Health Info & Services

• What is medication abortion?
• How effective is medication abortion?
• Deciding if Medication Abortion Right for You
• Before the Medication Abortion
• Beginning the Medication Abortion
• How long does it take?
• What does it feel like?
• What are the risks of Medication Abortion
• After the Abortion
• Why Some Women Prefer Medication Abortion
• When Medication Abortion is Not Recommended
• You may not be able to have a Medication Abortion if you:

• some blood taken from your finger or arm to see if you are anemic (have a "low blood count"), and to see if you are Rh negative. If you are Rh negative, you will get a shot of immune globulin;
• a vaginal ultrasound (a small wand is placed in the vagina to "see through the tissues" to tell how long you have been pregnant). Vaginal ultrasound works with sound waves so there is no radiation. You may need additional ultrasound examinations at Planned Parenthood or elsewhere
• a pelvic examination. You may also have testing for sexually transmitted infections, if needed. Vaginal infections will be treated if present.

The process of medication abortion begins immediately after taking mifepristone.  Some women may begin spotting before taking the misoprostol.  For most, the bleeding and cramping associated with medication abortion begin after taking the misoprostol.

More than 50 percent of women who use mifepristone abort within four to five hours after taking misoprostol.  Heavy bleeding may continue for about 13 days.  Spotting can last for a few weeks.  About 92 percent of mifepristone abortions are completed within a week.

• feel strong cramps
• feel nauseous or vomit
• have diarrhea
• feel temporary abdominal pain
• see large blood clots or tissue at the time of the abortion
• have some bleeding or spotting for 9-16 days

Acetaminophen or non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as ibuprofen can reduce most of these symptoms. If needed, a stronger medication may be ordered.

• incomplete abortion – your clinician will help you decide whether to
• Wait two-to-six weeks and check again
• Take more misoprostol
• Have a vacuum aspiration
• Allergic reaction
• Infection
• Very heavy bleeding
• Undetected ectopic pregnancy
• In extremely rare cases death is possible from very serious complications

Contact your clinician right away if at any time you

• Have a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher that lasts for more than four hours
• Have heavy vaginal bleeding and are soaking through more than two maxi pads an hour, for two hours or more in a row
• Have clots for two hours or more that are larger than a lemon
• Bleed heavily for more than 12 hours in a row
• Throw up for more than four to six hours and are not able to keep anything down
• Have abdominal pain or discomfort not helped by medication, rest, hot water bottle, or heating pad

You should start to feel better each day after the abortion.   Feeling sick including weakness, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, vomiting, or diarrhea more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol could be a sign of serious infection.  Contact your clinician right away if you have any of these symptoms.  Do not wait for your follow-up appointment.

You may need another visit with your provider.  Rarely, women need vacuum aspiration or hospitalization.  Take your medication guide with you if you need to visit a clinician who did not give you the medicine.

• wait 2-6 weeks and see if the tissue is expelled
• take more misoprostol
• need a surgical abortion

After you take the medicine and before your follow-up exam:

• Do not take aspirin
• Do not drink alcohol
• Do not take anti-coagulant (anti-clotting) drugs

• No anesthesia or surgery
• Can be done early
• They may feel they have more control
• They may feel it is less invasive
• They may feel it is more "natural"
• They may feel it is more like miscarriage
• They have more privacy
• They may have the abortion at home
• There is decreased risk of damage to the uterus

Abortions are safest early in pregnancy. Ninety-seven percent of women in clinical trials would recommend medication abortion to a friend.

• Are more than 56 days pregnant
• Take anti-clotting medication or have blood-clotting disorders
• Have severe heart, liver, or active inflammatory bowel disease
• Have certain severe kidney or adrenal gland problems
• Take any medicine that should not be combined with mifepristone or misoprostol or are allergic to these medications
• Cannot return for follow-up visits
• Would not have a surgical abortion if medication abortion fails
• Have a pregnancy outside the uterus (entopic pregnancy)
• Have a known or suspected molar pregnancy

• Are 35 or older and smoke 10 or more cigarettes a day
• Are breastfeeding
• Have chronic heart, liver, reparatory, or kidney disease
• Have a condition that would prevent you from having a vacuum aspiration abortion, such as large uterine fibroids
• Have severe anemia
• Have uncontrolled high blood pressure
• have uncontrolled inflammatory bowel disease