Mifepristone..."The Abortion Pill": The Facts
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Biology 103
2000 First Web
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Mifepristone..."The Abortion Pill": The Facts
Sujatha Sebastian
On September 28, 2000 the Food and Drug Administration after several years of research approved Mifepristone, better known as the "abortion pill", for distribution in the United States. The FDA's decision will have a definite impact on women's health care in the United States. There will be social and medical repercussions. The drug has caused controversy not only in antiabortion groups, but in Pro-Choice groups as well. Critics are worried that an abortion available in pill form will be "too easy". They are worried that use of the pill will be abused. What many people do not realize is that while Mifepristone will be beneficial to women's health care, it is not without side effects. In light of all the recent coverage that the "abortion pill" has been given in the media, and all the misinformation surrounding it, I decided researching that Mifepristone would be interesting and helpful. The purpose of my paper is to discover how Mifepristone works, how it is administered, and to look at its side effects. I want to demonstrate the benefit Mifepristone will be to women's health care, while showing that it is not an "easy" solution to abortion."Mifepristone, formerly known as RU-486, is a medical alternative to aspiration abortion."(1) It works by blocking progesterone from being absorbed into the uterus. When this happens the uterus sheds the endometrium (lining in the uterus, therefore inducing menstruation. (2 When Mifepristone is used as a method for abortion is it administered as part of a three step process. The first step is that 200 mg of Mifepristone is given orally in a doctor's office. Then within 24 to 48 hours the patient is given 400 mg a drug called Misoprostol either orally or in a suppository form. Misoprostol, which is a synthetic hormone, is used to get the cervix to soften and dilate as well as getting the uterus to relax. The embryo is then expelled.(2) This is supposed to happen approximately fours hours after the administration of the drug. The final step is an examination by a medical professional to make sure the abortion is complete. (2)
There are restrictions as to who can use this medical method of abortion. It is only intended for women to use up to nine weeks after their last menstruation period. Women who are under 18 or over 35, epileptic, diabetics, or suffering from heart, lung, kidney, liver, stomach or intestinal disorders are ineligible. As are women who have taken steroids within the past 12 months, or deemed overweight or a heavy smoker. Women who have used an IUD or hormonal contraceptive within three months prior to conception are not allowed to take Mifepristone as well.(2)
Like any drug or medical method there are side effects to using Mifepristone and Misoprostol. It is the number of side effects and degree of each that critics argue about. The FDA has determined that taking Mifepristone does cause various degrees of pain. Short term physical effects can be pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue.(2) There are psychological side effects as well. In some cases products of the conception are visualized. (3)
The use of Mifepristone will have a definite impact on reproductive freedom in this country and the world. (3) It is seen as less invasive procedure which gives the woman more freedom and privacy. In the United States it has been reported by the Alan Guttmacher Institute that eighty-nine percent of the abortions occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Mifepristone will allow women another option to terminate a pregnancy in its early stages. (2) Twenty-four percent of the world's population lives in places where abortion is not legal. (3) As a result a significant population of women perform their own abortions or receive illegal abortions which kills them. The medical method of abortion would allow women in these areas of the world to receive a safe method of abortion.
A major issue that critics of Mifepristone have is that they feel that the drug will allow abortions to become "too easy". But the drug is only administered in a medical office and requires at least three visits. The last visit is an examination to see that the abortion is complete and that the mother is in good health. Before the patient is given Mifeprex tablets (Mifepristone) she must sign an agreement in which she acknowledges that there are side effects, that there is a three step process, and that 5 to 8 women out of every hundred do not have successful medical abortions and need surgical abortions . (5) Critics worry that the drug will cause an increase in the number of women who have abortions. Supporters of the drug cite the fact that in France, where the drug is manufactured and was first administered, there has not been an increase in the abortion rate. (2)
Mifepristone will change the way that abortions are administered. This method gives a woman more autonomy and does not require her to go through surgical procedure. It can also prevent pregnancy by taken as soon as a day after she has had intercourse. This new method will allow more women to have access to safe abortions. Mifepristone opens the door to a new area of medicine in which previously surgical procedures are now approached in a medical manner. Whether in support of or against Mifepristone one has to recognize the new technology the drug represents.
One of the problems I had when researching information was finding unbiased information. Both pro and anti Mifepristone groups used "research" and statistics to their benefit. Distinguishing the difference between opinion and fact was difficult. This is especially true because there is not a lot of accurate information about Mifepristone published by reliable sources. This is due to the fact that Mifepristone has just recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Mifepristone that will be beneficial to women's health care and medicine. But one must realize that it is not without side effects and cannot be seen as an "easy" solution to abortion.
