If you’re considering a medical abortion, sometimes called the abortion pill, you may have questions about how it works and what to expect. This process uses drugs to end an early pregnancy at home, but there are critical details many women don’t know. Accurate information can help you make the best decision for your health and future.
At Cherish Women’s Centre, we’re here to support you. To get the information you need, schedule a free appointment today.
Here are five facts about medical abortion that may be helpful as you think through your options.
1. It Involves Two Drugs
The abortion pill (Mifegymiso) process involves taking two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. The first drug blocks progesterone, a hormone your body needs to support the pregnancy. The second drug causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through bleeding and cramping.
Along with this process, some women experience nausea, diarrhea, chills, or fatigue.
2. It’s Only Approved for Early Pregnancy
The abortion pill is only indicated by Health Canada for use in the first 63 days of pregnancy, as counted from the first day of your last menstrual period (in a presumed 28-day cycle). Effectiveness decreases the further along you are, and the chance of complications increases.
That’s why confirming how far along you are is so important. An ultrasound is the most reliable way to determine gestational age. It can also check for conditions like ectopic pregnancy, which cannot be treated with the abortion pill and requires immediate medical attention.
3. The Bleeding Can Be Heavy
Medical abortion typically causes significant bleeding and strong cramps. Some women pass large blood clots, sometimes described as being the size of a lemon.
While bleeding is expected, soaking through multiple pads in a short time or passing very large clots can be a sign of a complication, and you should seek medical attention immediately.
4. Emotional Responses Are Common
Because the abortion pill process takes place at home, many women see what they pass during the process. The fetus can be more recognizable than expected, depending on how far along the pregnancy is. Some women report feeling unprepared for this, and it can cause emotional distress.
5. Ordering the Abortion Pill Online Can Be Unsafe
It may seem convenient or private to order abortion drugs online, but it comes with serious risks. Because only physicians and nurse practitioners can prescribe Mifegymiso in British Columbia, obtaining abortion drugs online could mean you are getting them from unregulated or overseas sources. There is no guarantee of safety, correct dosage, or effectiveness.
Without an in-person medical evaluation and ultrasound, you could also miss serious health issues such as being farther along than expected or having an ectopic pregnancy.
You’re Not Alone
If you’re considering the abortion pill, you deserve straightforward and trustworthy information about your health and your choices. At Cherish Women’s Centre, we provide no-cost pregnancy screening services and a confidential, supportive space to discuss your situation.
Schedule your free appointment today. You don’t have to make this decision alone—we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Cherish Women’s Centre does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
