An online abortion, also known as at-home abortion, involves ordering the abortion drugs online and bypassing a clinic. This option isn’t safe and puts your health at risk.
In fact, the FDA advises against it because these drugs aren’t FDA-approved and fall outside the US supply chain. This means that the FDA can’t guarantee their safety, source, or efficacy.
While seeking abortion drugs online puts your safety at risk, even the abortion drugs you can find in a clinic or reputable pharmacy come with risks. This is why it’s critical to learn all you can about abortion drugs before making this decision.
This article will highlight the essentials you need to know about the abortion drugs.
The Abortion Drugs Come with Health Risks
The abortion drugs are powerful and come with risks to your health, which include:
- Incomplete abortion, which is when parts of the terminated pregnancy remain in your uterus
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive symptoms such as upset stomach
You May Not Be Eligible for the Abortion Drugs
Did you know that not every woman is eligible for abortion drugs? Certain situations or medical histories make you more likely to experience a risk.
If any of the following situations apply to you, you aren’t eligible for the abortion drugs:
- Are further than 10 weeks along in your pregnancy
- Have an intrauterine device (IUD) currently in place
- Have a suspected ectopic pregnancy
- Have certain medical conditions, including bleeding disorders, certain heart or blood vessel diseases, severe liver, kidney, or lung disease, or an uncontrolled seizure disorder
- Take a blood thinner or certain steroid medicines
- Can’t make follow-up visits to your provider or don’t have access to emergency care
- Have an allergy to the medicine use
Knowing Your Pregnancy Details Is Essential
You need to know your pregnancy details before seeking the abortion drugs—and the only reliable way to learn these details is through ultrasound.
Ultrasound is a scan that will help reveal your pregnancy’s:
- Viability: Roughly 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, and it’s possible to miscarry without immediate symptoms. If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, you will need medical follow-up to ensure you don’t have complications.
- Gestational age: This is crucial if you’re considering the abortion drugs, since they are only FDA-approved if your pregnancy is 10 weeks gestation or under.
- Pregnancy location: Rarely a pregnancy develops outside the uterus. This is a life-threatening situation called ectopic pregnancy, and it needs emergency medical intervention.
You’re Not Alone
At Woman to Woman Health Center, we understand that you’re likely feeling alone, uncertain, and filled with questions. We get it, and we’re here for you.
Before seeking abortion drugs, contact us to schedule your no-cost, confidential ultrasound, suggested medical pregnancy testing, and Options Consultation to get the information you need to stay safe and make an informed decision because you’re worth it.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.