While you may know that a medical abortion is an option to terminate an early pregnancy, there are important risks, side effects, and essential screenings you should know about before you make a final decision.

At Lakes Life Center, we offer free consultations in which you can discuss and ask questions in a non-judgmental, confidential setting.

How Does the Abortion Pill Work?

A medical abortion is a two-drug regimen that requires mifepristone and misoprostol.

The first pill, mifepristone, blocks progesterone from reaching the pregnancy. If progesterone is not received, the uterine lining will break down, and the pregnancy will eventually end.

Between 24-48 hours later, the second drug, misoprostol, is taken to induce uterine cramping to expel the fetus and pregnancy tissues.

What Are the Risks?

Typical side effects of medical abortion can include cramping and vaginal bleeding. A few other risks to be aware of include:

  • Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
  • An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
  • Heavy and prolonged bleeding
  • Infection
  • Fever
  • Digestive system discomfort

Abortion can also potentially impact your mental health. According to the National Library of Medicine, “Both sides agree that… abortion is consistently associated with elevated rates of mental illness compared to women without a history of abortion.”

What Should I Do Before Seeking The Abortion Pill?

An ultrasound can provide critical information about a pregnancy, such as screening for ectopic pregnancies that require surgical intervention instead of abortion.

  • Screening for ectopic pregnancies: Ultrasounds can detect pregnancies growing outside the uterus. This condition can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
  • Determining gestational age: Ultrasounds establish how many weeks the pregnancy has progressed. This is valuable information to have because medical abortion is only FDA-approved through 10 weeks.
  • Confirming miscarriage: If a miscarriage has already occurred, an ultrasound can verify this, indicating that an abortion is no longer necessary. Miscarriages are quite common and can happen to up to 26% of pregnancies.

How Can Lake Life Center Help Me?

We offer no-cost pregnancy services, including pregnancy testing and on-site ultrasounds, to help you get the information you need to make a confident decision. You deserve to feel informed and supported on this journey. Contact us to make an appointment!