Common FAQs
How To Use Abortion Pills
Abortion Pill Instructions
Abortion pills are medicines that help stop a pregnancy. Abortion pills are also called “medication abortions.” These medicines stop the hormones that make the pregnancy grow and end the pregnancy. They also cause cramping and bleeding.
Method 1
Mifepristone + Misoprostol
This method is 95% - 98% effective and is very safe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which makes sure medicines are safe, has approved this method.
Method 2
Misoprostol Only
Another common method is to only use misoprostol. The World Health Organization supports this practice. Both methods work well, are very safe, and are used by many people all around the world.
Video: How To Use Abortion Pills
Real people share their experience using abortion pills and explain how to take them.
This video was made by two partner organizations: We Testify and Mayday Health.
FAQ
Pain, cramping and bleeding are all expected.
About Pain
Prepare for the pain: have pain meds, like ibuprofen or naproxen, and a good space to rest.
Q: What if I am not feeling any / enough pain? Should I be concerned?
A: This doesn’t mean it’s not working. Everyone is different. Some say “this was the worst ever” and some say “I’ve had periods that were way worse.”
About Bleeding
People often bleed for several weeks after they use the abortion pills. The bleeding can be steady. The bleeding can be on and off. The bleeding can have cramping with it or not.
Some people bleed right up to their next period. That first period is often extra heavy. All of these patterns are normal!
Q: What do I do about all this bleeding?
A: Take a multivitamin with iron and eat iron rich foods. Keep up your fluids. Take ibuprofen or naproxen. Remember that it will stop, and that bleeding is a normal part of this process.
Q: What if the bleeding has an odor a week or two after the abortion?
A: This is also normal. It will go away by itself. Do not douche.
Q: I’m not sure I bled enough after I took the pills.
A: The bleeding is often lighter if the pregnancy was in the 4-6 week range. To know if the abortion worked — go by your symptoms. You are done if the nausea and tiredness have gone away and the breast tenderness is going down.
Q: Am I bleeding too much?
A: If you soaking through two big pads (or maxi pads) in an hour, for more than two hours in a row, that’s a reason to contact us or the place where you got your pills. When you contact us, we will ask you questions about dizziness and other symptoms.
Positive Pregnancy Test After Abortion
The home pregnancy tests stay positive for 4-6 weeks after you take the abortion pills.
To know if the abortion worked, go by your symptoms. If the nausea and tiredness have gone away and the breast tenderness is going down, you are done!
Misoprostol Absorbing
Some people see the Misoprostol melt before 30 minutes. Others end up throwing up the Misoprostol more than 30 minutes after it’s been in the mouth.
The pills will still work. It is fine as long as the pills either melted (even if they melted before the 30 minutes) or stayed in for 30 minutes. If you throw up the Misoprostol before 30 minutes, this is a reason to call us or call the place you got your pills from.
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