What Happens During an At-Home Abortion?

Real Choices
Jun 12, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Jun 14, 2023

While skipping the abortion clinic and ordering online may look like an easy, stress-free, safe option, we’re here to help you understand the risks involved, what not to do, the information you need to know ahead of time, what to expect, and what to do if things go wrong at home.

Your best first step is to confirm a viable intrauterine pregnancy and rule out an ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threatening. An ultrasound can also tell you how far along you are. This information can determine whether a woman buys 5 or 9 pills. Book a cost-free consultation and ultrasound appointment. No insurance is required and same-day appointments are often available.

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Is it safe to order abortion pills by mail? FDA’s Official Warning: Do Not Order Online

The abortion pill comes with a black box label, the highest level of caution the FDA assigns. Taking the abortion pill without seeing a doctor or having an ultrasound is never recommended. The side effects range from unpleasant (cramping, bleeding, nausea, headache, fever) to life-threatening (sepsis, rupturing of the uterus, undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, and more). Due to lack of regulations and unsafe medications, the FDA also issued a warning not to order pills by mail.

We put you and your safety first and we'd never recommend an unsafe option.

Are missed period pills emergency contraceptives or abortion pills?

Missed Period Pills (MPPs) or miscarriage pills are new names for the abortion pills. However, abortion pills are not emergency contraceptives. The first pill, mifepristone, is taken by mouth and ends your pregnancy by blocking the action of the hormone (progesterone) that supports pregnancy. The next day misoprostol is also taken by mouth. It causes your cervix to soften and the uterus to contract hard enough to expel the pregnancy. Emergency contraceptives (ECs) should not be taken if you are already pregnant.

What happens during an at-home abortion?

An at-home abortion starts after you take that second pill. The first dose is taken in office with your medical provider. After both doses of medication have been taken you can expect the following to occur:

Bleeding and cramping that starts between one and four hours after taking the second pill.
Heavy bleeding with blood clots for the next several hours.
Heavy cramping for several hours.
A low fever or chills that last about a day after taking the second pill.

Other reported side-effects can be exhaustion, nauseous and dizzy, and diarrhea.

Risks of a medical abortion are:

Incomplete abortion.
Heavy bleeding that will not stop.
Infection.
Fever.
Diarrhea and digestive pain.
Allergic reaction to the medications.

If you have an incomplete abortion or allergic reactions to the medication, it can be potentially fatal for you. In states that have been measuring the side-effects, reported complications from the abortion pill have increased in the past several years.

What if I already ordered abortion pills online?

Ordering the abortion pill online is not considered safe. While it is possible, the restrictions and regulations that keep prescriptions safe are not guaranteed when purchasing over the internet. However, if you’ve already ordered pills, we can still provide you with an ultrasound to confirm how far along you are. This information can determine how many pills you order or take.

While we do not refer for or provide abortion services, we can give you the answers you need to make an informed choice. Call us today to get started.

I only took the first pill; what are my options?

It’s possible to continue your pregnancy if the first dose was taken and action is taken within 24-48 hours. If you change your mind after taking the pill, contact the Abortion Pill Reversal network immediately. They will discreetly connect you with a network of doctors and health professionals that can start the reversal process.

We care about your safety. Contact us to learn more about all of your pregnancy options.