Get the abortion pill by mail through our virtual health center

Medication abortion has been used safely in the U.S. for more than 20 years. Serious complications are really rare, but can happen. These include:

• the abortion pills don’t work and the pregnancy doesn’t end

• some of the pregnancy tissue is left in your uterus

• blood clots in your uterus

• bleeding too much or too long

• infection

• allergic reaction to one of the medicines  

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How you feel during and after a medication abortion varies from person to person. On the day you take your second medicine, plan on resting and being in a comfortable place. You may feel tired for 1 or 2 days after, but you should be back to normal soon.

At Planned Parenthood, before you take the abortion pills, you’ll meet with a doctor during your virtual telehealth visit to go over how to take the pills. Your doctor will give you detailed directions about when and how to take the medicines.

The effectiveness depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy and when you take the medicine. You can make sure that your abortion worked by taking a pregnancy test (included in your prescription package). Our staff will talk you through everything you need to know.

The abortion pill is very effective. The effectiveness depends on how far along you are in your pregnancy when you take the medicine.

• For people who are 8 weeks pregnant or less, it works about 94-98 out of 100 times.
• For people who are 8-9 weeks pregnant, it works about 94-96 out of 100 times.
• For people who are 9-10 weeks pregnant, it works about 91-93 out of 100 times. If you're given an extra dose of medicine, it works about 99 out of 100 times.
• For people who are 10-11 weeks pregnant, it works about 87 out of 100 times. If you're given an extra dose of medicine, it works about 98 out of 100 times.
• If your pregnancy continues after taking the pills, we will work with you about options to take more medicine or have an in-clinic procedure to complete the abortion.

Which kind of abortion you choose all depends on your personal preference and situation. With medication abortion, some people like that you don’t need to have a procedure in a doctor’s office. You can have your medication abortion at home or in another comfortable place that you choose. You get to decide who you want to be with during your abortion, or you can go it alone. Because medication abortion is similar to a miscarriage, many people feel like it’s more “natural” and less invasive.