How safe is the abortion pill?

Medication abortion is very safe. Serious problems are rare, but like all medical procedures, there can be some risks.

Risks of taking the abortion pill

Medication abortion has been used safely in the U.S. for more than 15 years. Serious complications are really rare but can happen. These include:

• the abortion pills don’t work and the pregnancy doesn’t end
• some of the pregnancy tissue is left in your uterus
• blood clots in your uterus
• bleeding too much or too long
• infection
• allergic reaction to one of the medicines

These problems aren’t common. And if they do happen, they’re usually easy to take care of with medication or other treatments.

In extremely rare cases, some complications can be very serious or even life-threatening. Call your doctor or health center right away if you:

• have no bleeding within 24 hours after taking the second medicine (misoprostol)
• have heavy bleeding from your vagina that soaks through more than 2 maxi pads in an hour, for 2 or more hours in a row
• pass large clots (bigger than a lemon) for more than 2 hours
• have belly pain or cramps that don’t get better with pain medication
• have a fever of 100.4 or higher more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol
• have weakness, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol

You should start to feel better the day after your abortion. Feeling sick with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, belly pain, or fever for more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol (the second set of pills) can be a sign of infection. Call your doctor or nurse right away if you have any of those symptoms. Serious problems can cause death in the rarest cases, but abortion is typically very safe. In fact, pregnancy and childbirth are riskier than most abortions.

If you have complications during your medication abortion, you may have to go back to the doctor’s office or health center. In the unlikely event that you are still pregnant, your doctor or nurse will discuss your options with you. You may need another dose of medication or to have an in-clinic abortion to end the pregnancy.

Like all medications, the abortion pill isn’t right for everyone. The abortion pill may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or take certain medications. Your doctor or nurse will talk with you and help you decide if the abortion pill is the right option for you.