The safety of an online or at-home abortion is dependent on many factors: initial safety screenings, the drug provider, access to emergency care, and specific health conditions.
Every Medical Procedure Has Risks
No matter the procedure or the drug, there are always side effects and risks to consider.
Generally speaking, one person could have an easy and uncomplicated experience with a medical procedure, while another can go through the same procedure and have a completely different experience.
Balancing risks, side effects, and personal health factors all play into whether or not a patient should proceed with a drug or medical procedure.
The Specific Risks of the Abortion Pill
If considering the abortion pill (also known as online or at-home abortion), you should know the risks. These include incomplete abortion, an ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work, fever, infection, heavy and prolonged bleeding, and digestive system discomfort.
Factors that Play a Role in Safety
In addition to the risks of the procedure, here are some other factors that can make a difference in how safe or unsafe an online abortion or at-home abortion might be.
1. The Abortion Pill Provider
The FDA regulates the distribution of the abortion pill and has special safety restrictions.
Obtaining the abortion pill through illegal means can be dangerous, as you cannot trust the contents of drugs from overseas, unregulated pharmacies.
2. Your Personal Health Conditions
The second drug in the abortion pill process, misoprostol, triggers contractions causing vaginal bleeding to expel the pregnancy tissue. If you have personal health conditions, such as a blood clotting disorder, anemia, or heart disease, this might make the abortion pill unsafe.
You must always evaluate a procedure within the context of your personal health.
3. Access to Medical Follow-Up and Emergency Care
If you cannot follow up with a medical provider or have access to emergency care, the abortion pill may not be a safe option for you. Any potential complications will need to be evaluated and treated right away for the safest health outcome.
4. Safety Screenings
Prior to starting the abortion pill, you should receive an ultrasound, STD testing, and any necessary STD treatment.
An ultrasound will tell you how far along you are and can identify ectopic pregnancy.
The abortion pill will not treat an ectopic pregnancy, as it’s a pregnancy outside of the uterus. Leaving an ectopic pregnancy untreated can be life-threatening.
STDs should be treated before any abortion procedure. Since abortion disturbs the normal barrier created by the cervix, there’s a chance of spreading existing STDs further into the reproductive system and causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
A Hope Center Offers Free Screening Services
A Hope Center provides free and confidential pregnancy services to women in Indiana. We understand how stressful an unexpected pregnancy can be and want to help with professional care, resources, and information.
We offer ultrasounds and STD testing and treatment at no cost to you. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments lessen the wait time.
Schedule a free appointment today!
A Hope Center does not provide or refer for abortions.