Is it possible to perform medication abortion with just one pill? This is how it works.

In the majority of medication, abortions carried out in the U.S., mifepristone is utilized along with one additional abortion pill. Learn about the functioning of misoprostol-only abortions, their safety, and the ways in which and who can access them.

What are the differences between the single pill misoprostol and other which involves the use of two mifepristone and misoprostol abortion pills?

In the United States, the standard approach for medication abortions involves the use of both mifepristone and misoprostol as women experience few side effects when these medications are combined.

The process of both mifepristone and misoprostol abortion pill starts with women taking mifepristone which blocks the hormone progesterone and brings about an end to the pregnancy. After a gap of 24-48 hours, women must take misoprostol, which stimulates the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue. Women may encounter bleeding and cramping and are likely to expel the pregnancy within 4-6 hours after taking the misoprostol.

However, in some countries, misoprostol alone is prescribed and has been shown to be effective for self-induced abortions.

When undergoing a misoprostol-alone abortion, women initiate the process with the same dosage of misoprostol as is used in two pills of mifepristone and misoprostol. After three hours, they consume misoprostol once again, which leads to the contraction of the uterus. They continue to repeat this procedure for three to four doses until the pregnancy is expelled, which normally takes approximately 9-12 hours.

Is the misoprostol-alone safe? What are the side effects?

Studies suggest that the misoprostol-only is equally safe as the two-medication, but it often results in more side effects. Women using misoprostol alone experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and a longer duration of cramping and bleeding.

Misoprostol-only is faster than the two medications which takes about 30 hours in total as the second pill is to be consumed at least 24 hours after the first. In misoprostol alone, the process usually takes 9-12 hours, but you can experience cramping and bleeding for longer.

When do you need to take follow-up care or help with medical abortion?

Reasons to get follow-up or help are the same.

Women may require a procedure to conclude the abortion if they encounter excessive or prolonged bleeding, such as persistent spotting for over two weeks or bleeding heavy enough to soak through more than two pads per hour for over two hours.

A prolonged fever above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is another reason to seek medical attention. Although low-grade fevers and chills are common side effects of misoprostol and are not life-threatening, a fever that lasts for more than 24 hours after consuming misoprostol could indicate infection.

Moreover, if a woman does not experience any bleeding or cramping, it is possible that the medication did not work in ending the pregnancy. In this case, the patient might require additional misoprostol or a procedure to complete the abortion.

How long in the pregnancy is medication abortion effective?

FDA has approved the combination of two pills mifepristone and misoprostol to end pregnancies up to 10 weeks gestational age, but the World Health Organization approves it up to 12 weeks. After 12 weeks it’s less likely to be effective and may cause more bleeding and cramping.

Any woman around the globe can get the help of a healthcare consultant and get a prescription if they want to buy an abortion pill online with fast shipping and get it delivered to their home from online pharmacies. Plan C is one such website that helps women and provides all information about how to access abortion pills at home.