What is a Medical Abortion?

December 21, 2023

Medical abortion is just one option for women with unplanned pregnancies. You may have also heard this method referred to as the abortion pill or a medication abortion.

In Arkansas, abortion is illegal except when a provider deems it necessary to save the mother’s life. This means that in most cases, you’ll need to travel for an out-of-state abortion procedure. But before you make travel plans, make sure you have a pre-abortion screening first.

Understanding this abortion method is critical when weighing your options. Staying informed is an excellent way to protect your health and make a confident decision.

How Medical Abortion Works

Medical abortion is FDA-approved for pregnancies through ten weeks gestation (the term used to describe how far along you are in your pregnancy). The method uses two drugs to terminate an early viable (growing) pregnancy.

Mifepristone, the first drug, blocks progesterone, and misoprostol causes uterine contractions that expel the pregnancy tissue from the body.

If you have a medical abortion, you will experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. Some women also have side effects like headache, diarrhea, fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. 

Though the chances of developing a medical abortion-related risk are low, they’re possible and depend on multiple factors, including your unique situation and health status. These risks include:

• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive system discomfort
• Heavy, prolonged bleeding
• Incomplete abortion (which may require surgical treatment)
• An ongoing pregnancy (if the medications don’t work)

Before a Pregnancy Decision

If you’re considering abortion, you should take several steps to safeguard your well-being. 

Take advantage of Elevate Women’s Center’s no-cost pre-abortion screening, which includes a medical-grade pregnancy test and ultrasound.

Having an ultrasound is an essential step in the decision-making process. You’ll learn valuable details about your pregnancy’s viability, gestational age, and location–all information you need to make a decision. Ultrasound can also identify certain conditions like miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. 

We’re here for you to help provide the details you need to make a confident decision. 

Contact Us Today

Elevate Women’s Center offers no-cost pregnancy services. While we don’t provide or refer for abortions, we are a helpful resource for accurate information on all pregnancy options.

Contact us today to book an appointment.