how does an abortion pill work

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Page 1: How does an abortion pill work

How does an Abortion Pill work?

The abortion pill is a medicine that ends an early pregnancy. In general, it is used up to 63 days — 9 weeks — after the first day of a woman's last period.

Women who need an abortion and are more than 9 weeks pregnant can have an in-clinic abortion. The name for "the abortion pill" is mifepristone. It was called RU-486 when it was being developed.

Both abortion pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, are usually used in order to terminate a pregnancy. Mifepristone causes the embryo to detach from the uterus thereby cutting off essential nutrients and oxygen carried by the blood.

Misoprostol is then taken otherwise and triggers the evacuation of the embryo remnants through the vagina. This often appears as a heavy period.

It is advisable that you consult with your medical practitioner for a further understanding of how the abortion pill works.

So, Is It Safe?

Yes. A recent Princeton University study found that less than 1 percent of women who take it experience any serious medical side effects. In rare cases, bacteria can make its way into your cervix and cause an infection, but there's no evidence that the pill causes that.

Women who have abortions don't suffer long-term psychological trauma either, although your hormones and emotions will probably be all over the place, even if you are sure of your decision. "Prepare for a feeling of loss before relief sets in," says Carin Goldstein, a family psychologist in L.A. Try to find a confidant who will support--not judge--you and help you move on.

How Effective Is the Abortion Pill?

You can feel confident in knowing that medication abortion with the abortion pill is very effective. It works about 97 out of every 100 times. You'll follow up with your health care provider after your abortion so you can be sure that it worked and that you are well.

Some of the medicines used in medication abortion may cause serious birth defects if the pregnancy continues. So, in the unlikely case that it doesn't work, you will need to have an aspiration abortion to end the pregnancy.

What Happens During a Medication Abortion?It's common for women to be nervous about having a medication abortion — or any other medical

Page 2: How does an abortion pill work

procedure. But many of us feel better if we know what to expect. Your health care provider will talk with you and answer your questions. Here's a general idea of how it works and what to expect.

Before taking the abortion pill, you will need to discuss your options talk about your medical history have laboratory tests have a physical exam. This usually includes an ultrasound. read and sign papers

You will also be given a medication guide, instructions, and other information to take home with you, including a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week telephone number you can call if you have any questions or concerns.

Medication abortion is a process that begins immediately after taking the abortion pill.

There are three steps: STEP ONE — THE ABORTION PILLYour health care provider will give you the abortion pill at the clinic. You will also be given some antibiotics to start taking after the abortion pill.

The abortion pill works by blocking the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, the lining of the uterus breaks down, and pregnancy cannot continue.

STEP TWO — MISOPROSTOLYou will take a second medicine — misoprostol. It causes the uterus to empty.

You and your health care provider will plan the timing and place for the second step. You'll take the second medicine up to three days after taking the abortion pill. Your health care provider will give you instructions on how and when to take the second medicine.

The second medicine — misoprostol — will cause you to have cramps and bleed heavily. Some women may begin bleeding before taking the second medicine. But for most, the bleeding and cramping begin after taking it. It usually lasts a few hours. You may see large blood clots or tissue at the time of the abortion.

More than half of women abort within four or five hours after taking the second medicine. For others, it takes longer. But most women abort within a few days.

It's normal to have some bleeding or spotting for up to four weeks after the abortion. You may use sanitary pads or tampons. But using pads makes it easier to keep track of your bleeding.

Page 3: How does an abortion pill work

How Does Medication Abortion Feel?

For most women, medication abortion is like an early miscarriage. It is normal for you to have bleeding and cramping. You might also

feel dizzy feel strong cramps feel nauseous or vomit have diarrhea feel temporary abdominal pain have temporary mild fever or chills Acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Advil) can reduce most of these symptoms. Do not take aspirin.

You may feel more at ease if you have a trusted loved one with you during the abortion.

STEP THREE — FOLLOW-UP

You will need to follow up within two weeks. Follow-up is important to make sure your abortion is complete and that you are well. You will need an ultrasound or blood test.

In the unlikely event that you are still pregnant, your health care provider will discuss your options with you. It's likely you will need to have an aspiration abortion if the medication abortion did not end the pregnancy.

Most women can have a medication abortion safely. But all medical procedures have some risks, so safety is a concern.

Rare, but possible risks include

an allergic reaction to either of the pills incomplete abortion — part of the pregnancy is left inside the uterus failure to end the pregnancy infection blood clots in the uterus undetected ectopic pregnancy very heavy bleeding

Most often, these complications are simple to treat with medicine or other treatments.

Medical abortion: The abortion pill after 9 weeks

Page 4: How does an abortion pill work

First appointment

A healthcare professional will give you the abortion pill to swallow while you are in the clinic.

You may then leave the clinic. Most women can carry on their usual lives at home or work but you may have some bleeding and period-like pains.

You may have nausea or vomiting. If you vomit within one and a half hours of taking the pill, please inform the clinic as soon as possible, as the tablet may not have been absorbed.

Second appointment

You will either return to the same bpas clinic or visit a different bpas clinic 1 or 2 days later. You will be admitted and tablets of misoprostol will be placed into your vagina. You may insert these tablets yourself or have a healthcare professional insert them for you.

A nurse will be in attendance and your progress will be monitored. You can rest in bed or be up and about as you wish. The misoprostol tablets will cause you to have cramps and bleeding. This usually starts about 2 hours after the misoprostol is placed, but may start sooner. You may need pain medicine, which we will provide.

The misoprostol will be repeated every 3 hours, until the abortion is complete. Many women will only require 1 or 2 doses of the misoprostol before the abortion happens, but it can take longer. You may need to stay overnight. If you have not completed the abortion after 5 doses of misoprostol then you will rest for 12 hours before starting again.

You may see large blood clots or the pregnancy at the time of the abortion. The nurse will try to make sure that you see very little, but sometimes this is not possible as events can be rapid.

Sometimes the placenta does not come out at the time of delivery. In this case, you may need more misoprostol or need to be taken to the operating theatre. On rare occasions you will need to be transferred to a local NHS hospital for further treatment.

It’s normal to have some bleeding or spotting for up to 4 weeks after the abortion. You should use sanitary pads as it makes it easier to keep track of your bleeding.

Side effects

For most women, medical abortion is like a miscarriage. It is normal for you to have bleeding and cramping. You might also:

Page 5: How does an abortion pill work

feel dizzy feel nauseous or have to vomit have a headache have diarrhoea have temporary flushes or sweats

A nurse will be with you at all times and will give you medicine to help control any side effects or pain you might have.

Contact us and you will get the best among the best abortion care.

For more information on medical abortions visit http://dramoswomensclinic.co.za/medical-abortion.html

Abortion pills http://www.dramoswomensclinic.co.za/abortions-pills.html

Safe abortions http://www.dramoswomensclinic.co.za/safe-abortion.html

Symptoms of pregnancy http://www.dramoswomensclinic.co.za/symptoms-of-pregnancy.html

Termination of pregnancy http://www.dramoswomensclinic.co.za/termination-of-pregnancy.html

Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures performed in South Africa each year. More than 40% of all women will end a pregnancy by abortion at some time in their reproductive lives.

We use tested abortion pills and we do womb cleaning as well.At very low costs