WWW Sources
1)www.plannedparenthood.org/mifepristone.html, Mifepristone2)www.rascalnut.com/naral.ohio/RU486.html, The Facts about Mifepristone (RU 486)
3)www.mja.com.au/public/issues/sep15/henshaw/henshaw.html, Mifepristone
4)http://jinx.sis.unsw.edu.au/~greenlft/1994/137/137p28htm, "Abortion Pill": A Woman's Right to Choose by, Kath Gelber
5)www.popcouncil.orgrhpdev/mifeprex/patient%5Fagreement.html,The Patient Agreement Mifeprex (Mifepristone) Tablets
6) www.pages.map.com/lroberge/ru486.htm, RU486: The Hidden Effects by Lawrence F. Roberge
6) www.nrlc.org/ru486/propsedFDAregs.html, RU486 *Please note that some of the sources read during my research were from biased sources (the National Right to Life Committee web site for example). Facts were not used from these sources in my paper. These sources were instead used to discover the arguments anti-Mifepristone groups had and to see the false information they were publishing about the drug.
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08/06/2005, from a Reader on the Web I took that pill and almost blead to death now i have have to say it's not as easy as it sounds it is very painful like child birth but more blooder atleast for me i now have endromitrious and may have to have my women parts removed i had nothing before i took those pills i'm 37 so i'm just saying better think it out before you take it because it's dangerious i have a son who is 18 it was easier for me to have him then go through childbirth than taking those pills becuse i'm still not well and it has been 7 months
For what it's worth, I though I'd share my personal experience using Mifepristone almost a month ago.. After having made the difficult choice to abort, I learned of this pill as an alternative option to having the traditional surgical procedure. Of course, as anyone would, I opted to try the pill because it seemed -less- painful and was something I could do in the privacy of my own home. After having been given the first pill, Mifepristone, at the doctors office on a Friday afternoon, I finished out my day at work with minimal side-effects at that point. The Mifepristone made me slightly sick to my stomach, but compared to the ongoing morning sickness I'd been going through, it wasn't so bad. (ha ha) Misoprostol was the next step, given to me in the form of 4 tablets, to be inserted vaginally myself at home. I was also given a full bottle of Vicodin, as well as a bottle of 800mg Ibuprophen for the pain the doctor anticipated I would encounter (this worried me a little). Late Satuday afternoon, I'd say around 4:30pm, scared to death not knowing what to expect once everything started, and knowing I couldn't turn back now, I inserted the tablets and took 1 Vicodin as directed. About 30 minutes from the time I did this I began to have cramping comparable to what you would feel during a typical menstrual period.. but not for long. Within an hour I had severe cramping.. I'd been warned the pain could equal that of actual child-birth contractions, and this must have been it. (I've never had a child, so I can only imagine) I was to the point of feeling like I would pass out if the pain didn't let up when I passed the first, and largest, portion of what -was- the pregnancy.. Many people will tell you that all you'll see is blood and clots, and it's unlikely anything will look like actual tissue.. but mine sure did.. Large masses of gray tissue were expelled for the following numerous hours. Somewhere close to midnight that night I felt relief enough to know it was over.. or so I thought. 4 days after this, while I -should- have been feeling more or less back to normal, I began to experience increasing pain in my abdomen. I called and spoke with my doctor about this, but felt as though she didn't seem concerned at all. No more than 2 hours after hanging up the phone I developed a fever that shot through the roof out of nowhere, and my heart began beating unbelieveably TOO fast. The "increasing pain" in my abdomen now had me laying in bed, hardly able to move. I called my mother who left work and rushed to my home to get me. I couldn't even get out of bed to let her in when she arrived I hurt so bad. I ended up in the emergency room that afternoon with a heartbeat of 143 beats/min.. (Check your own and then you'll see just how high 143 is) and a 103 temperature I ended up fighting to keep away for the next 4 days. To make a long story short, that first afternoon I spent over 8 hours in a treatment room in the emergency area before they got my vitals under control and discovered the cause of everything.. The abortion pill I used began attacking my own body in a sense, and began a horrendous infection in my uterus. In the end I spent a week in the hospital on 3 of the most potent anti-biotics available, as well as some heavy-duty narcotic pain killers, while specialists from the surrounding hospitals kept watch over me constantly. It's now been almost a month since then, and I still have to have blood work done, as well as ultrasounds every now and then to keep monitoring my recovery. I have constant sharp pains in my abdomen and have been told the scar tissue left over from the infection may now keep me from becoming pregnant in the future.. It's all so much to deal with, and honestly, I don't think I've come to terms with everything yet. It still feels like a bad dream. Regardless of my experience with the pill and side effects it caused me, I can still step back and look at the broad picture of things.. The majority of women who use this method have no problems, and for them, this is a good way to go. I really do think it's a better choice for most, than to have the surgical abortion.. BUT - be warned.. It's not "easy" using the pill, and there's no way to know how you're body will react to it. I never knew I'd go through the things I did because of it. This is definitely not something to be looked at as the "new contraceptive" either, as some are saying. It's so risky, putting your body through something like this. It could take a toll on you that will effect the rest of your life. Like me.. Will I ever be able to have kids after everything that happened? Every woman out there should begin by being aware of how to avoid an unwanted pregnancy from the start. Such as life happens, and most protection only offers 99.9% effectiveness, we forget that's NOT 100%.. If you still become pregnant and choose to abort, do your homework.. read about all possibilities, and all side effects for each.. then decide what's best for you. I think the pill is a great option.. but be careful, it's certainly not without it's flaws.
