What are the Risks of Ordering the Abortion Pill Online?
If you’re thinking about ordering the abortion pill online, it’s essential to read up on the potential risks and side effects you may encounter.
Risks of Ordering the Abortion Pill Online
Skipping scans and tests pose health risks
While politics and news often surround the topic of abortion access, there is very little talk about providing access to necessary pre-abortion screenings like ultrasounds and STD testing. You might be wondering, “Why would I need those tests if I’m just looking to get an abortion?”
The reality is, abortion is a serious medical procedure and without the necessary precautions, the process can lead to serious, if not fatal, consequences. Pre-abortion screenings are necessary to ensure there are no conditions surrounding your health or your pregnancy that could lead to unnecessary complications like infections and hemorrhaging.
An ultrasound can uncover serious conditions like ectopic pregnancy. STI testing (also referred to as STD testing) will identify if you have any current infections which can lead to complications.
For a free ultrasound, schedule your appointment with Assure Women’s Center today!
You might be too far along to have a medical abortion.
The abortion pill is only available in the first nine weeks of gestation. An abortion attempt later on in the pregnancy will likely be ineffective or lead to an incomplete abortion, resulting in dangerous health risks.
An ultrasound will help your doctor verify your due date and give you information on the abortion options available to you.
Online medication is likely not tested and approved by the FDA.
Medication ordered online is often sold by fake pharmaceutical sites that do not undergo the proper screening and testing. The abortion pill should only be accessed through the proper channels, providing FDA-approved medication.
The abortion pill can be fatal, especially when taken without medical supervision.
Women who take the abortion pill, even when accessed through the proper channels, can expect to experience side effects such as cramps, nausea, vomiting, bleeding, abdominal pain, and flu-like symptoms.
In addition to these side effects, you may also experience some serious risks. The FDA warns that abortion can lead to “serious and sometimes fatal infections or bleeding.”
While these risks can sometimes be managed when supervised closely by a medical professional, at-home abortions come with additional complications related to lack of access to emergency care. If faced with an infection or hemorrhaging, you might not be able to address serious conditions in time.
At-home abortion attempts can lead to long-term, serious mental health complications.
The process of having an abortion at home can be accompanied by intense feelings of trauma, guilt, and shame, leading to serious mental health conditions down the road.1
Is the abortion pill right for me?
Before you decide if the abortion pill is right for you, take the time you need to be informed so you can make an empowered choice for you and your future!
Follow these steps to learn more:
1. Find lab-quality pregnancy testing near you.
- Schedule an appointment for an ultrasound scan.
- Talk to a trained professional so that you can fully understand all of the options available to you!
Assure Women’s Center is here to help! We provide no-cost pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and options counseling to help you make an informed decision during this time.
- Broen AN, Moum T, Bødtker AS, Ekeberg O. The course of mental health after miscarriage and induced abortion: a longitudinal, fiveyear follow-up study. BMC Med. 2005;3:18.
