Abortion Pill

Medical abortion is induced with a medication called RU486 (mifepristone) given in combination with cytotec (also known as misoprostol). The pill is effective for an early pregnancy, and works about 90-95% of time. It is therefore very effective. Sometimes, severe cramping, pain, and bleeding can occur, and on rare occasions might result in an emergency. A rare risk of the medication includes sudden hemorrhage, which may necessitate surgical D and C. This method is usually very successful, and its advantage is that it avoids the more invasive D and C procedure which carries with it more risks. If the pregnancy is early enough, we usually recommend the pill over the surgery, again because it is very effective and carries less risk than the surgical removal. Of course, this is dependent on the patient's medical history and current situation. The consultation with our physician will help determine if the pill is right for you.

The medication is effective up to 10 weeks from the last menstrual period, if periods are accurate and regular, which is equal to 8 weeks from the time of conception. After 10 weeks, it is no longer effective, and it will not be an option. After 10 weeks, surgical removal is the only option. During those 10 weeks, sooner is usually better. The sooner it is, the smaller it is, and there is less pain, less bleeding, less risk of hemorrhage, and it is slightly more effective.

Your physician will go over the instructions on how to exactly take the pills for maximum effectiveness. Properly following this protocol is crucial to ensure success. On Day 1, Mifeprex is swallowed, which usually has no immediate effect. On Day 2, after 24-36 hours, Misoprostol is taken as a set of 4 pills together between the gum and the cheeks. The process of the expulsion usually begins within a few hours of taking the second medicine on Day 2.

This is certainly a possibility, however it is usually rare. For this reason, we recommend that you return for a follow up visit within 2-3 weeks, to ensure that the termination was successful. This treatment has a very high success rate, working at least 90-95% of the time according to published research. In our practice, we find an over 95% success rate, which is almost as good as the surgical method. Remember, even the surgical removal method carries a chance of failure, which is only slightly better than with the medication method. Even though failure is always a possibility, it is always better to try a non-invasive method first which almost always works, and only resort to more invasive surgery in the rare event that it fails. We utilize the protocol that carries the highest success rate in the United States, so we offer you the best chance of success in our facility.

This method will cause a miscarriage. The process is the same as a natural miscarriage; the only difference is that it is brought about after taking these medications. A miscarriage is the body's natural process of expelling a pregnancy. The uterus will contract to push out the tissue. The contractions are perceived as cramps, not like labor contractions, since the pregnancy is very much smaller than a term fetus. The cramps will be accompanied by bleeding, which can vary from very mild to very heavy. The severity of the cramps and the bleeding are usually proportional to the gestational age. The earlier, the less cramping pain and the less the bleeding, as there is considerably less tissue that needs to be expelled. This is the reason that we say earlier is always better.

The mifeprex doesn't usually have any side effects. The side effect profile is tied to the second set of pills that are taken, called misoprostol or cytotec. Misoprostol can cause gastro-intestinal effects of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It can also cause sensation of warmth or cold, fevers, and chills. Remember, some people may not experience any of the effects, while others may experience some or all of them. All of these side effects are normal, and are no cause for alarm. Usually, they are very short lived and go away within a few hours. Most people will have only minimal side effects, if any, and majority will not require any of the treatments mentioned above, although they remain an option.