OUR SERVICES – ABORTION CARE
Medication Abortion
General Info
A medical abortion is a safe, non-surgical way to end an early pregnancy by using a combination of two prescription medications, mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the hormone you need to support a pregnancy. Misoprostol causes cramping and bleeding to empty your uterus.
To be eligible for medication abortion:
- You must have started your last period no more than 77 days, or 11 weeks, before beginning the abortion process
- If choosing telehealth, you must have started your last period no more than 56 days or 8 weeks before beginning the abortion process.
- If you are over 8 weeks you must be able to come to our office for an ultrasound and lab work.
- You must be able to clear your schedule for a 24-hour period after you take the second medication.
- Ideally, you should have a support person who can be available to be with you for up to 24 hours.
- It is essential that you have access to a phone and reliable transportation in case of a medical emergency.
When you call to schedule an appointment for an abortion procedure, please be aware that we will be reviewing a great deal of information with you, so give yourself about 15-20 minutes of private time to speak with us. We will need to determine how far you are into your pregnancy, as measured from the first day of your LMP. During this time we will discuss which abortion procedure is right for you, medication or surgical.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
In-Person Medication Abortion Process:
Paperwork:
Once your medication abortion appointment is scheduled, a health worker will email you the necessary paperwork to review before your visit.
Appointment Day: Plan to be at EHC for approximately two hours. During this time, you will have:
- A urine pregnancy test and a blood test (finger stick) for anemia
- A pregnancy-dating vaginal ultrasound
- After your ultrasound, you will meet privately with a health worker who will:
- Review your medical history
- Discuss your options and answer any questions
- Provide in-depth information about the risks and complications associated with your options
- If desired, you will discuss birth control options to help you choose the method that best suits you.
Taking Mifeprex:
- After you sign your consent form you will take the first medication, Mifeprex, by mouth in the office.
Taking Misoprostol:
- 24-48 hours after taking Mifeprex, you will take Misoprostol at home. You should expect moderate to heavy bleeding and cramping, which can range from mild to severe. The pregnancy tissue is usually passed within 6-8 hours, but it may take longer. You are asked to clear your schedule for 24 hours.
Follow-Up Care:
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- A follow-up phone call will be scheduled one week after your appointment to check in regarding how your abortion process went.
- 4 weeks after your pill abortion you are advised to take a home pregnancy to confirm that the abortion was completed successfully.
Telehealth Medication Abortion Process:
You can also choose to undergo a fully remote medication abortion via telehealth. Here’s what to expect:
Before Your Appointment:
- You will receive a set of forms to complete and sign online. These must be submitted by the morning of your appointment. If they are not completed by that time, you will need to reschedule.
- Upload a picture of your ID to verify your identity.
Telehealth Eligibility Requirements:
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- You must be located in New Hampshire.
- You must have a private, quiet space available for your video consultation.
Day of Your Appointment:
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- Plan on this televisit lasting about one hour.
- You will have a video consultation with the medical provider to review your medical history.
- Afterward, you will video privately with a health worker to discuss your options, answer any questions and provide in-depth information about the risks and complications associated with your options.
Receiving the Pills:
- After your appointment, your medication will be mailed to you within 48 hours, or you can choose to pick it up in person at EHC . You will pre-schedule a time to take both Mifeprex and Misoprostol at home. 24-48 hours after taking Mifeprex, you will take Misoprostol. You should expect moderate to heavy bleeding and cramping, which can range from mild to severe. The pregnancy tissue is usually passed within 6-8 hours, but it may take longer. We ask that you clear your schedule for 24 hours to allow for this process.
Follow-Up Care:
- A follow-up phone call will be scheduled one week after your appointment to check in regarding how your abortion process went.
- 4 weeks after your pill abortion you are advised to take a home pregnancy to confirm that the abortion was completed successfully.
Additional Considerations:
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- Since you will not have an in-person evaluation, ultrasound or lab testing, there are additional considerations. Strict eligibility guidelines apply, so contact us to determine if you qualify.
- Telehealth medication abortion is not available for individuals under 18 years of age.
Equality Health Center staff are on-call 24-hours a day, 7 days/week to respond to medical emergencies, answer questions and provide support to those undergoing the medication abortion procedure at home. We urge those choosing this method to call us if they have any concerns about the process or their symptoms.
