Medical Abortion Information
A medical abortion may be performed before nine weeks (63 days from the start of one’s last menstrual period) and must be prescribed by an authorized medical provider. A medical abortion is a three-step process. The first two steps include taking two different medications, two days apart. The medications are taken by mouth; however, one dose may also be administered as a vaginal suppository (tablets placed in the vagina). The third step of the process involves a return visit to the abortion clinic to see if the fetus has passed from the uterus. It is possible that the pregnancy may continue after the medications have been taken1.
Side effects include bleeding, cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. It is important to have accurate information on what is expected from a medical abortion in terms of pain, bleeding, and passing tissue 2. The side effects of these medications can be similar to the symptoms of other early pregnancy complications such as ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy3. If you have questions, please call PRC Grand Rapids to speak with a health care professional who can give you more detailed information on abortion procedures and early pregnancy.
http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Induced-Abortion
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/molar-pregnancy/basics/definition/con-20034413
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/basics/symptoms/con-20024262