While skipping the abortion clinic and ordering online may look like an easy, stress-free, safe option, we’re here to help you understand the risks involved, what not to do, the information you need to know ahead of time, and what to do if things go wrong at home.
Your best first step is to confirm a viable intrauterine pregnancy and rule out an ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threatening. An ultrasound can also tell you how far along you are. This information can determine the number of pills or if you qualify.
Book a cost-free consultation and ultrasound appointment. No insurance is required and same-day appointments are often available.
Is it safe to order abortion pills by mail?
The abortion pill comes with a black box label, which is the highest level of caution assigned by the FDA. Taking the abortion pill without seeing a doctor or having an ultrasound is never recommended. The side effects range from unpleasant (cramping, bleeding, nausea, headache, fever) to life-threatening (sepsis, rupturing of the uterus, undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, and more). Due to lack of regulations and unsafe medications, the FDA also issued a warning not to order pills by mail.
Elevation Women’s Healthcare puts you and your safety first and we’d never recommend an unsafe option. While Elevation Women’s Healthcare does not refer for or provide abortion services, we can give you the answers you need to make an informed choice.
What happens during an at-home abortion?
The first pill, mifepristone, is taken by mouth and works by blocking the action of the hormone (progesterone) that supports a developing pregnancy.* Mifepristone cuts off the nutrients to the fetus. The second drug, misoprostol, causes your cervix to soften and begins the labor process, causing the uterus to contract hard enough to expel the fetus.
After both drugs have been taken you can expect the following to occur:
- Bleeding and cramping that starts between one and four hours after taking the second pill.
- Heavy bleeding with blood clots for the next several hours.
- Heavy cramping for several hours.
A low fever or chills that last about a day after taking the second pill.
Nausea and dizziness
Other side effects and risks of a chemical abortion are:
- Incomplete abortion
- Large, life-threatening blood clots or continuous bleeding
- High fever and infection
- Diarrhea and digestive pain
- Vomiting
- Ulcers
- Severe pelvic pain
- Sepsis
- Rupturing of the uterus
- Other allergic reaction to the drug(s)
If you have an incomplete abortion, large blood clots, a fever over 104 or allergic reactions to the medication, contact 911 immediately. In rare cases, it can be potentially fatal.
At Elevation Women’s Healthcare, we often hear from women who had an abortion at home. Some share how isolated and alone they felt. Others said they wish someone had been with them. They were scarred to be alone when the situation didn’t go as planned or needed medical help. No woman should ever this way. If you’ve already had an abortion and need to talk about your experience or have just started the at home process, please contact us.
What if I already ordered abortion pills online?
Ordering the abortion pill online is not considered safe. While it is possible, the restrictions and regulations that keep prescriptions safe are not guaranteed when purchasing over the internet.
However, if you’ve already ordered pills, Elevation Women’s Healthcare can still provide you with an ultrasound to confirm how far along you are. You can still talk about your options and make a decision without the long-term consequences to your health.
I only took the first pill; what are my options?
*It’s possible to continue your pregnancy if the first dose was taken and action is taken within 24-48 hours.
If you change your mind after taking the pill, contact the Abortion Pill Reversal network immediately. They will discreetly connect you with a network of doctors and health professionals that can start the reversal process.
Since the first drug cuts off progesterone to the fetus, a hormone needed for the fetus to live, the abortion pill reversal protocol gives women progesterone so the pregnancy can continue to develop.
How We Can Help
Elevation Women’s Healthare provides pregnancy testing and ultrasound confirmation to any woman considering abortion so that you can have the answers you need to make an informed choice. It’s also important to talk through your medical and health history so you can know if there are any conditions that would prevent you from taking the abortion pill.
At Elevation Women’s Healthcare, we care about your safety. Contact us to learn more about all of your pregnancy options.
References
Flanders, N. (2022). Five abortion pill dangers every woman should know. Live Action News. https://www.liveaction.org/news/abortion-pill-dangers-women/
Bowen, S. (2020). At-home abortions: A deadly trend. Pregnancy Help News. https://pregnancyhelpnews.com/at-home-abortions-a-deadly-trend
Research, C. F. D. E. A. (2023b). Information about Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation.
U.S. Food And Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/mifeprex-mifepristone-information
Novielli, C. (2022). Abortion industry promotes ‘missed period pills’ so women won’t know if they were pregnant.
Pregnancy Help News. https://pregnancyhelpnews.com/abortion-industry-promotes-missed-period-pills-so-women-won-t-know-if-they-were-pregnant
Boquet, S. J. (2022, May 6). At-Home abortions are not Pro-Woman | Human Life International. Human Life International. https://www.hli.org/2021/04/at-home-abortions-are-not-pro-woman/
Ertelt, S. (2018, July 23). Abortion pill injures more women than ever before, requiring hospitalizations or even blood transfusions -LifeNews.com. LifeNews.com. https://www.lifenews.com/2018/07/20/abortion-pill-injures-more-women-than-ever-before-requiring-hospitalizations-or-even-blood-transfusions/