What Are the Risks and Side Effects of the Abortion Pill?

November 6, 2024

The abortion pill is a two-drug process that ends and expels an early pregnancy. As with any medical procedure, evaluating the risks and side effects can ensure you make an informed choice about your health and safety.

Keep reading to learn about the side effects and risks of the abortion pill, and if you haven’t confirmed your pregnancy yet, visit Crystal Women’s Clinic. We offer lab-quality pregnancy testing and ultrasound so you can verify critical details about your pregnancy that matter for decision-making.

The Difference Between Side Effects and Risks

Before outlining the side effects and risks, explaining the differences is essential. A side effect is a known unwanted or undesirable effect of a drug. Though some side effects can be positive, most are not.

A health risk is the chance or likelihood that the medical procedure or drug will harm your health. While not every person who takes a drug or has a procedure will experience a risk, it’s critical to understand it can happen.

The Side Effects of the Abortion Pill

The abortion pill consists of two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. The first drug ends the pregnancy by blocking the necessary hormone progesterone. The second drug triggers the uterus to contract, leading to abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding.

Every woman who undergoes a medical abortion will experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding because it’s how the drugs work to empty the uterus.

Other side effects that depend on each woman can include headache, nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, chills, vomiting, and fever.

Women also will experience varying degrees of pain. A healthcare professional should let you know how much pain and vaginal bleeding to expect and may provide pain medications.

You may also experience light to moderate bleeding for several weeks after the procedure.

The Risks of the Abortion Pill

After the procedure, you should make a follow-up visit to your provider to ensure that your pregnancy has fully ended and there aren’t any signs of complications.

Signs and symptoms of complications can include heavy bleeding, bad pain in the stomach area or pelvis, chills or body aches, fast heart rate, fever (lasting more than four hours or starting in the days after taking misoprostol), and foul-smelling vaginal discharge.

Seek medical care immediately if you experience any of these signs or symptoms. They could point to the risks of the abortion pill, which include:

• Incomplete abortion
• An ongoing pregnancy
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive symptoms such as upset stomach

Make an Empowered Choice

Only you can decide which pregnancy option to pursue, but becoming informed can help you make a confident choice.

Schedule a free and confidential appointment at Crystal Women’s Clinic for lab-quality pregnancy testing and an ultrasound to verify your pregnancy and learn critical details, including how far along you are, the location of your pregnancy, and if it’s progressing with a heartbeat.

You deserve full information to make an empowered choice. We’re here to help with free pregnancy services, resources, and support. Visit us today!