With the overturn of Roe v. Wade, many women facing unplanned pregnancy are considering the abortion pill. If this is you, we want you to have as much information as possible to make an informed decision. We would love for you to come in and talk about your options with us in a safe, compassionate environment where you can slow down and make the best decision for yourself.
Meanwhile, here are some things you might not know about the abortion pill:
- In Arkansas, the abortion pill is illegal. If you live in a state that has banned abortion (such as Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Mississippi, to name a few), It is against the law to mail-order abortion pills to your home. Additionally, it is very dangerous to do so, because not only do you not know what you’re actually getting, but also the procedure requires at least two doctor’s office visits – first, to make sure that your pregnancy qualifies for a chemical abortion (if your pregnancy is ectopic, taking the abortion pill won’t work), and then later, to make sure that the abortion is complete (1 out of 12 women still remain pregnant after taking the abortion pill).
- The abortion pill is only for early pregnancy. The abortion pill is only FDA approved for use within 70 days LMP, that is, in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Taking it after that poses significant health risks to the mother and it is less likely to be effective.
- It’s actually 2 pills, not one. The first pill contains the drug mifepristone, which cuts off the supply of blood and nutrients to the developing embryo, causing it to die. One to two days later, a second drug, misoprostol is taken, and cramping and bleeding begin that will eventually cause the mother’s body to expel the embryo.
- What happens after: The embryo comes out after the second pill, and bleeding typically lasts 1-2 weeks. There is a good chance you will see the embryo when it’s expelled, and if you’re beyond 8 weeks LMP, identifiable body parts can be seen. Up to 8% of women may experience some bleeding for 30 days or more. 2-7% of women taking the abortion pill will need a surgical procedure either to stop bleeding or because the abortion was not complete.
The abortion pill has physical side effects and also emotional ones. We would love to talk to you about ALL your options and how we can be here to support you no matter your choices. If you have questions or have started the procedure and do not want to complete it, please give us a call (870) 862-1317.
*Source Information taken from the US Food and Drug Administration (fda.gov), the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health (nlm.nih.gov), and the Guttmacher Institute (Guttmacher.org).
