OUR SERVICES – ABORTION CARE
Medication Abortion
General Info
Medication abortion – sometimes called the pill abortion, RU-486, the abortion pill, or the early option pill, is a process similar to miscarriage, induced by a combination of medications. It requires two visits to the Health Center, as well as a 24-hour period during which you will pass the pregnancy at your own home.
In order to be eligible for medication abortion – abortion by pill:
- You must have started your last period no more than 77 days, or 11 weeks, before you begin the medication abortion process.
- You must be able to come to the health center for one required appointment, and a telehealth or in-person follow-up appointment.
- 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 the event of a medical emergency.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
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 last normal period (LMP). During this time we will discuss which abortion procedure is right for you, medication or surgical.
Once you have made your abortion by pill appointment, a health worker from our staff will e-mail you your paperwork to review prior to your appointment.
On the day of your medication abortion, plan to be at the Health Center for approximately two hours. You will need to have several labs completed including a urine pregnancy test and blood tests for Rh typing and anemia. You will meet with our medical practitioner, who will review your medical history and do a brief physical exam and pregnancy-dating vaginal ultrasound.
Afterwards, you will speak privately with a health worker. At this time, we will discuss your options with you, answering any questions you may have. It is important that you understand the risks and complications associated with all of your pregnancy options; and that you make a choice regarding your pregnancy of your own free will. Your health worker will provide you with in-depth information regarding the abortion process and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
After the counseling portion of your appointment you will be given the first medication, Mifeprex, which you take by mouth in the office.
Between 24 and 48 hours after you take the Mifeprex in the office, you will take Misoprostol at your home, at a time you have agreed on with your practitioner. After taking Misoprostol you should expect to have moderate to heavy bleeding and cramping that can be mild to severe at times. The pregnancy tissue is usually passed within six to eight hours from the time you take the Misoprostol, but it may take longer, which is why we ask you to clear your schedule for 24 hours.
Your health worker will also help you examine the different methods of birth control and other related considerations as you determine which method of contraception is best for you. It is important to remember that all birth control methods try to prevent pregnancy, but most do not prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. If you are sexually active and using some form of birth control, it is important to pick a method that you will remember to use as directed to reduce possible failure.
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.
Follow-Up Care
If you had a medication abortion (an abortion by pill), it is essential that you attend a 30 minute follow-up appointment, one week after your first appointment, to be sure that the procedure is complete. This appointment can be in person or telehealth. There is no cost for this visit, as it is covered in your initial fee. The medical provider will talk to you about how you are doing, both emotionally and physically. If you haven’t already done so, you will also have the opportunity to discuss birth control options and choose a method.
