What to Expect During an At-Home Abortion
- Marsha's Places Pregnancy Resource Center
- Sep 10
- 4 min read
While skipping the abortion clinic and ordering online may look like an easy, stress-free, safe option, you may not know the risks involved. We can share more about what you need to know ahead of time and what to do if things go wrong at home.
Your best first step is to confirm a viable intrauterine pregnancy and rule out an ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threatening. An ultrasound can also tell you how far along you are. This information can determine if you qualify for the abortion pill and what your options are. Book a cost-free consultation and ultrasound appointment. No insurance is required, and same-day appointments are often available.
Is it safe to order abortion pills by mail?
The abortion pill comes with a black box label, which is the highest level of caution assigned by the FDA. Taking the abortion pill without seeing a doctor or having an ultrasound is never recommended. The side effects range from unpleasant (cramping, bleeding, nausea, headache, fever) to life-threatening (sepsis, rupturing of the uterus, undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, and more). Due to a lack of regulations and unsafe medications, the FDA also issued a warning about ordering pills online.
Marsha's Place puts you and your safety first, and we'd never recommend an unsafe option. While we do not refer or provide abortion services, we can give you the answers you need to make an informed choice.
What happens during an at-home abortion?
The first pill, mifepristone, is taken by mouth and works by blocking the action of the hormone (progesterone) that supports a developing pregnancy.* Mifepristone cuts off the nutrients to the fetus. The second drug, misoprostol, causes your cervix to soften and begins the labor process, causing the uterus to contract hard enough to expel the fetus.
After both drugs have been taken, you can expect the following to occur:
Bleeding, cramping, and contractions start between one and four hours after taking the second pill.
Heavy bleeding with blood clots for the next several hours.
Heavy cramping for several hours.
A low fever or chills that last about a day after taking the second pill.
Nausea and dizziness
Other side effects and risks of a chemical abortion are:
Incomplete abortion
Large, life-threatening blood clots or continuous bleeding
High fever and infection
Diarrhea and digestive pain
Vomiting
Ulcers
Severe pelvic pain
Sepsis
Rupturing of the uterus
Other allergic reactions to the drug(s)
If you have an incomplete abortion, large blood clots, a fever over 104, or allergic reactions to the medication, contact 911 immediately. In rare cases, it can be potentially fatal.
We also often hear from women who had an abortion at home. Some shared how isolated and alone they felt. Others said they wished someone had been with them. They were scared to be alone when the situation didn’t go as planned or needed medical help. No woman should ever feel this way. If you’ve already had an abortion and need to talk about your experience or have just started the at-home process, please contact Marsha's Place in Henderson, KY.
What if I already ordered abortion pills online?
Ordering the abortion pill online is not considered safe. While it is possible, the restrictions and regulations that keep prescriptions safe are not guaranteed when purchasing over the internet. However, if you’ve already ordered pills, we can still provide you with an ultrasound to confirm how far along you are. You can still talk about your options and make a decision without the long-term consequences to your health.
I only took the first pill; what are my options?
It’s possible to continue your pregnancy if the first dose was taken and action is taken within 24-48 hours. If you change your mind after taking the pill, contact the Abortion Pill Reversal network immediately. They will discreetly connect you with a network of doctors and health professionals who can start the reversal process.
Since the first drug cuts off progesterone to the fetus, a hormone needed for the fetus to live, the abortion pill reversal protocol gives women progesterone so the pregnancy can continue to develop.
How We Can Help
We provide pregnancy testing and ultrasound confirmation to any woman considering abortion so that you can have the answers you need to make an informed choice. It’s also important to talk through your medical and health history so you can know if there are any conditions that would prevent you from taking the abortion pill.
We care about your safety. Contact us to learn more about all of your pregnancy options.
References
Flanders, N. (2022). Five abortion pill dangers every woman should know. Live Action News. https://www.liveaction.org/news/abortion-pill-dangers-women/
Bowen, S. (2020). At-home abortions: A deadly trend. Pregnancy Help News. https://pregnancyhelpnews.com/at-home-abortions-a-deadly-trend
Research, C. F. D. E. A. (2023b). Information about Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation. U.S. Food And Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/mifeprex-mifepristone-information
Novielli, C. (2022). Abortion industry promotes ‘missed period pills’ so women won’t know if they were pregnant. Pregnancy Help News. https://pregnancyhelpnews.com/abortion-industry-promotes-missed-period-pills-so-women-won-t-know-if-they-were-pregnant
Boquet, S. J. (2022, May 6). At-Home abortions are not Pro-Woman | Human Life International. Human Life International. https://www.hli.org/2021/04/at-home-abortions-are-not-pro-woman/
Ertelt, S. (2018, July 23). Abortion pill injures more women than ever before, requiring hospitalizations or even blood transfusions - LifeNews.com. LifeNews.com. https://www.lifenews.com/2018/07/20/abortion-pill-injures-more-women-than-ever-before-requiring-hospitalizations-or-even-blood-transfusions/
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