Are There Risks when Ordering the Abortion Pill Online?

Have you seen those social media posts where a person shows a photo of what they thought they were buying next to what they actually received? 

They’ve gone to some website with a beautiful wedding dress that’s amazingly cheap, and when it arrives, it’s 4 sizes smaller and nothing like the photo.

We laugh about it, but we know there’s always the chance that what we order won’t be what we get. It’s the same with buying the abortion pill online. 

What Is The Abortion Pill?

There are two basic types of abortion procedures, medical and surgical. The abortion pill (chemical abortion) is one method of medical abortion. Calling it the abortion pill is misleading.It isn’t one pill and you’re done; it’s actually a two-pill process.

A fetus needs a hormone called progesterone to thrive and grow. Mifeprex, the first drug you take, blocks progesterone and terminates the pregnancy. The second drug, misoprostol, causes contractions to remove the pregnancy from your body. You can expect heavy vaginal bleeding and clotting (sometimes the size of lemons) and severe, intense cramping as you pass the pregnancy.

How Do You Know The Drugs Are Safe? 

In the U.S., the first drug, Mifeprex, is highly regulated by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). It’s only available through physicians who are approved to use it.

The FDA says this about ordering Mifeprex online “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.”

Ordering the abortion pill online might mean it has ingredients that could be contaminated or an incorrect dosage. If the drugs are ineffective and your abortion isn’t complete, you may now require a surgical abortion and this could pose a major threat to your reproductive health.

There’s A Time Limit

Did you know that according to the FDA, you’re not supposed to use the abortion pill after 70 days from the first day of your last menstrual period? Some physicians will prescribe the abortion pill through 77 days from the first day of your last menstrual period but this is not approved by the FDA. The closer you get to 70 days, the possibility of the abortion not working increases. 

Only an ultrasound can determine how far along you are, and if you’re eligible for medical or surgical abortion. 

No Guidance From A Medical Professional

When ordering the abortion pill online, you’re expected to perform the complete abortion by yourself. How will you know if your abortion is moving along the way it’s supposed to? You’re completely on your own.

The drugs tend to cause nausea. If you vomit, how will you know if your body got enough of the medicine to work? How much bleeding is considered severe enough that you need to go to the emergency room? You need a medical professional to assist you.

You’re Not Alone. We Can Help

Abortion is a serious physical, emotional, and mental decision. We can help by providing you with accurate information about your pregnancy. Set up a no-cost consultation with Your Options Medical to see if you are eligible for an abortion and to be informed about the procedures as well as possible risks and side effects.

We offer a no-cost, confidential ultrasound that will confirm how far along you are in your pregnancy. Buying the abortion pill online is a risk to your health and safety. 

Talk with us before you order the abortion pill. We care about your future, health, and safety.