At First Choice Clinic, we believe that women need to make informed decisions when it comes to every aspect of their health. One way to do that is by ensuring women are fully informed about the potential risks and complications of medical abortion, especially when done at home.
What Is “The Abortion Pill” (Medical Abortion)?
A “medical abortion” typically involves two drugs: mifepristone, which blocks progesterone (a hormone needed to sustain a pregnancy), and misoprostol, which causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy.
In the past, the dispensing of the abortion pill included medical supervision and follow-up. However, in recent years there has been a push toward remote dispensing or self-managed medical abortion, allowing women to take the pills at home with minimal, or no, oversight. This practice raises important concerns about safety and complications.
Known Side Effects and Warning Signs
Below are some of the relevant risks and red flags:
Common side effects (which in many cases can be expected, but should be monitored)
- Stomach pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Fatigue, dizziness, headache
- Fever or chills
- Bleeding (which is part of the process)
- Weakness
Serious side effects / situations that require urgent medical care
- Heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking multiple pads an hour)
- High fever or fever lasting more than 24 hours
- Severe abdominal pain or pelvic pain
- Allergic reactions (rash, swelling, hives, difficulty breathing)
- Ongoing or “incomplete” abortion, where tissue remains in the uterus
- Potential infection (especially when tissue is retained)
If any of these symptoms occur, you need to seek immediate medical attention.
In particular, “retained products of conception” (i.e. when some fetal or placental tissue remains in the uterus) can lead to persistent bleeding, pain, and infection if not treated.
Riaks Amplified When Done at Home
Lack of medical screening. Before prescribing a medical abortion, clinicians typically evaluate whether a pregnancy is ectopic (outside the uterus), whether bleeding disorders or other contraindications exist, and verify gestational age. Without these safeguards, the risk of serious complications is higher.
Delayed recognition of complications. When women manage the process at home, they may delay or avoid seeking emergency care out of fear, stigma, or not recognizing warning signs. Meanwhile, complications like hemorrhage or infection can worsen.
Untreated STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) If an STI is present at the time of a medical abortion, the risk of infection is higher. It can also lead to other health concerns, including Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). At First Choice Clinic, we offer no-cost STI testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Real-World Consequences: What Can Go Wrong
Below are examples of serious complications that sometimes arise when the process does not go smoothly:
- Excessive bleeding / hemorrhage
If bleeding cannot be controlled, urgent intervention or even surgical procedures (e.g., dilation and curettage) may be necessary. - Infection / sepsis
Retained tissue can lead to infection, possibly progressing to life-threatening sepsis. - Incomplete abortion / failed abortion
Sometimes the pills do not completely terminate the pregnancy, leaving residual tissue which can cause bleeding, pain, or require surgical removal. - Undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy
In rare cases, the pregnancy is located outside the uterus (e.g. in a fallopian tube). Abortion medications do not treat ectopic pregnancies, which require surgical intervention and can be life-threatening if ruptured. - Delay in emergency care
Because some women may postpone seeking medical attention, symptoms worsen, increasing risk of complications.
When considering any medical intervention, especially one as consequential as abortion, every woman deserves to know the risk.
If you or someone you know is exploring the abortion pill, we urge you to contact First Choice Clinic to get free pregnancy testing, STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) and an ultrasound before you make a final decision.
First Choice Clinic does not provide or refer for abortions.