What Is a Medical Abortion?

There are two main types of abortion: surgical and medical. An abortion that uses drugs to terminate a pregnancy is known as a medical abortion. This method also goes by different names, like the abortion pill, medication abortion, or chemical abortion.

How far along a woman is in her pregnancy usually determines the type of abortion procedure she has, making it critical to have an ultrasound.

The abortion pill (medical abortion) uses two drugs. The FDA highly regulates the first drug, mifepristone. Only certified healthcare providers can prescribe it. The FDA approves the use of mifepristone through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The farther along a pregnancy is, the less effective the drug becomes.

Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone. All pregnancies need progesterone to grow; without it, a pregnancy does not survive. The second drug, misoprostol, causes bleeding and contractions to remove the pregnancy and tissue from the body.

The Mayo Clinic lists the following as reasons why a medical abortion wouldn't be an option:

• The pregnancy is too far along.
• The woman has an IUD currently in place.
• The pregnancy has developed outside the uterus (an ectopic pregnancy).
• The woman has certain medical conditions or takes a blood thinner or certain steroid medicines.
• The woman can't reach a healthcare professional or doesn't have access to emergency care.
• The woman is allergic to mifepristone or misoprostol.

The Mayo Clinic lists the following as potential risks:

• If a woman's body does not release all the pregnancy tissue, she may have an incomplete abortion.
• An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn't work.
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding.
• Infection.
• Fever.
• Digestive symptoms such as an upset stomach.

Visiting a healthcare professional before a medical abortion is essential. At Choices Options for Women, we recommend that a woman take a pregnancy test. Our free and confidential tests are administered by our licensed registered nurse or clinical manager.

If the pregnancy test is positive, we provide a free and confidential ultrasound. A registered diagnostic medical sonographer performs all ultrasounds at 7-8 weeks of pregnancy, and an OB/GYN confirms the ultrasound report.

An ultrasound determines how far along the pregnancy is, its location, and if it is growing or if a miscarriage has occurred.

Please complete our online contact form to schedule your free and confidential appointment. You can also call or text (732) 516-0911.

Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we're here to answer your questions and give you the fact-based information you need. How can we help you today?

All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.