If you are thinking about taking the abortion pill you probably are wondering what to expect after you take it. Educating yourself on something that can affect your body is a good first step! With any procedure or medication comes potential side effects to be aware of.
Here is what you can expect after taking the abortion pill and what each abortion pill’s side effects are.
What are each abortion pill’s side effects?
The abortion pill, also referred to as a medical abortion, is a combination of two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. Each pill has a specific purpose in the abortion process and can bring about its own side effects and risks.
What to expect after taking Mifepristone:
Mifepristone is what ends your pregnancy by blocking progesterone (the hormone needed to grow the pregnancy). You may not feel any different after taking this drug, but some women feel nauseous or have vaginal spotting or bleeding.
Common side effects that occur within 2 to 24 hours of taking the medication include:
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- Uterine cramping
- Back pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Approximately 2-7% of women will need a surgical procedure to complete the abortion or stop heavy bleeding.
What to expect after taking Misoprostol:
Misoprostol is taken 48 hours after mifepristone. This drug softens the cervix, causes the uterus to contract, and prepares the body to expel the pregnancy.
This drug will cause intense cramping and heavy bleeding, more than your normal period. During this time, you will also pass blood clots, some up to the size of a lemon. After the abortion is complete, bleeding and spotting can be expected for an average of 9 to 16 days, and may last for up to 30 days.
Common side effects that begin 1 to 4 hours after taking the medication include:
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- Passing large blood clots and pregnancy tissue
Other more serious side effects from the abortion pill include:
- Incomplete abortion
- Heavy bleeding that requires surgery
- Blood clots in uterus
- Serious infection
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain
Are there any mental and emotional side effects of the abortion pill?
A lot of women feel different emotions after having an abortion. Some feel relief, while some feel regret. Emotional and mental health side effects can be immediate or appear later as time passes.
Common mental health side effects include:
- Relationship problems
- Substance abuse
- Depression and anxiety
- Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
- Complicated grief
- PTSD symptoms
- Anger
- Shame and guilt
- Sleep problems and bad dreams
- Avoiding and distracting yourself
- Feelings of hopelessness or emptiness
- Negative feelings about yourself and others
Are there complications from the abortion pill?
The abortion pill has a complication rate that is four times higher than a surgical abortion, and as many as one in five women will suffer a complication. Three to seven out of every hundred women who choose an abortion pill will need follow-up care to finish the abortion, with as many as 7-10% needing follow-up care in the first trimester after 63 days of pregnancy and up to 39% requiring surgery if the regimen is taken in the second trimester because gestational age is not confirmed prior to treatment.
What should I do if my side effects persist?
If you are bleeding through more than 2 regular-sized sanitary pads per hour for more than two hours, run a fever over 100.4 F, or are passing blood clots the size of a lemon, call your nearest emergency room.
Where can I learn more?
We want to provide you with real answers. Learn more about the abortion pill and what pregnancy option is right for you at LifeSpring.
You deserve to make an educated decision about what is best for you.