Are you considering an abortion pill and want to learn more?

Plan B is a type of emergency birth control (contraception) that temporarily delays the release of an egg from the ovary, so there’s no egg to meet the sperm. No egg, no fertilization, no pregnancy. 

The Abortion Pill is a medical abortion, which consists of two medications.

The first medication, mifepristone, stops the pregnancy from growing and the second medication, misoprostol, expels the pregnancy tissue from the woman’s uterus.

Mifepristone is given first. This blocks progesterone, a hormone essential for a healthy pregnancy. Then this drug cuts off blood supply and nutrients to the developing embryo. Between twenty-four to forty-eight hours later, you will take misoprostol, the second pill. This pill causes the uterus to expel the embryo. In short, misoprostol induces early labor.

An abortion is similar to a miscarriage. Someone who has taken the abortion pill may experience these symptoms:

• Severe abdominal pain or cramping
• Bleeding or severe spotting
• Discharge of tissue or fluid

These symptoms may occur for 9-16 days. However, approximately 8% of women may experience bleeding for 30 days or more. If the abortion is not entirely successful, a medication or a surgical abortion is required.

Abortion recovery times vary from woman to woman. Women who have first trimester abortions and those who do not have any complications say they feel normal within a few days. The bleeding usually stops within six weeks.

However, recovery for late-term abortions may take longer. Longer still, if complications develop, and hospitalization or surgery is necessary. However, hospitalization is not the norm, and most women will recover within a few weeks.

No. You cannot get the abortion pill over the counter. A physician must prescribe it. Additionally, the FDA warns against purchasing online abortion-inducing drugs because this puts the woman at risk of taking a drug that the FDA has not approved.

Yes. The abortion pill is potent, so the FDA requires a physician or certified health professional to prescribe the pill in person after pregnancy verification. When you order the abortion pill online, you skip the pregnancy verification and prescription process, which puts your health at risk.

While you can order the abortion pill online and have it delivered to your house, it’s incredibly risky. 

While searching, you may come across sites that claim to deliver the abortion pill by mail. Oftentimes, these providers are located overseas and the pills they provide are not FDA-approved. Currently, it’s illegal to purchase Mifeprex online. The FDA requires the abortion pill to be prescribed and dispensed under the supervision of a qualified physician for your safety. 

Aside from that, it’s crucial to be in touch with a prescribing physician if complications arise. 

You may experience severe abdominal cramping, nausea, and heavy bleeding after taking the abortion pill. You will need a licensed healthcare provider to confirm whether the procedure was successful or if an infection is developing.

The average cost of an abortion in the US in the first trimester is approximately $500. Second-trimester abortions average $1,500. However, abortion costs tend to be higher in states where abortion is more restricted.