Our pregnancy centers do not offer or refer for pregnancy terminations or birth control. Information is provided as an educational service and should not be relied on as a substitute for professional and/or medical advice.

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