You can order anything online today; books, movies, cars, and even houses! You can also order the abortion pill online, but is it safe?
Here’s what you should know.
What is an At-Home or Online Abortion?
At-home abortions, more commonly known as the abortion pill or medical abortions, consist of two drugs that work to end a pregnancy.
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the pregnancy hormone called progesterone. This causes the uterus to thin to where the embryo cannot survive and detaches.
After mifepristone is taken, the second drug, misoprostol, is taken to cause contractions to expel the embryo from the body through the vagina.
What Are the Risks of an At-Home Abortion?
For various reasons, medications do not always work as intended. Some of the potential risks of an online abortion include
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
- Potential mental health impacts
Before taking any medication, one should always consult a trusted medical professional.
Your mental health is just as important as your physical well-being. In addition to physical risks, there are also mental health risks when having an abortion.
According to the National Institute of Health, “at least some women have significant mental health issues that are caused, triggered, aggravated, or complicated by their abortion experience.”
The Mayo Clinic lists many signs of potential negative impacts on your mental health like
- Feeling sad or down
- Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
- Excessive fears or worries or extreme feelings of guilt
- Drastic mood changes of highs and lows
- Withdrawal from friends and activities
- Significant tiredness, low energy, or problems sleeping
- Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia, or hallucinations
- Inability to cope with daily problems or stress
- Trouble understanding and relating to situations and people
- Problems with alcohol or drug use
- Major changes in eating habits
- Sex drive changes
- Excessive anger, hostility, or violence
- Suicidal thinking
If you are experiencing any of these, reach out to a trusted medical professional or friend as soon as possible.
What Should I Do First?
Your health and safety are the top priority.
For this reason, you owe it to yourself to receive a medical-grade pregnancy test and ultrasound to verify that there are no complications with your pregnancy, like a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. Ultrasounds also help determine how far along you are so that you can learn about your options.
We want you to have all the necessary answers to feel confident in your decision. Contact us today. You’re not alone!