If you’re considering terminating your pregnancy with the abortion pill, it is vital to assess the health risks before making your final decision.
The abortion pill has physical health effects and can also have a lasting impact on your mental and emotional well-being.
What is the Abortion Pill?
The abortion pill, formally referred to as medical abortion, uses two drugs to terminate a pregnancy.
First, Mifepristone is administered first to block progesterone. Then, misoprostol is administered to create uterine contractions, which lead to the expulsion of the pregnancy through the vagina.
Physical Health Risks
Every woman’s body responds differently to the abortion pill. While you can expect cramping in the stomach area and bleeding as you pass the pregnancy, the use of the abortion pill also puts you at risk for the following physical health effects:
- Incomplete abortion, which may require follow-up surgical abortion
- Fever
- Infection
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Digestive system discomfort
It is crucial to monitor your symptoms following an abortion closely, and if you experience any of the following, seek immediate medical attention:
- Soaking two or more pads per hour for two hours
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- Fever for more than 24 hours
- Severe abdominal or back pain
Mental Health Risks
Maybe you think you’ll feel relieved after having an abortion, or you may expect to have feelings of sadness and grief but think you’ll be able to move on fairly quickly.
The reality is abortion puts some women at an increased risk for serious mental health conditions, including:
- Depression disorders
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety
- Sleep disturbances
- Suicidal behaviors
- Substance abuse
You might experience these mental health effects immediately or even years later.
Before choosing to have an abortion, thoroughly consider the lasting toll it could have on your mental health.
Pre-Abortion Consultation
Whether you’re confident that abortion is the right decision for you or if you’re unsure, Lilli Women’s Center is here to help.
Before having an abortion, it is critical to learn more about the age, location, and viability of your pregnancy and discuss your health history with a healthcare provider.
We offer free lab-quality pregnancy tests and ultrasound scans to help you make an informed decision about your pregnancy.
Our team will be available to discuss your options and answer questions you may have.
Contact us today for your confidential appointment.
