Every medical procedure comes with side effects and risks, so the term “safe” is a challenging one to use. Medline Plus states that miscarriage or abortion (either medical or surgical) can cause serious or life-threatening vaginal bleeding, so there are always risks, no matter what.
That said, online abortion or at-home abortion comes with additional risks to consider, and certain factors can make it safer or more dangerous.
Read on to learn more about the abortion pill and the safety considerations to keep in mind. To protect your health and safety, always confirm your pregnancy with pregnancy testing and an ultrasound. Schedule an appointment for free at Oasis Women’s Services.
What Is an Online Abortion?
An online abortion and an at-home abortion are both names for the abortion pill (officially known as medical abortion). However, while they use the same drugs, “online” describes a different way of receiving the drugs.
Abortion pills can be found online, sometimes through shady sources. If they are outside the United States’ highly regulated supply chain, the FDA cannot guarantee the quality, safety, or effectiveness of their ingredients. This makes online abortion inherently more risky than receiving drugs in person from a certified prescriber or pharmacy.
The FDA does not recommend buying mifepristone (the first abortion drug) online.
Safety Considerations in General
The abortion pill works by using mifepristone to block progesterone and end the pregnancy, followed by using misoprostol to trigger uterine contractions. The contractions may be painful as they cause abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding to expel the pregnancy.
Here are some factors that make the abortion pill less safe or completely unsafe:
- Having certain medical conditions, especially related to blood or your circulatory system
- Taking specific medications, such as a blood thinner or a steroid
- Being farther along than the FDA-approved ten-week timeframe
- Being allergic to any of the drugs used (mifepristone and misoprostol)
- Having an ectopic pregnancy, which can only be detected via an ultrasound
- Having an IUD currently in place, as it must be removed first
- Not having access to emergency care or being able to follow up with a provider
Issues Specific to Online Abortion
You may have noticed that some of the above safety considerations could make an online abortion less safe than another type of abortion. These include:
- If your provider is online, you may not have access to emergency care or follow-up.
- If you didn’t have an ultrasound scan, you would not know how far along you are or whether you have an ectopic pregnancy.
- You can’t verify that the drugs are the proper ingredients or dosage.
Due to these issues, there are many safer options than an online abortion. However, no abortion type is considered completely safe.
Protect Your Health and Safety
Protecting your health starts by confirming your pregnancy with an ultrasound scan. An ultrasound will tell you how far along you are (i.e., within or beyond 10 weeks of gestation), and rule out complications like miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
If considering an abortion, you should also discuss your health conditions, medications, and allergies with a medical professional, along with getting tested for STDs.
Contact Oasis Women’s Services to confirm your pregnancy and review your options in a safe space. All of our appointments are completely free.
You deserve to make a confident choice that prioritizes your health.