We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Medicine

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Medication Abortion?

By Bethney Foster
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 5,809
Share

A medication abortion is the termination of a pregnancy using a drug or combination of drugs. Most often the abortion is induced using the drug mifepristone, sometimes referred to as the abortion pill or RU-486. Methotrexate is another medication sometimes used for abortion. This medication is more commonly used outside of the United States. A medication abortion can be performed as soon as a woman knows she is pregnant, but is usually not performed after the ninth week of pregnancy.

A medication abortion is effective in ending 97 out of 100 pregnancies. As the drugs used to induce the abortion can cause serious birth defects if the pregnancy is allowed to continue, in the case of a failed medication abortion a surgical abortion is recommended. Following the administration of the medication, the woman should have a follow-up examination with her physician or other health care professional to ensure that the termination was successful.

In most instances, the woman will need to have laboratory tests conducted and have an ultrasound before the medication is administered. No anesthesia is necessary for a medication abortion. The doctor will give the woman a pill to take at the clinic. This pill, mifepristone, will block progesterone, which will cause the lining of the uterus to begin breaking down and end the pregnancy.

About three days later, the woman will be given a second medication, misoprostol. Besides being used as part of abortion, misoprostol is used for inducing miscarriage when the fetus has died and for inducing labor. This medication will empty the uterus, and the woman can expect heavy bleeding and cramps within a few hours to a few days of taking the drug.

Bleeding and cramping are the most normal side effects of a medication abortion. The woman may also feel dizzy, nauseous, and have some abdominal pain. In some instances, the abortion may cause mild fever and chilling. Unusual but possible side effects include an allergic reaction to one of the drugs used in a medication abortion. Infection, undetected ectopic pregnancy, or an incomplete abortion are also rare but possible complications.

Medication abortion has some advantages over surgical abortion. Many women consider the process to be more private and less invasive physically. It’s also often less expensive than surgical abortions. There is no evidence that it has a long-term effect on a woman’s health.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-medication-abortion.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.