Abortion

Medication Abortion 

A medication abortion with the abortion pill can be done up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. There are three steps to a medication abortion. 

1. You take the first medication, mifepristone, with your health care provider. It works by blocking a hormone called progesterone that is necessary for a pregnancy to continue. 
2. You take the second medication, misoprostol, which will cause the uterus to empty. 
3. A follow-up appointment with your health care provider. He or she will make sure the procedure went smoothly. There will either be an ultrasound or a blood test to make sure the pregnancy has been terminated.

Medication abortion is safe and effective—the abortion pill works 97 percent of the time. To learn more about the safety considerations and steps of medication abortion, read these commonly asked questions about medication abortion.

In-Clinic Abortion

There are two kinds of in-clinic abortions: aspiration and D&E (dilation and evacuation).  

• Aspiration is usually performed up to 16 weeks after a person’s last period.  
• D&E is usually performed after that 16-week period has passed.

In-clinic abortions are effective and safe. However, the procedure is riskier the later in the pregnancy it is performed.  You can learn more about the safety, effectiveness, and actual steps of the procedure by reading these frequently asked questions about in-clinic abortions.