An unintended pregnancy can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate this alone. Making an empowered decision about your pregnancy requires careful consideration and proper medical evaluation.
Before proceeding with the abortion pill, also known as a medical abortion, take these important steps:
Step 1: Confirm Your Pregnancy
Before considering abortion, it’s essential to confirm your pregnancy and determine how far along you are. Pathways PRC offers:
- Free self-administered pregnancy tests – Get accurate results you can trust
Having accurate pregnancy information is crucial for making an informed choice about your next steps.
Get an Ultrasound
An ultrasound is crucial before any abortion pill procedure because it provides essential information about your pregnancy:
- Free ultrasound referrals – Determine gestational age and confirm proper uterine development
- Viability: An ultrasound determines if your pregnancy is viable and progressing normally. This helps rule out miscarriage in progress or ectopic pregnancy, conditions where medical abortion wouldn’t be appropriate or necessary.
- Gestational Age: Knowing exactly how far along you are is critical because the abortion pill is only FDA-approved for pregnancies up to 10 weeks gestation.
Step 2: Be sure you are making an informed choice, having considered your other options:
Placing your baby for adoption or parenting.
Step 3: Consider the risks and complications
The abortion pill involves two separate medications taken over several days:
Mifepristone (First Medication):
- Blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain pregnancy
- Causes the embryo to stop growing
- Taken at the medical facility under supervision
- If you change your mind after taking this first pill, the process can be reversed with counteracting medication. Click here to call the Abortion Pill Reversal Hotline.
Misoprostol (Second Medication):
- Taken 24-48 hours after mifepristone
- Causes uterine contractions to expel pregnancy tissue
- Usually taken at home
- Most effective up to 10 weeks of pregnancy
Complications and Risks
Incomplete Abortion[1]:
- Failure to remove all fetal tissue completely
- More common with abortion pill than surgical procedures
- May require additional surgical intervention to prevent infection or bleeding
- Occurs in approximately 2-7% of medication abortions
Failed Abortion[2]:
- Pregnancy continues despite abortion attempt
- More common with medication abortion
- May require surgical procedure to complete abortion
- Some women choose to continue pregnancy when this occurs
Infection Risk[3][4][5]:
- Can result from instrument insertion or retained tissue
- May develop into serious pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Severe cases can lead to sepsis (life-threatening body-wide infection)
- Can cause scarring that impacts future fertility
Hemorrhage (Heavy Bleeding)[6]:
- Approximately 1 in 100 women using abortion pill require surgical intervention for bleeding
- May require emergency medical treatment
- Can be life-threatening if not treated promptly
Physical Injury[7]:
- Risk of cervical or uterine damage from surgical instruments
- Rare but serious complications include organ puncture
- Risk increases with later gestational age
- May require surgical repair
Long-Term Health Considerations
Impact on Future Pregnancies[8][9][10][11][12]:
- Research indicates there is increased risk of preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies
- Studies show potential link to low birth weight in future babies
- Risk may be higher with multiple abortions
- Discuss personal risk factors with healthcare provider
Step 4: Get Tested for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) to protect your overall reproductive health
Step 5: Ensure that you have someone to support your physical and emotional needs after the procedure.
Pathways Pregnancy Resource Center offers free reproductive loss support after an abortion, miscarriage or still birth.
Give us a call at 970-247-5559 or make an appointment online today.
Please note: Pathways Pregnancy Resource Center provides information and pregnancy services but does not perform or refer for abortion procedures or emergency contraception.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Abortion Pill
How much does the abortion pill cost at an abortion clinic?
Abortion clinics charge between $150 and $1,100 for the abortion pill.[3] Prices vary based on the provider, clinic location, and health insurance coverage.
Does Colorado Medicaid cover abortion pill costs?
Currently, Colorado Medicaid does not cover abortion services, except in cases where the pregnancy endangers the life of the pregnant woman, or if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest.
Are there additional costs beyond the abortion pill price?
Yes. In addition to the abortion pill, you may have to pay for initial consultation fees, required ultrasounds, laboratory tests, follow-up appointments, and potentially treatment for complications.
Pathways Pregnancy Resource Center provides generally accepted medical information and pregnancy services but does not perform or refer for abortion procedures or emergency contraception. All information on this site is subject to change and should not be considered medical or legal advice. Please consult your own professional in the event of specific medical or legal needs.
Sources:
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2024, October 15). Abortion – Surgical. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002912.htm
- American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. (2020). Medication abortion up to 70 days of gestation. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 136(4), 855-858. doi:10.1097/ aog.0000000000004083. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2020/10/medication-abortion-up-to-70-days-of-gestation#
- Stevenson MM, Radcliffe KW. Preventing pelvic infection after abortion. Int J STD AIDS. 1995 Sep-Oct;6(5):305-12. doi: 10.1177/095646249500600501. PMID: 8547409.
- Bridwell RE, Long B, Montrief T, Gottlieb M. Post-abortion Complications: A Narrative Review for Emergency Clinicians. West J Emerg Med. 2022 Oct 23;23(6):919-925. doi: 10.5811/ westjem.2022.8.57929. PMID: 36409940; PMCID: PMC9683756.
- Mayo Clinic. (2022, April 30). Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352594
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, (2016). Mifeprex Medication Guide. https://www.fda.gov/media/72923/download
- Paul, E. S. Lichtenberg, L. Borgatta, D. A. Grimes, P. G. Stubblefield, & M. D. Creinin (Eds.), 2009. Medical abortion in early pregnancy in Management of unintended and abnormal pregnancy: Comprehensive abortion care (pp.122-29). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
- American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. (2019). Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/pelvic-inflammatory-disease
- Swingle, H. M., Colaizy, T. T., Zimmerman, M. B., Morriss, F. H. (2009). Abortion and the risk of subsequent preterm birth: A systematic review with meta-analyses. The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 54(2), 95–108.
- Shah, P. S., Zao, J. (2009). Induced termination of pregnancy and low birthweight and preterm birth: A systematic review and meta-analyses. British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 116(11), 1425–42. doi: 10.1111/j.1471- 0528.2009.02278.x.
- Moreau, C., Kaminski, M., Ancel, P.Y., Bouyer, J., et al (2005). Previous induced abortions and the risk of very preterm delivery: Results of the EPIPAGE study. Br J Obstet Gynaecol,5,112(4):430–37.
- Ancel, P.Y., Lelong, N., Papiernik, E., Saurel-Cubizolles, M.J., Kaminski, M (2004). History of induced abortion as a risk factor for preterm birth in European countries: Results