Breaking Down Medication Abortion
On October 11th, California became the first state in the country to require public colleges to offer medication abortion services (aka “the abortion pill”) on campuses. Not only does this take an additional step toward normalizing abortion, but it alleviates the emotional stress and anxiety that many college students face from having restrictive reproductive health care options and access on campus.
Even with steps like this being taken, there is still so much confusion and misinformation spread about abortion — medication abortion, in particular. Medication abortion is a safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy (up to 11 weeks) and accounts for nearly one-third of all abortions.
Why Medication Abortion?
Most folks choose medication abortion vs. surgical abortion because it affords them the option to have their abortion at home (or in a comfortable setting of their choosing). Also, due to the similarity to a miscarriage, it is less invasive and some people feel like it’s more “natural.”
What Is It?
Most commonly referred to as “the abortion pill,” medication abortion is actually facilitated by using two pills. The first pill is called mifepristone. This pill stops the pregnancy from growing. The second is called misoprostol. You can take misoprostol either right away, or up to 48 hours after you take the first pill. Misoprostol causes cramping and bleeding to empty your uterus. This cramping and bleeding can last for several hours. Most people finish passing the pregnancy tissue in 4 to 5 hours, but it may take longer.
How Does It Feel?
Medication abortion feels different for each person. For some, it can feel like a very heavy period (cramps, heavy bleeding, fatigue, etc.). But others can experience dizziness, nausea, and possibly fever. It’s important to monitor the amount of bleeding you’re experiencing, which is why medical providers may recommend using maxi pads to catch the bleeding. If you bleed through four or more maxi pads in an hour, call your doctor. If you haven’t experienced any bleeding at all 24 hours after taking the second pill, call your provider.
What Happens After?
Some people like to to take a day to rest after the second pill, but not everyone needs to. Not only will your body be recovering from the procedure, but people may also experience a range of emotions after the process is completed. These feelings are normal. As with any major changes to your body, take care of yourself and listen to your body.
Though medication abortion can be 90–98% effective for a pregnancy of up to 11 weeks, there is always a small risk of the abortion pill not working. This is why it’s essential to follow-up with your provider to confirm that the abortion pill worked and the pregnancy was effectively ended, especially if you continue to experience signs or symptoms of pregnancy after treatment.
Abortion is health care and it’s crucial that we continue to treat it as such. Procedures like the abortion pill provides folks with a safe way to end a pregnancy on their terms in an environment that best suits their needs. At the end of the day, bodily autonomy and personal freedom is what reproductive health care access is all about.
To learn more about medication abortion, visit the Planned Parenthood website, or call your local Planned Parenthood.
