Ordering the abortion pill after a telehealth appointment with a doctor may not be the solution you were hoping for your unplanned pregnancy. Although it may seem discreet and convenient, this option does come with risks that are often underrepresented.
What is the Risk of Ordering the Abortion Pill Online?
The most obvious risk of ordering the abortion pill online, is that it skips several essential steps that can be crucial to protecting your health. The first is that it’s wise to take a pregnancy test, first thing in the morning on the day after you missed your period, to confirm the pregnancy rather than just experiencing a late period.
The second, and most crucial step is to have an ultrasound, before obtaining an abortion pill prescription, or pills directly through the mail. Obtaining abortion pills through a telehealth appointment or online services which do not involve a telehealth visit at all, or even require proof of pregnancy is not recommended.
An ultrasound can verify 3 things:
- It can verify If your pregnancy is in the uterus. If you have an ectopic pregnancy you cannot take the abortion pill and this is a medical emergency and will require immediate medical help.
- It can verify how far along you are by ultrasound measurement, not your period. You may be ineligible to take the abortion pill if you are too far along.
- It can verify If the pregnancy is viable, 20-25% of early pregnancies end in miscarriage. You do not want an abortion if you do not need one.
You May Not Qualify for the Abortion Pill
According to the Mayo Clinic, some of these conditions may eliminate your ability to use the abortion pill:
- Your pregnancy is too far along
- You have an intrauterine device (IUD)
- You have an ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy is located outside the uterus)
- You are taking certain medical conditions, such as bleeding disorders, particular heart or blood vessel diseases, uncontrolled seizures, etc.
- Take a blood thinner or certain steroid medications
- Can’t make follow-up visits to your doctor
The Abortion Pill Comes with Risks
Mayo Clinic lists the potential risks of medical abortion as follows:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the medication abortion doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever, especially serious if longer than 24 hours
Next Step
Your health matters more than convenience, so make sure you take steps to schedule an ultrasound before you decide if a medication abortion is the best choice for you. Our center offers no-cost ultrasounds and a confidential, pressure-free environment for you to learn about the pregnancy process and what options are available to you.
Make an appointment for a no-cost pregnancy confirmation appointment today. Ultrasounds are available by appointment only. We are here for you!
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.