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Additional comments made prior to 2007
It has been almost 2 months since I had made the painful decision to
get an abortion. I am only 18 years old so you could imagine hoe scary
it was for me. After they examined me and told me how far I was they
put me in this rome with a female doctor so I can take the oral pill
that actually determines the pregnancy. When I took that pill, I felt
fine until I had to get something in my stomach, I couldn't even eat my
stomach was turning so bad. the doctor told me that I could insert the
four pills vaginally anytime between then and 48 hours after the visit.
I decided to insert them that night to get it over with and about an
hour after it was literally hell. I was vomiting,bleeding perfusely,
and experiencing pain more severe then I had ever felt before. To make
a long story shorter, it has been about 2 months and I still haven't
exactl stopped bleeding. I am young and afaid to go get checked because
of it, and my life will never be the same. I had no choice my situation
at the time wasn't what I wanted and now I will always regret it ...
Reader on the web, 12 August 2007
I used the pill around february of '07. I was 6 1/2
weeks and I guess I didnt really know what I was getting myself into. I
took the first pill which I had no side effects to. When I took the
second one the next day, it was almost immediate cramping. Basically
the worst cramps I had ever had. I was puking, had diarrea, and was in
so much pain I was balled up on the couch crying. I guess I was a
"lucky" one because my horrible cramps only lasted about an hour until
I passed the birth tissue and then they subsided. Although I bled for a
month after that (most of it not heavy), I completly regret it to this
day. All I can ever think about is a perfectly beautiful child is now
in a sewer somewhere. It's horrible, but thats how I think of it now. I
wish I could go back and change things. I wish I never did it. All I
hope is that it didnt hurt my chances of having a child in the future
... Reader on the web, 13 September 2007
mifepristone
I am a reporter at The Washington Post. I am working on a story about mifepristone, and searching for women who used it and might be willing to share their experiences with me for my story. If you are, please email me at: steinr@washpost.com
I found out i was pregnant
I found out i was pregnant on december 27 of 2007. My first reaction was i almost passed out and got scared because im 20 and im going to start college. I went online and did a lot of research about abortions and which method will be good for me. I decided to do the pill method because it felt more private and i felt like i was in charge and i chose when to take it. My boyfriend and I made the decision together and made sure we were 100% positive specially me since im older than him. I made my appointment and when i did i got scared and nervous because inside i felt like i was about to the biggest mistake of my life but i had to think of it in a different way, i know i wasnt going to be able to give that baby the best and i know my family was not going to support me 100%. I went to the clinic and for some reason the atmosphere didnt feel that bad. The people at the clinic treated me well and made sure that i was positive with what i was going to do. I found out i was 6 weeks pregnant and that made me weak to my knees because i didnt think i was that far along so i cried a little. I took the first pill and the doctor told me i can insert the other pills vaginally 24 hrs later that way for new yrs eve my body wont feel that bad. The day i took the first pill i felt fine and i didnt bleed. I was able to go out and try to take my mind off the stress. I felt regret but it was too late to turn back. The next day at 10 am i inserted the other pills and in about 30 minutes i was bleeding intensely. I began to cramp about an hr later so i decided to take the pain killer. I bled a lot for about 4 hrs and afterwards i felt a little better. The cramping was not as bad as i thought they would be since my period cramps are a lot worst then what i felt that day. My new years day i was not excited about it since it finally hit me that i let go of something that could have been my child, a child that has both me and my boyfriend put together. I went home because i saw my nephews and seeing them since they are babies made me sad. My boyfriend went with me and he tried to be there for me emotially because it wasnt easy for me afterwards.I went to my check up 2 weeks later and i was cleared of my abortion and was told i was good to go and will be able to start fresh.I still bled for 8 days afterwards but then it stopped till i finally got my period a month later. I thought i was going to be able to handle the emotional part since i handled the physical part but i didnt. I felt sad for days specially since i felt like my boyfriend was not affected by it. Finally i sat down with my boyfriend and told him how i felt emotionally and told him i didnt know what to do anymore since i had so much guilt. Finally he spoke his emotions and we cried together and i guess for me that brought me a little closure with the situation. Ever since me and him have a greater