The abortion pill is an available pregnancy termination option for women ages 18 years of age and older, as well as for young adults with parental consent. The clinical name for the pill is Mifepristone (RU-486), and it can be taken up to 9 weeks into the pregnancy. Once the fetus reaches 63 days of development, the success rate of the pill is decreased, but up until that point it is successful 93% to 95% of the time. The abortion pill is considered a medical abortion and must be approved by a medical professional.
The Advantages of The Abortion Pill
When considering termination options, women have been satisfied with the abortion pill to the same extent as a surgical abortion. As an early termination option, it offers many advantages including being less invasive than surgery and being very effective.
The Side Effects of The Abortion Pill Include:
- Dizziness
- Diarrea
- Chills
- Cramping & Bleeding
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Fever
How Does RU486 work?
RU486 is comprised of the synthetic steroid mifepristone, which interferes with the body’s ability to adequately build up the uterine lining using progesterone. The steroid causes the egg not to remain attached to the lining of the uterus, and misoprostol causes uterine contractions that expel the fertilized egg. Once both parts of the medical abortion have been completed, the patient must return to the doctor’s office for a follow up visit to confirm that the pregnancy has been terminated and to ensure the patient is in good health.
For women seeking early termination options, medical abortion with the use of the abortion pill is one of the choices that is available at family planning clinics. However, this drug does come with the potential for complications. A medical provider should be notified immediately in the event of excessive loss of blood, severe pain in the abdominal region that lasts longer than 24 hours, a high fever, or no loss of blood or passage of any tissue.
In the event that the medical abortion is not successful, the patient must agree to a surgical abortion. An incomplete abortion can lead to infections, and if the pregnancy is allowed to go to term, there may be severe complications and birth defects. As with all medical procedures, it is best to consult with a professional before deciding whether the abortion pill is the right option for your needs.