An online or at-home abortion involves ordering the drugs for a medical abortion to take at home without visiting an abortion clinic or healthcare provider.

The FDA advises against buying abortion drugs online, as it bypasses many safeguards and can put your health at risk. This is because they cannot guarantee the quality, effectiveness, or that you even receive the correct drugs. Many online markets are overseas providers who fall outside of FDA regulation.

These are only a few reasons an at-home abortion can be risky. We’ll cover what else you need to know before ordering abortion drugs online.

Knowing The Health Risks

A medical abortion, or what is known as “the abortion pill,” involves taking two powerful drugs to end a pregnancy.

Without visiting a healthcare provider, you are missing important details such as side effects, risks, and what to look for in the event of a complication.

After taking the abortion pills, you would experience vaginal bleeding and cramping in the stomach area. Other side effects include upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, and headache.

Even though you might think this is simply taking drugs, it’s considered a serious medical procedure. As with any medical intervention, there are potential risks to be aware of, such as:

• The body not releasing all pregnancy tissue in the uterus, also called an incomplete abortion. This may require surgical abortion.
• An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work.
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding.
• Infection.
• Fever.
• Digestive symptoms such as upset stomach.

Knowing If You’re Eligible

There are a variety of circumstances where taking the abortion pills is not an option for you, such as if you:

• Are too far along in your pregnancy. You shouldn’t attempt a medical abortion if you’ve been pregnant for more than 11 weeks. A pregnancy is dated from the first day of your last menstrual period.
• Have an intrauterine device (IUD) currently in place.
• Have a suspected pregnancy outside of the uterus. This is called ectopic pregnancy.
• Have certain medical conditions. These include anemia; some bleeding disorders; chronic adrenal failure; certain heart or blood vessel diseases; severe liver, kidney or lung disease; or an uncontrolled seizure disorder.
• Take a blood thinner or certain steroid medicines.
• Can’t reach a healthcare professional by phone or online, or don’t have access to emergency care.
• Have an allergy to the medicine used in a medical abortion.

Protect Your Health

The best way to safeguard your health is to get informed and have an ultrasound. This will give you critical details about your pregnancy that will unlock the options available to you.

Life Options Clinic offers free ultrasounds if you’re unexpectedly pregnant and considering abortion. Let us help you get the answers to your burning questions.

Reach out to us today for confidential pregnancy support.