Abortion remains one of the most controversial subjects in the world, though for millions of women it is a reality they may or perhaps must face. It’s the kind of things most people don’t give too much thought until they’re forced to, at which point there will be so many questions to ask and concerns to address. From the different termination methods available to the potential risks and perhaps even the legitimacy of the decision being made can be a wholly life-changing process to go through.

Modern women are increasingly choosing non-surgical forms of abortion instead of taking medication. However, no abortion method is completely devoid of risks and adverse effects in both mental and physical sense, so it’s crucial to understand all aspects before making a final decision.

What Kinds of Abortion Pills Are Available?

What Are the Side Effects of Abortion Pills?

It is common for a woman to experience both bleeding and cramping while going through the termination process. However, as it is difficult to know where to draw the line between normal bleeding and excessive blood loss, it’s crucial to take as many follow-up examinations as deemed necessary by the caregiver. Bleeding to a lesser extent can go on for a full month or so after taking abortion pills, though if at any time the bleeding becomes as bad as or worse than what you’d consider to be a heavy period, you need immediate medical advice.

Other side effects commonly experienced by women after taking abortion pills include dizziness, tiredness, back pain, vomiting, headache, nausea, diarrhea and general weakness.

Who Can and Can’t Take Abortion Pills?

There’s a great deal of confusion when it comes to the subject of who can and cannot take abortion pills.

1. Those Who Can Take Abortion Pills

In order to consider you as a safe candidate for abortion pill prescription, your doctor will most likely insist that:

• you are no more than eight weeks into your suspected pregnancy.
• you are over the age of 18 or have the necessary parental consent.
• you can prove you are able to travel to and from the clinic with ease and can keep in contact via telephone.
• you don’t live more than an hour or two from an emergency care facility.
• you can attend as many follow-up appointments as deemed necessary.
• you consent to go into a surgical termination if the abortion pills prescribed don’t work.

2. Those Who Should Not Take Abortion Pills

As all abortion pills carry certain risk factors, it is possible they will not be prescribed to you by your doctor, particularly in the case you:

• have suffered from any kind of clotting problem before.
• suffer from anemia.
• are on a course of corticosteroids.
• present any signs of growths or abnormalities in the ovaries or tubes.
• are suspected to be allergic to any of the medications to be prescribed.
• suffer from porphyria.
• have diarrhea at the time.

How to Take Abortion Pills

It’s unlikely that any woman will ever go through the abortion process without feeling a degree of fear and uncertainty – abortion pills are no different. However, by educating yourself on what’s involved in the process from the beginning to the end, it’s possible to approach the subject with a clear head and all facts digested fully.

1. What Are the Procedures of Taking Abortion Pills?

• Step 1: Prior to being prescribed any kind of abortion pills, you will first need to attend a full and in-depth consultation with a healthcare professional. In this you’ll discuss the options available to you, undergo a series of tests and scans, be expected to produce evidence of your medical history and formally agree to the procedure with your signature.

• Step 2: You will be provided with the pill or pills at the clinic and be instructed on when and how to take them. In addition to the abortion pill, you will also be given a course of antibiotics in order to curb the risk of contracting an infection following the termination.

• Step 3: When the first pill has killed the unborn fetus, a second pill-misoprostol-will be taken in order to trigger the delivery of the uterus. This can be a painful and bloody process, therefore will be carefully timed and organized by the caregiver, usually within 72 hours of the first pill being taken.     

2. What Does Taking Abortion Pills Feel Like?

In most cases, a successful termination by way of tablets will present a similar feeling and experience the same as that of a miscarriage. Sometimes along with excessive bleeding and cramping,you can also expect to feel nausea, dizziness, abdominal pain, chills, mild feverishness and diarrhea.

What to Expect after Taking Abortion Pills

1. Bleeding and Contraction

Bleeding can begin at any time from immediately after taking the medication to several hours or even days later; it all depends on the women who are going through the abortion process. When the second tablet is taken, contractions can occur within 20 minutes though sometimes it takes as long as 8 hours to kick in. The amount of bleeding to expect again varies from woman to woman, though in all cases it will usually present with blood clots of various sizes.

2. Your Period

Following the termination, your menstrual cycle will be reset and regular periods will return in one to two months.

3. Sex and Birth Control

Following an abortion, medical experts insist that it is important not to have sex for at least a week; tampons are the only things that should be considered safe for insertion. What’s more, an abortion doesn’t necessarily have any immediate bearing on a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant again, which means it’s crucially important to use appropriate birth control.