Understanding Medical Abortion: Process, Safety & Expectations

Understanding Medical Abortion: Process, Safety & Expectations

A medical abortion procedure is termination of early pregnancy with the help of drugs like Misoprostol and Mifepristone, typically at home. The non-surgical abortion procedure provides you with privacy, comfort, and a low-cost solution to an unwanted pregnancy. The pregnancy should still be within the uterus and not advance more than 12 weeks for the pills involved in medical abortion to drain the uterus effectively. Not every individual knows the way medical abortion happens, and hence in this article we will learn about the process of action, dosage, symptoms of the process, and much more deeply.


What is the procedure of medical abortion, and how does it work?

Drug administration to remove all conception products from the uterus is known as medical termination of pregnancy. The procedure does not involve hospitalization or invasive therapy. So, how medical abortion works with Mifepristone and Misoprostol pills? The anti-progesterone action of the Mifepristone 200mg pill can end the conception. For removing the fetus from the uterine lining, Mifepristone tablet allows the shedding of the endometrium.

Then, the Misoprostol 800mg tablets induce uterine contractions, enabling pregnancy tissue to be expelled from the uterus successfully. This may lead to heavy vaginal bleeding, cervical dilation, and abdominal cramping and pain. The effects from pills used for medical abortion are temporary, but also a sign that the procedure is proceeding properly and as expected.


How Are Pills Used for Medical Abortion, or Their Dosage?

Remember that the medical abortion process functions differently from birth control pills. When it comes to contraceptive pills to prevent pregnancy, it is about keeping a pregnancy from happening, usually by taking a pill every day. However, how medical abortion works is by expelling a pregnancy that is already ongoing. First, on day 1, take 200 mg of Mifepristone orally with water. After 24 to 48 hours, place two 200mcg Misoprostol pills in each cheek pouch (total 4 pills) in buccal form of intake.

After half an hour, the medication dissolves and can be ingested with a sip of water. Or, you may insert the Misoprostol pills vaginally as well. The vaginal route is safe if you are taking only 4 Misoprostol pills, i.e., for a pregnancy within 5 weeks. For a pregnancy over 5 weeks but within 12 weeks, the buccal method is conducive. So, in the vaginal method, the pills stay in the vagina for half an hour as you are in a lying down position. The medicine melts and gets absorbed into your body. Do not urinate or douche during this period.


How to Make Arrangements for a Medical Abortion?

Firstly, understand if you are pregnant or not via a physical examination and an ultrasound scan of the abdomen. This will tell you the pregnancy weeks and their location. The professional may recommend a few blood and urine tests to check for health conditions. If you choose the medical abortion process, then you must know what to expect and how to take the medicine at home. Make arrangements for supplies you require, as well as order pills used for medical abortion online or from a reliable place.

The important supplies to keep with you before the treatment are pain medication, packs of absorbent sanitary napkins, clean house clothing, tissue rolls, nutritious food products, and fresh towels. You can stock up on light snacks, electrolyte beverages, and anything else you may need to support the pregnancy termination. As much as knowing how medical abortion works is crucial, staying prepared for the treatment is also crucial. Always keep the contact information of a nearby emergency care centre that is open 24/7 in case of any contingency.


What Happens During an Abortion With Pills?

The signs of a medical abortion process include abdominal cramps and pain from the uterine contractions, and heavy vaginal bleeding. Large blood clots with pregnancy tissues are present. For blood flow, you must use larger sanitary pads rather than tampons or menstrual cups. To assist with the pain, you can take a pain medication. Alternatively, use a heating pad or a hot water bag. Additionally, take an antiemetic medication to treat nausea and vomiting. To compensate for water loss from diarrhea, drink enough water. Avoid going outdoors, driving, lifting heavy objects, or any kind of physical strain.

To combat fatigue and lightheadedness, get enough rest and sleep. Steer clear of excessive physical exercise and manage your emotional tension. Track how medical abortion works to notice if there are any unusual symptoms such as foul-smelly discharge, soaking over 2 large pads in less than 2 hours, or high fever lasting more than a day, getting unconscious, etc. These could be symptoms of an infection or profuse bleeding, which means you must seek medical assistance. Usually, these are just the rare complications of pills used for medical abortion, which otherwise have a high success rate of 95% to 99%.


Medical Abortion Process Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common FAQs about pills used for medical abortion and the procedure itself:

FAQ

While the medical abortion process is safe for adult women, it is only effective for a pregnancy of less than 12 weeks. You can count the gestational age from the first day of the last menstrual period or by getting an ultrasound imaging of the whole abdomen. Moreover, even if the pregnancy is within the number of suggested weeks, it should be located within the uterus. The pills used for medical abortion do not give productive results for an extrauterine, an ectopic, or a complicated pregnancy. If you have any existing medical conditions, you must speak with a healthcare professional to understand your eligibility to undergo a medication pregnancy termination.
It is quick and simple to recover from a medical abortion process by taking care of your health. Keep a track of the symptoms and do everything to manage those to avoid any unpleasantness and discomfort. Simultaneously, avoid mental and physical stress and take enough rest, not forgetting to avoid heavy meals and alcohol consumption. Sleep enough to get over tiredness and allow your body to heal. Choose nutritious meals rich in protein, iron, vitamins, minerals, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid, and other important nutrients. You should be able to resume light work and regular chores after a couple of days (for some more), after pregnancy termination.
The fact is, how medical abortion works does not impact your fertility or chances of conceiving in the future. You can ovulate as early as two weeks after a successful ending of pregnancy. To prevent getting pregnant until you recover from the treatment, you can use a long-term birth control technique. Select the method of birth control that your physician recommends for you, whether it be birth control pills, shots, IUDs, skin patches, vaginal rings, etc. You must wait for the bleeding to stop or lessen before engaging in vaginal intercourse.