What New Research Reveals About Abortion Pill Complications

As we navigate the complexities of reproductive health in 2025, it’s more important than ever to approach sensitive topics with both clarity and care. At Pregnancy Decision Line, we are committed to supporting women through every step of their journey, offering compassionate guidance, accurate information, and a safe space for exploration.

For years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has described the abortion pill as safe and effective, with serious complications occurring in less than 0.5% of cases based on clinical trials. However, new research from 2025 indicates that the risks and complications are much more common.

This article dives into these findings, highlighting the complications associated with the abortion pill and the vital role of confirmatory ultrasounds in protecting women’s health. Keep reading to learn more.

Key Findings from the 2025 EPPC Study

A study released in April 2025 by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) analyzed insurance claims from women who took the abortion pill. This research, which examined over 865,000 cases, suggests that the abortion pill is not as safe as previously portrayed, with one in ten women experiencing serious adverse events.

Here are the study’s most striking insights¹:

• Core Statistic: 10.93% of women who took mifepristone faced severe or life-threatening complications within 45 days of the procedure—at least 22 times higher than “less than 0.5%” reported by the FDA.

• Types of Complications: Complications included sepsis, infection, and hemorrhaging, which can all be life-threatening. Each requires immediate medical care in order to treat.

• Human Impact: These aren’t abstract statistics; they represent real women enduring physical and emotional pain as well as unexpected medical bills.

Why the Discrepancy in Safety Data?

The current FDA-approved drug label refers to the results of 10 clinical trials with a total of 30,966 participants. In those trials, less than 0.5% of participants experienced serious adverse reactions. However, it is based on data from trials that took place more than 10 years ago.²

Additionally, the FDA conducted its trials in controlled environments, which did not account for real-world variables. Key differences between clinical trials and real-world data include:

• Studies included in original FDA approval of mifepristone: These clinical trials included women who were seen by a physician in the office, evaluated, had their pregnancies confirmed, were no further than seven weeks from their last menstrual period, took the first pill under direct observation, returned one to two days later to be given the second drug and returned two weeks later for an evaluation to see if the abortion was complete and check for complications.

• The EPPC study: Represents real-world findings of every day women who were not enrolled in a research study with a very controlled environment. The circumstances and method of taking the abortion drugs have changed dramatically since the original approval in 2000. The 2016 FDA approved protocol allowed for abortions up to 10 weeks, only requiring one visit to the doctor. Then, in 2023, the FDA further relaxed the protocol eliminating any in person visit, allowing for telemed appointments, prescriptions through pharmacies and the mail, and removed the requirement to see a physician. The study findings clearly reflect the subsequent fallout and increased incidence of serious complications.

Serious Abortion Pill Complications

The study only looked at serious adverse events and found an increased risk of³:

• Hemorrhaging: Prolonged, heavy bleeding that may require blood transfusions or emergency surgery to treat.⁴

• Sepsis: A widespread infection affecting multiple organ systems, can be caused by an incomplete abortion. Sepsis can cause organ failure, tissue damage, and even death if untreated.⁵

• Emergency Interventions: Increased ER visits, hospitalizations, and surgical procedures to treat hemorrhaging and sepsis.

The abortion pill involves more than just cramps and discomfort. It can lead to serious, life-threatening complications that can have lasting impacts on women’s health.

What are the Emotional Side Effects of the Abortion Pill?

While everyone feels different after an abortion, some studies say abortion might lead to mental health challenges for some women, like making existing problems worse or causing new ones.⁶

Here are some possible mental health effects of abortion:^7,8

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Substance abuse
• Suicidal behaviors
• Symptoms like post-traumatic stress

Why You Need an Ultrasound Before an Abortion

The original FDA guidelines from 2000 mandated in-person visits and pregnancy confirmation, but they eventually removed these mandates. With telehealth expansions, many women now proceed without an ultrasound, increasing the risk of serious complications.

An ultrasound isn’t just a routine step, it’s a safeguard to protect your health. It determines three key factors about your pregnancy: location, viability and gestational age.

Location

An ultrasound can identify the presence of a pregnancy inside the uterus. If this is not seen, it may be that it’s too early to identify, or, it could mean that there is a pregnancy outside of the uterus. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy and can cause life-threatening complications if not identified early. The abortion pill drugs are not effective in this circumstance.

Viability

A pregnancy is considered viable if the embryo has a detectable heart beat. During an ultrasound, technicians check for evidence of cardiac activity, which typically appears around 6 weeks from a woman’s last menstrual period.⁹

Having an ultrasound before abortion can identify if there is a nonviable embryo–meaning that the pregnancy is destined to end naturally on its own. In this case, medical care is required, but not abortion since that is only done on live pregnancies.

Gestational Age

Gestational age refers to how far along you are in your pregnancy, measured from the first day of your last menstrual period.

Knowing your gestational age is crucial because the abortion pill (mifepristone) is only FDA-approved for use up to 10 weeks of gestation.¹⁰

Pregnancy Decision Line can connect you with a local pregnancy center that provides free ultrasounds. Give us a call at 866-406-9327 to get started.

Get the Facts on the Abortion Pill at Pregnancy Decision Line

At Pregnancy Decision Line, we believe that you deserve to know all the facts about the abortion pill, including the risks and complications. When you have the facts, you can make informed, empowered decisions.

Pregnancy Decision Line can connect you with a local pregnancy center that provides free ultrasounds, accurate information, emotional support, and practical assistance to help you navigate unplanned pregnancy.

Ready to take the next step? Give us a call at 866-406-9327 to get started.

Please be aware that Pregnancy Decision Line does not provide or refer for abortion services.