Can I Buy the Abortion Pill Online?

Can you buy the abortion pill online? The answer is complicated. While you can technically find the abortion pill online, the FDA advises against (opens in a new tab) doing so because the source, quality, safety, and effectiveness of the abortion pill drugs purchased online can’t be guaranteed.

That is why it’s worth learning all you can about the abortion pill before you decide. Below: how it works, how the drugs might affect you, and the next steps to protect your health. Looking for a safe space to ask questions? Make a free, confidential appointment.

How does the abortion pill work?

The abortion pill is actually a combination of two different drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. These powerful drugs interfere with your body’s natural processes to terminate and remove your pregnancy from your body.

Mifepristone works by blocking progesterone in your body. This hormone is needed to sustain pregnancy, and without it, your uterine lining will loosen, and your pregnancy will detach and eventually end.

Misoprostol is taken next, and it causes your uterus to contract and expel your terminated pregnancy through your vagina.

How might the abortion pill affect me physically?

After taking the abortion pill drugs, you will experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding, and some women have reported (opens in a new tab) that the pain is unexpectedly severe.

However, these drugs are also associated with certain risks (opens in a new tab), which include:

• Incomplete abortion, which is when parts of the terminated pregnancy remain in your uterus
• An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive system discomfort

Furthermore, certain situations can make you more likely to experience these risks, including if you:

• Are too far along in your pregnancy—the abortion pill is only FDA-approved (opens in a new tab) if your pregnancy is under 10 weeks gestation.
• Have an intrauterine device (IUD) currently in place.
• Have a suspected ectopic pregnancy, which is a life-threatening situation in which the pregnancy grows outside your uterus.
• Have certain medical conditions, which include bleeding disorders, 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 make follow-up visits to your provider or don’t have access to emergency care.
• Have an allergy to the drugs used.

How to protect your health

If you’re considering seeking the abortion pill online, it’s important to remember that the FDA advises against doing so. However, even if you’re thinking about getting the drugs from a provider, it’s essential to get an ultrasound first. This scan will help determine the gestational age and location of your pregnancy to determine what options are available to you.

The Well Clinic offers free, limited ultrasounds and a safe space to talk through your thoughts and concerns. You’re not alone in this. Schedule your confidential appointment.

The Well Clinic does not perform or refer for abortions. We provide accurate information about every option so you can make an informed decision.