3 questions to ask before you have an at-home abortion.
In December of 2021, the FDA moved to permanently allow mail-order abortions, and a lot of people are excited about it. This move is being celebrated as a win for women’s healthcare and abortion access. But before we start celebrating and ordering online abortions, the question we have to ask is, “Are at-home abortions safe?”
Well, there are many factors to consider.
If you’re looking to have an at-home abortion, here are three questions you should ask.
First, do I know the quality of the medication I’m about to take?
This is important. Generally, an at-home abortion is a two-step process of the same two meds: mifepristone (also known as mifeprex) and misoprostol. But are these meds safe? The FDA warns people not to buy mifepristone (the first pill) on the internet because, “drugs purchased from foreign Internet sources are not the FDA-approved versions of the drugs, and they are not subject to FDA-regulated manufacturing controls or FDA inspection of manufacturing facilities.”
Translation: the abortion pills you’re seeing for sale online might not be safe.
Second, how far along am I?
This will affect the type of abortion that’s available and if that type of abortion will actually work.
If you’ve had a positive pregnancy test, you’ve probably figured out approximately how far along you are. But do you know for sure? A study found 44% of women are wrong when predicting the first date of their last menstrual period (LMP). Abortion pills are prescribed based on which week of pregnancy you are in (which is determined by your LMP). If your LMP is wrong, this could result in an unsuccessful or incomplete abortion.
Third, do I actually need an abortion?
This is the question you may not think to ask. After all, you may have just had a positive pregnancy test. But even if you’ve tested positive, studies show 1 in 4 pregnancies end naturally. It’s possible your pregnancy might have already ended, and you don’t need to pay for an abortion. The only way to know for sure is to have an ultrasound. With an ultrasound, a registered nurse or sonographer can confirm if the pregnancy is actually viable and help you navigate what your next step should be.
Our medical centers provide free, no-insurance-needed viability ultrasounds that can tell you if you actually even need an abortion. We do not provide or refer for abortions. Instead, we provide information on all your options so you can make an informed decision. There’s no risk and no pressure.
The most accurate way to determine how far along you are in your pregnancy is with a viability ultrasound. We offer free viability ultrasounds and you can schedule one today by clicking here.
