The Abortion Pill: What You Should Know

Learning you’re pregnant can feel overwhelming, especially if it wasn’t planned. In moments like this, it’s important to have clear, trustworthy information about your options. An option often discussed is the abortion pill, also referred to as a medication abortion. This process involves two medications taken in sequence: mifepristone first, then misoprostol. Each month, thousands of women across the U.S. use this method, even in states where abortion access is limited (1).

But taking the abortion pill without medical care can bring risks for both your physical health and your emotional well-being.

Physical Risks and Complications

Bleeding, Incomplete Abortion, Infection

Bleeding is expected after taking misoprostol, but if you’re soaking more than two pads an hour, passing large clots, or feeling faint, you may need emergency care. Sometimes the process is incomplete, leaving tissue behind that can lead to infection and may require surgery.

Ectopic Pregnancy

If the pregnancy is located outside the uterus, the abortion pill will not work. Ectopic pregnancy is dangerous and can become life-threatening. The only way to rule it out is with an ultrasound.

Abortion Pill Side Effects

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and chills are common side effects. While some organizations describe the abortion pill as similar to period cramps, many women have reported severe pain lasting for hours (2). Without medical support, it can be difficult to know whether symptoms are normal or signs of a serious complication. Research confirms that medical abortion carries real risks when done without medical supervision (3).

Emotional and Mental Health Effects

Abortion affects more than just your body — it can impact your emotions and mental health, too.

Many women report feelings of fear, regret, sadness, or anxiety afterward, especially if they face the experience alone. For those who already live with depression, anxiety, or past trauma, the abortion pill without counseling or support can make these struggles worse.

A 2023 study found that more than 60% of women who had abortions felt pressured into the decision, and many reported lasting negative effects on their mental health, including grief, loss, and disruptions to daily life (4).

Feeling isolated can make it even harder to cope. Without someone to check in or offer support, it’s easy to feel unsafe and overwhelmed.

Why Medical Support Matters

Ordering abortion pills online, through telehealth from another state, or obtaining them by other means often leaves women without follow-up care. Without medical oversight, complications may go unnoticed until they become dangerous.

An ultrasound can help confirm how far along you are, detect ectopic pregnancy, and protect your health.

Steps You Can Take

• Confirm your pregnancy. A free pregnancy test and ultrasound give you a clearer picture of what’s happening.

• Talk it over. Options counseling allows you to explore every possibility in a confidential setting.

• Reach out. Call or text the ICU mobile clinic at 659-228-2630 for free and confidential support.

• If you’ve already taken the first abortion pill and regret it, call the Abortion Pill Reversal hotline right away at 1-877-558-0333. Acting quickly is important.

FAQ

Q: How does the abortion pill work?

It begins with mifepristone, followed by misoprostol. This causes cramping and bleeding to end the pregnancy.

Q: Can the abortion pill affect future fertility?

Yes, if complications like infection or untreated heavy bleeding occur, they can impact fertility.

Q: How long do side effects last?

Most side effects — like bleeding, cramps, or nausea — improve within a few days to a couple of weeks. Heavy or prolonged bleeding may require medical care.

Q: What is an ectopic pregnancy?

It’s when the pregnancy develops outside the uterus. The abortion pill does not treat this condition, and without treatment it can be life-threatening.

Q: Why should I get an ultrasound first?

An ultrasound confirms how far along you are and checks for ectopic pregnancy, which the pill cannot treat.

Q: What if I regret starting the abortion pill?

The Abortion Pill Reversal hotline (1-877-558-0333) is available 24/7. Progesterone treatment may be an option, but time is critical.

Final Thoughts

You deserve to feel informed and supported. The abortion pill can carry both physical and emotional risks, especially without medical care.

If you’d like to learn more about your options or schedule a free ultrasound, call or text the ICU mobile clinic at 659-228-2630.

If you’ve already taken the first dose and regret it, call 1-877-558-0333 right away.

You don’t have to go through this alone.

Sources

1. Ungar, L., & Mulvihill, G. (2024, May 14). 8,000 women a month got abortion pills despite their states’ bans or restrictions, survey finds. Associated Press. PBS NewsHour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/8000-women-a-month-got-abortion-pills-despite-their-states-bans-or-restrictions-survey-finds

2. LiveAction. The Truth About RU-486. (2013, Feb 23). LiveAction. https://www.liveaction.org/news/the-truth-about-ru-486/

3. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Medical abortion. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21899-medical-abortion

4. Reardon, D. C. (2023, May 30). Whose choice? Pressure to abort linked to worsening of subsequent mental health. Charlotte Lozier Institute. https://lozierinstitute.org/whose-choice-pressure-to-abort-linked-to-worsening-of-subsequent-mental-health/