The Abortion Pill

In a small percentage of cases, the medicine given for non-surgical abortion does not cause an abortion (a miscarriage). In these cases, the patient could require a surgical abortion procedure.

How it works

The pill only works if you take it correctly. If you do not take the pills as instructed, they will not work and may actually increase your risk of pregnancy. The pills should be taken at the same time every day for 21 consecutive days. If you do miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with the next tablet in your pack (i.e., don’t double up on tablets).

The first seven days are called “the first week” or “the period.” During this time, some women get spotting or bleeding because their uterus is getting ready to shed its lining. This is normal and nothing to worry about; in fact, even if you’re pregnant, this can happen during pregnancy too!

After taking all 21 pills (seven weeks), if no period has occurred within three months (84 days), then an additional seven-day course of pills needs to be started immediately–no waiting for another cycle! This second course of pills must be taken at exactly the same time every day for another 28-day cycle (14 days + 14 days).

Restrictions

If you’re looking for a method of birth control, the Pill is often one of the first options that come to mind. However, it’s not as easy to get as you might think.

The Pill is only available in certain states and countries. You can take a look at this map to see where you can purchase it if it’s legal in your state (remember: some states have restrictions on methods or ages). It’s also not available over-the-counter; you need a prescription from a doctor or health professional before getting your hands on any pills!

If you’re under 18 years old, remember that many states require an adult to give consent for minors who are seeking birth control—and some places won’t let someone younger than 17 use hormonal contraception at all. The same rules apply if your pregnancy isn’t due entirely to consensual sex with an adult partner (for example, if someone raped or sexually abused another person).

How you take it

The contraceptive pill is taken in two doses, once a day. It’s not a surgical procedure, and it’s not something you take to prevent pregnancy. Instead, it can be taken to treat some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Side effects

The side effects of the Pill are similar to those of a miscarriage. Some women have heavy bleeding and cramping. Others experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or a fever. Some women have headaches or sore throats after taking it.

The most common side effects include:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Dizziness (feeling faint)

These are usually mild and go away within a few hours to a few days as your body adjusts itself to the medication.

Stigma

Stigma is a major problem for those who need the abortion pill, and it can have serious consequences. Women might delay getting an abortion because of stigma or seek out illegal abortions instead. They may also be less likely to share their experiences with others, which means that there are fewer stories about how the abortion pill worked for them—and those stories may not get shared with providers or researchers who could learn from them.

Because of stigma, it’s hard to know what percentage of women who take mifepristone end up having successful medical abortions. One study has suggested that only about half do so within 6 hours; another found that more than 80 percent complete their medical termination within 9 weeks after taking mifepristone (though they only had data on 716 people).

The abortion pill should be used only in emergencies.

The abortion pill is an emergency method of termination. It’s not a good idea to use it too early in your pregnancy, because there’s a higher chance of complications. If you’re unsure about the pregnancy, it’s better to wait until the second trimester and take the pill then.

If you are sure that you want an abortion but don’t have access to one right away, using Mifeprex (also called RU-486) might be your best option. But keep in mind that this only works if taken within seven weeks after ovulation.