If you are considering the abortion pill, understanding what it actually involves and what can go wrong is one of the most important steps you can take before making any decision.
The abortion pill is a two-drug regimen, mifepristone followed by misoprostol, that is FDA-approved through 10 weeks of gestation. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, stopping the pregnancy’s development. Misoprostol, taken one to two days later, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through cramping and vaginal bleeding.
The Acadiana Pregnancy Center & Clinic offers free, confidential pregnancy testing, ultrasounds following a positive test, and options counseling so you can get the full picture before making any decision.
Make an appointment today or call (337) 232-5509.
Risks Associated With the Abortion Pill
Even when taken as directed, the abortion pill carries risks every woman should know before proceeding. Risks include:
- An incomplete abortion occurs when the uterus does not fully expel the pregnancy and requires additional treatment
- Infection, which can develop following an incomplete abortion
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding
- Gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Fever, which can signal the presence of an infection
- A continuing pregnancy if the drugs fail to work as intended
Risks That a Pre-Abortion Screening Can Help Prevent
Several serious complications can be avoided entirely with a pregnancy test and an ultrasound beforehand. Without a screening appointment, a woman may unknowingly put herself at greater risk in the following ways:
Taking the abortion pill beyond 10 weeks of gestation increases the likelihood of heavier bleeding and reduces the effectiveness of the drugs. An ultrasound is the only reliable way to confirm gestational age accurately.
An undetected ectopic pregnancy, one in which the pregnancy has implanted outside the uterus, is a life-threatening condition that the abortion pill cannot treat. Proceeding without confirming the pregnancy’s location places a woman’s life at serious risk.
An undetected STD or STI at the time of the abortion increases the risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious infection of the reproductive organs.
A pregnancy that has already ended in miscarriage means a woman would be taking powerful drugs with no clinical reason to do so.
Certain medications, including blood thinners and steroids, can make the process significantly more dangerous.
How the Acadiana Pregnancy Center & Clinic Can Help
Before making any pregnancy decision, a screening appointment can protect your health and help you avoid the preventable risks outlined above. The Acadiana Pregnancy Center & Clinic is here to walk alongside you every step of the way.
Referrals for additional services are also available.
Contact us to schedule your free, confidential appointment today. Walk-ins are welcome.
The Acadiana Pregnancy Center & Clinic does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