communication and he treats me like a princess and reminds me everyday that im the best thing in his life that way i can be better. That made me feel 80% better so for me to finally feel ok i decided to write a poem for the unborn baby. I wrote what i felt and i felt like in peace once i did that. Its been a month now and me and my boyfriend made a promise that in a yr we'll move in together and will try to start our family. My only advice for girls who are going to do this is make sure you are not alone and have the support that you need. Physically anyone can beat the hard parts but the emotional part will always be with you. Support is everything and so is being loved. Having the right crowd around you will make it easier day by day. It may not be as smoothly as it was for me so fast but then again this is not the easiest thing to do at all.Get all the facts and do your research. In the end make sure its your choice and not anybody elses.
Confused
I have an appointment on Wednesday at 11am to take the abortion pill, i hope i'm not too far along and i can take the abortion pill. I think i'm 5-7 weeks. I am just so scared because i have a 2 year old son and he is very active. And i've heard of a lot of horrible stories about this pill and even some deaths. I'm scared because i dont want anything to happen to me because i have to take care of my son. Is this pill really that bad? or should i go with the surgery instead, is that safer? And will i be able to care for my son after taking the first pill?
Don't be afraid
I took the pill about 10 days ago. I didn't have any noticeable effects from the mifepristone. But when I took the misoprostol on the Saturday, after...that was a different story. I had bad cramps, like those during labor. I bled lightly, then bled heavy on Monday. I passed alot of clots (large & small). I'm still bleeding a little...
I wanted to tell you not to be afraid, take care of yourself and make sure you have someone to help when you take the misoprostol. You will NOT feel like taking care of anyone. You also will not be able to lift anything heavy (you won't feel like it anyway). Don't worry, it'll be okay. I was really scared too. As for which one to chose. It's your preference. I'd do the pill again because it seemed more natural to me but if you want something where you will recover faster, do the surgical.
did you have to go to a
did you have to go to a doctor to get the pill? i want a different way!
abortion pill
I HAVE DONE BOTH METHODS I HAD TWINS WHEN I TOOK THE PILLS I AM 40 YRS OLD I HAD LOTS OF CRAMPING THE DAY OF THE ABORTION LIKE VERY STRONG PEROID CRAMPS WORKED FINE. I WOULD RECOMMEND IT.
where could i get this pill???
i just found out im pregnant i dont want an abortion.. but i am interest in the abortion pill, but im not quiete sure where i could find it or locate it. pleaseeee.. help me!!
please dont get an abortion
please dont get an abortion you will regret it. dont do it.
the abortion hour by hour
I found out i was pregnant on April 13th 2008.At this point my period was 2 weeks late and I knew something was up. There are no words to express the way I felt finding out that I was indeed pregnant and had a potential human being growing rapidly inside of me. Although, I have always been Pro choice for all, I never thought I would chose to abort. My decision was final by the next day for many reasons all of which include what was best for me and the mini me growing inside. I knew that I was not ready (finacially, emotionally, physically, or mentally) to be a mother. Motherhood requires a lot from a person and somtimes people just arent ready. I know im not and neither was my boyfriend who feared parenthood as much as I did. My appointment at planned parenthood was scheduled for the following monday April 21st. That is where I had a ultasound and found out I was 6 weeks and four days pregnant. I was well within the 9 week time limit and was therfor eligable for the abortion pill. I took the first step in the abortion process that day and swallowed a Mifepristone pill. This pill had minimal side effects and i felt normal the rest of the day. Tuesday morning at 12:30 I took the Misoprostol. By 1:00 they had completly dissolved and slight cramps began. At about 1:15 the cramps were rather intense and became unbearable. THankfully, this only lasted 30 minutes and by 1:45 the intense cramping had subsided. The rest of the day I had minor cramps that felt like mensturual cramps but werent too bad. I bleed pretty heavily that day with medium size blood clots. By 7:00 I had aborted all pregnancy tissue (which could clearly be seen) and was feeling better. It is now April 28th and the bleeding is finally beginning to lighten.All and All though I felt the medical abortion was a good alternative tot he surgical abortion which just didnt seem right for me. I felt the medical abortion was more natural and it has been easier for me to cope with the decision. I have my follow up appointment this coming up wednesday and if all goes well will be cleared completly. Phyically this pill wasnt too bad and emotionally the effect is not terrible. I am now kind of sad that I put myself in this situation but I do not regret my decision. I am happy this option was available for me.
