At-Home Abortion
ARE YOU CONSIDERING AN AT-HOME ABORTION?
If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering at-home abortion, you may be looking for more information on buying abortion pills online or self-induced abortion methods. Call 866-406-9327.
FREE ULTRASOUND EXAM
Our pregnancy centers provide free ultrasound exams to confirm pregnancy. By getting an ultrasound you can learn more about your pregnancy and find out the answers to the important questions listed above. If you aren’t pregnant, or if it’s not viable, you can avoid the expense and potential risks of an abortion procedure. If you’re further along, you will find out if you are even eligible for the pill abortion. We realize this is time sensitive, call 866-406-9327 and get connected to free ultrasound services near you.
Before Taking the Abortion Pill
It’s very important to know how far along you are before starting an abortion procedure. And, if you’re considering mail order abortion pills, make sure you understand what it entails, side effects, possible risks, complications and alternatives. Call 866-406-9327, one of our coaches stands by, ready to help.
Knowing the answers to these questions is critical for your health and safety. It is so important to find out what is going on inside your own body.
What is an “at home” or “self-managed” or DIY abortion?
You may be wondering about the different phrases being used to talk about having an abortion. Depending upon your state, FDA approved medication abortion may be available through a U.S. based clinic, or not at all. In states where abortion is permitted, clinics may prescribe abortion drugs without ever meeting the woman and may not even offer an office visit, instead referring women to their local hospital should they have complications. In a real sense, this is a form of “at home” abortion. You are at home when you take the pills, without any direct medical supervision.
Another version of the self-managed abortion is through online organizations who advertise alternative ways to access abortion pills, refering women to overseas pharmacies, even in states where abortion is not legal. It can be very risky to obtain abortive drugs from these pharmacies. These pharmacies are not regulated by the U.S.; there is no way to be certain if the drugs are legitimate, or if they are expired, contaminated, or contain impurities. The FDA strongly cautions people against buying drugs from certain Internet pharmacies and specifically warns people not to buy Mifeprex, or the generic version (mifepristone) on the Internet because it by-passes safeguards.1,2
Some women seek out a do-it-yourself abortion, using over-the-counter drugs, herbs, and other potentially dangerous methods to terminate their pregnancies.3
The bottom line about all these methods is that it is unsafe to go through a medical procedure that carries significant risks (hemorrhage, infection, incomplete abortion) without the direct supervision of a licensed medical professional.
Call 866-406-9327 to learn more about at-home abortion and your options.
Am I eligible?
It is vital that you see a medical professional who can provide a medical assessment to see if you are eligible for taking the abortion pill.4 Standard medical care includes a visit to a healthcare professional who will take your medical history, perform a physical exam, do an ultrasound exam and obtain blood to check your blood type, Rh factor and check for anemia. There is no substitute for a face-to-face visit when it comes to your health and well-being.
Women with any of the following should not take the abortion pill (mifepristone plus misoprostol)5,6,7
- If you currently have an intrauterine device (IUD) in your uterus.
- If there is a concern that the pregnancy is outside of the uterus. This is called ectopic pregnancy and can be life-threatening. Learn about the risk factors and signs of an ectopic pregnancy.8
- If your pregnancy is past 10 weeks. The FDA has only approved the abortion pill for up to 10 weeks from the LMP. Taking the abortion pill later in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of complications, such as an incomplete abortion or severe bleeding. When this happens, more abortive pills or surgery may be necessary to complete the procedure or stop the bleeding.
- If you have certain medical problems including: bleeding disorders, severe liver or kidney disease, known cardiac disease, or an uncontrolled seizure disorder.
- If you take certain medications including blood thinners or steroids.
- If you are allergic to the medicines used.
Am I actually pregnant?
A positive pregnancy test means there is pregnancy hormone in your body, but it can’t determine if the pregnancy is growing, or if it’s in the right place. It’s important to confirm your pregnancy with an ultrasound before considering an any abortion method.
Could it be a miscarriage?
About 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. But the actual number is likely higher because many miscarriages occur very early in pregnancy.10 Natural miscarriages frequently end on their own without any medical intervention.11 Find out for sure before going through a costly procedure. Get an ultrasound exam.
Is the pregnancy in the right place?
About 2% of pregnancies lodge outside the uterus (ectopic) and can cause life-threatening complications if not diagnosed early.12,13 It’s important to confirm your pregnancy with an ultrasound before considering any abortion method.
How far along am I?
Relying on your LMP to date your pregnancy can be unreliable.14 Without an ultrasound, this will remain a question mark and can put you at risk for serious complications. The FDA has only approved the abortion pill for up to 10 weeks from the LMP. Taking the abortion pill later in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of complications, such as an incomplete abortion and/or severe bleeding. When this happens, surgery may be necessary to complete the procedure or stop the bleeding.15
What do I know about the abortion pill?
Medication abortion (also called the abortion pill, mifepristone, Mifeprex plus misoprostol) is FDA approved for up to 70 days (10 weeks pregnant) after the start of your last menstrual period.16 Here are 5 things you need to know about the abortion pill.
References
1. fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/how-buy-medicines-safely-online-pharmacy
2. fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/mifeprex-mifepristone-information
3. N Engl J Med 2020; 382:1029-1040
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1908412 nejm.org
4. mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
5. pdr.net/drug-summary/Cytotec-misoprostol-1044.430#11
6. pdr.net/drug-summary/Korlym-mifepristone-2928#11
7. mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
8. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ectopicpregnancy/symptoms-causes/syc-20372088
9. Mentula MJ, Niinimäki M, Suhonen S, Hemminki E, Gissler M, Heikinheimo O. Immediate adverse events after second trimester medical termination of pregnancy: results of a nationwide registry study. Hum Reprod. 2011 Apr;26(4):927-32. doi: 10. 93/humrep/der016. Epub 2011 Feb 11. PMID: 21317416.
10. mayoclinic.org
11. Dugas C, Slane VH. Miscarriage. [Updated 2022 Jun 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532992
12. Hendriks E, Rosenberg R, Prine L. Ectopic Pregnancy: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2020 May 15;101(10):599-606. PMID: 32412215.
13. mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372093
14. Savitz DA, Terry JW Jr, Dole N, Thorp JM Jr, Siega-Riz AM, Herring AH. Comparison of pregnancy dating by last menstrual period, ultrasound scanning, and their combination. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002 Dec;187(6):1660-6. doi: 10.1067/mob.2002.127601. PMID: 12501080.
15. Mentula MJ, Niinimäki M, Suhonen S, Hemminki E, Gissler M, Heikinheimo O. Immediate adverse events after second trimester medical termination of pregnancy: results of a nationwide registry study. Hum Reprod. 2011 Apr;26(4):927-32. doi: 10.1093/humrep/der016. Epub 2011 Feb 11. PMID: 21317416.
16. fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/mifeprex-mifepristone-information
Call 866-406-9327 and get help now.
Call 866-406-9327 to learn more about at-home abortion and your options.
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.