If you think you could have an unplanned pregnancy and are considering ordering the abortion pill online, you deserve to have all the facts first to prioritize your health and safety. Just because something is available to order online doesn’t mean it’s safe for everyone – do you know the risks and are you confident in your unique needs?
The best thing you can do to put your health and safety first is to find out everything you need to know about abortion and your pregnancy options before making your next steps. Abortion is a serious medical undertaking with associated risks and side effects – and ordering the pill online could put you at greater risk.
Know the Risks of the Abortion Pill
Medication abortion is commonly referred to as the abortion pill, even though it is actually a series of two medication doses. The first dose, Mifeprex (or mifepristone), stops the pregnancy from progressing by blocking the pregnancy hormone progesterone. After that, misoprostol – the second dose – causes contractions (or cramps) in the uterus to expel the pregnancy through the vagina.
No matter how you receive the abortion pill – through a clinic or abortion provider, or online – the abortion pill process is a serious medical procedure that has potential associated physical risks and side effects. The Mayo Clinic quotes the following potential physical risks of the abortion pill:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Can You Get Substandard Medication Online?
We all know how it goes when you order something online from a new retailer – sometimes it’s a gamble to see if what you ordered arrives looking like you expected, or completely different. In the same way, ordering medication online can be a risky process.
Not only can an online pharmacy only see and learn so much about your unique needs (which we’ll cover next), but you may also be at risk of receiving substandard medication when ordering online. Even with the increased availability of abortion pills online in recent years, the FDA recommends that consumers use caution when ordering from online pharmacies. You can also see that the FDA specifically mentions that it is not recommended to order abortion medications online in the safety details of the Mifeprex drug information (the first dose of the abortion pill regimen).
An online pharmacy, even one staffed by a doctor virtually, can only have so much visibility into your unique medical needs without seeing you for an in-person examination. As such, they may be unaware of the presence of certain complications such as ectopic pregnancy.
In-Person Care Specialized to You Makes a Difference
It’s also possible that your at-home dating of your pregnancy could be incorrect, putting you at risk of taking the abortion pill too late. If you are past the approved point of 10 weeks gestation, this could put you at risk of incomplete abortion or infection. Without verification of this information by a medical professional, it’s possible you may be getting the wrong type of care or could be putting your health and safety at risk.
What Are My Pregnancy Options to Protect My Health?
The best way to put your health and safety first is to learn more about your pregnancy options as they apply to your unique health situation, through in-person care with a medical professional. An ultrasound exam is a great first step to get informed about your pregnancy – such as how far along you are – and the potential next steps available to you.
This information learned from an in-person exam can help to equip and empower you to make a confident choice that prioritizes your health and safety. You may also find it reassuring to discuss your options with a professional who can answer your questions.
At Pregnancy Resource Centers of Central Oregon, we’re here to help. Schedule your free appointment today to get confidential, in-person care and peace of mind.
