Abortion Pill

The “abortion pill” refers to pills that are used to end an early pregnancy in the comfort of your home. There are different pills, and different ways to take them. Clinicians that are part of MYA Network want to help you to choose the method that works best for you.

What are the abortion pill options?

1) The most common and effective method involves taking 2 different kinds of pills. The first pill, mifepristone, blocks the pregnancy hormones. The second set of pills, misoprostol, are taken 6-72 hours later. This works almost 99% of the time. The only disadvantage to this method is that you may have to go to a clinician’s office to pick up the pills.

2) Another option is to use misoprostol only. This method is a little less effective (it works about 85% – 90% of the time) and may have more side effects, but the advantage is that the pills are very inexpensive and can be picked up at any local pharmacy.

In both cases, the pills induce a “miscarriage,” causing some cramping and bleeding. We will help you to make this process as comfortable as possible.

Step 1

Contact Your Local Office

Find out if MYA Network is right for you and talk about the options near you. Click here to proceed.

Step 2

Consultation

Meet with your clinician by video, phone, email or text to decide which option is best for you.

Step 3

Abortion Pills

Get your pills by mail or in person and take them as directed. Your MYA clinician will have 24/7 medical support available.

Step 4

Follow Up

Have a follow up visit with your clinician by video, phone, email or text to confirm you’re no longer pregnant.

Advantages of the abortion pill:

Convenience – You may not need to leave your home at all. You can have a video visit with your clinician and, depending on which method you choose, pills may be mailed to your home. Most people will not need an ultrasound or blood test.

Comfort – You will be in the comfort of your own home, set up however you like it and with anyone you want to have with you, when the pregnancy ends.

Control – You decide when to take the pills, so you can schedule around work, school or other responsibilities. You decide who will be with you and what the setting will be like.

Confidentiality – When you don’t have to go into an office or pharmacy, this becomes a completely confidential process. When you don’t have to go into an abortion clinic, you don’t have to deal with protestors who don’t know you or your life situation. The abortion pill can be the most private option.

FAQ

How does the abortion pill work?

Mifepristone (the first pill) blocks the hormone needed to sustain a pregnancy.

Misoprostol (Cytotec) (the second set of pills) causes the miscarriage by causing the uterus to contract. It is usually taken at home, 6 – 72 hours after taking the first pill.

Misoprostol can also be taken without mifepristone, but it is a little less effective and may have more side effects.

What symptoms will I have when I take the pills?

Most people don’t have any symptoms after taking mifepristone. Some have spotting or bleeding.

Most people have symptoms of cramping and bleeding after taking misoprostol. These symptoms indicate the medicine is working and that your miscarriage is starting.

The bleeding is usually manageable. Your clinician will let you know what to expect during the miscarriage and for the weeks after taking the pills. For most people, the heaviest bleeding ends once the pregnancy has passed, in the first 3-4 hours. You will be using pads instead of tampons for the first 48 hours. Ongoing, intermittent bleeding is common for the next few weeks.

Cramping is common, and usually lasts for a few hours. Your clinician will help you to take pain medicines to make it more comfortable. Heat (on the belly from a heating pad or hot water bottle) is also very helpful.

Some people have mild flu-like symptoms for a few hours, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low grade fever, or chills.

Clinicians in the MYA Network are well trained to help you know what to expect and to help you to feel comfortable. We are on call for you 24/7. We can prescribe pain medicines and anti-nausea medicines, and will have advice for how to make the process tolerable.

How effective is the abortion pill?

A mifepristone/misoprostol abortion is nearly 99% effective. About 95% of people complete the miscarriage with one set of misoprostol. Another 4% require a second set of misoprostol.

A misoprostol-only abortion is approximately 85% – 90% effective.

What if it fails?

A mifepristone/misoprostol abortion pill fails about 1-2% of the time. A misoprostol-only abortion fails about 10-15% of the time. Clinicians at the MYA Network will help you to find the best place for you to get a procedure to complete the abortion. Some clinicians in our network offer the Manual Uterine Aspiration procedure. This is a quick and gentle way to remove early pregnancy tissue from the uterus.

How do I make an appointment?

Click here to make an appointment.

How much does it cost?

The cost depends on where you live – different clinicians will have different costs, so please click here to find a clinician near you.

How safe is the Abortion Pill?

Extremely safe – even safer than giving birth! Abortion pills have been used by hundreds of thousands of people in the US and millions of people worldwide for over 20 years. There are no indications that the abortion pill affects a person’s ability to have a baby when they are ready — neither getting pregnant nor staying pregnant in the future are affected by using the abortion pill. Our clinicians will review any possible risks and complications with you at your visit.