Since abortion is now illegal in Kentucky and many of the surrounding states, you may be considering the abortion pill for your unplanned pregnancy.
Ordering it online and picking it up in your mailbox seems simple enough—but is it safe?
To understand the risks, it is important to understand how the abortion pill works.
Your pregnancy needs the natural hormone progesterone to support the growth of the baby. The abortion pill series blocks progesterone, stopping blood and oxygen from reaching the womb and thus terminating the life of the baby.
The abortion pill, which can cost upwards of $800, is a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol taken over several days. After the pill goes into effect, your body will essentially go into labor and expel the contents of your uterus.
You may be able to order your own pills on the internet, but that doesn’t mean you should.
Medication needs a professional perspective since each body and circumstance is unique.
Ordering pills is not the same as ordering new jeans from Amazon. If new jeans don’t work right, you can return them. If the abortion pill doesn’t work right, you have jeopardized your health.
What if you are farther along in your pregnancy than you realized? What if the pills can’t be taken with a different medication you are on? What if you have an allergic reaction or other complication after taking the pills?
Unless you have been seen by a medical professional who has given you a prescription for a pill of this strength, you should not assume it is safe.
The abortion pill, mifepristone, is so strong that the FDA has placed a lot of qualifications around who can dispense it and when. Only certain healthcare providers can distribute the drug, and it can only be given within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
According to the FDA, “Mifeprex may only be dispensed in clinics, medical offices, and hospitals by or under the supervision of a certified healthcare provider.”
This is partially because if the pill is taken after 10 weeks, risks include failed abortion, infection, heavy blood loss, and cramping.
The FDA also explains that pills ordered from other sources besides healthcare providers might not be what they claim to be and thus unsafe. Pills sourced from third parties may include incorrect or contaminated ingredients, may be expired, or altogether fake.
“Mifeprex has special safety restrictions…drugs purchased from foreign Internet sources are not the FDA-approved versions of the drugs, and they are not subject to FDA-regulated manufacturing controls or FDA inspection of manufacturing facilities,” the FDA explains.
If you have already taken the pill and now are having second thoughts, it may not be too late to change your mind.
As many as 68 percent of women have found success with the abortion pill reversal.
If you are still within 24-72 hours of taking mifepristone and have not yet taken Misoprostol, you can get injected with the hormone progesterone to counteract the abortion pill.
Essentially, this will keep blood, oxygen and nutrients flowing into your uterus so the baby can continue to survive.
If you want to reverse your abortion pill, do not wait. Call this hotline 1-877-558-0333 at the Abortion Pill Reversal Network right away. They will locate a local doctor that can offer you the treatment immediately. Time is precious!
The more information you have, the more confident you can be about your decision. It never hurts to take the time to ask questions and to get a medical opinion about your health before taking any next steps.
One way to get more information is to get an ultrasound, which we offer free of charge at our clinic. An ultrasound will confirm how far along you are in your pregnancy and alert you to any potential pregnancy complications.
Our knowledgeable staff can also answer any questions you have about abortion and your other alternatives, like adoption or parenting. Whatever we discuss is 100 percent confidential and completely free.
Please contact us today to set up your ultrasound and learn more information for a confident decision about your pregnancy.