what happens if you take the
what happens if you take the first pill then change your mind? I have already taken the first one and understand that it stops the hormones but is it now too late?
I would like to know this
I would like to know this too, i took the 1st 1 today and i feel regret i dont want to continue is there any way i can keep my baby!
abortion pill
did you take the 2nd pill im 14 weeks pregnant was nearly 9 weeks felt the pill had no effect and decided to coninue with pregnancy so far so good had scan last week
Advice please.
Im reading your comment, my daughter has taken the first pill and regrets it.
Are you saying you have done this and have been allowed to continue with your pregnancy? If so are the doctors saying there could be any problems with the baby? Also did you get any bleeding with the first tablet as my daughter has started to. please reply. x
I would like to know this
I'm curious to know......How is your pregnancy going?
I just took the first pill on Tuesday. I'm supposed to take the next two today but I don't want to, I'd like to keep the pregnancy if it's still possible at this point.
Can someone please tell me if this is able to continue? Or if you have been in the same situation, please tell me what the outcome was?
I'm so upset and filled with regret, all I've been doing is crying the past couple of days.
PLEASE HELP!!!
its wasnt that bad for me
well i found out i was pregnant when i peed on a stick i made the decision of aborting because i already have a wonderful 16 month old child and im not stable to bring another child into this world(fianaclly..i made the appointment with planparent hood... wensday april 30th i had a sonogram it said i was 6 weeks, so i deccided to do the pill becuase i was scared of the surgical it didnt look or feel safe to me.. i took the first pill at the doctors office i felt fine i only had nausea but didnt throw up jus felt like it.. then the whole day i was fine feeling a little sick in my stomach but it was nothing it just made me very sleepy. then the next day at 12:30 i took the 2nd part of the pill they told me to hold it in my cheeks and gums for an half hour so i did.. immediatly after that i felt cramps but not as bad as i thought it wouldve been..had bleeding and diarreha a common side effect.. i felt the "fetus" come right out the biggest blood clot i ever seen.. but anyway i had heavy bleeding for about 4 hours after that it was light..now im perfectly fine going in 2 weeks to find out if everything is ok.. i honestly feel fine mentally emotinally and physcially i think its because i got pregnant by a guy i didnt really care for like that and i really didnt think to much of the fetus i just thought of it as a problem that needed to be resolved. and thats my story hopefully women dont get scared by the storys u read on this blog but the 37 year old women that got endocrimotis (watever) it says on the list if ur over 35 not to take the pill so its not the pills fault that, that happened i see it as that was her fault she shouldve read more into the medical abortion.. this method is the best and its awesome so i suggest if your no more then 8 weeks do the pill,..
sick-o
"i really didnt think to much of the fetus.....
i just thought of it as a problem that needed to be resolved"
i cant believe you could say something like that.
i took my first pill today and am continuing with the second set tomorrow, but i still love this baby. i have two kids that are 11 months and 3 years and am only 23. i am taking this as a wake up call to fix my life so if i ever become pregnant again i wont have to make such a horrible decision. u are a waste of space and i bet you wont do anything to better yourself.
people that use this as contraceptive make me sick.
learn from your mistakes please.
everyone is different
and my story is one that would fill anyone with dread. Last year I found out that I was pregnant for the fourth time but knew something wasn't quite right. I had feelings that I'd never experienced before and they really frightened me. I became super protective over my own child but hated others and couldn't be near them. There were really bad pains too, down my back and underneath. I made the decision to abort and at my first scan was told that there was just an empty bag of water inside me. I was given the first pill in hospital and felt fine afterwards, then 2 days later went back into hospital to have the second pill (4 pessaries) and had to remain there until the nursing staff decided it was ok for me to leave.
About 2 hours after the pessaries, I started to bleed, not heavy at first but enough to upset me. I felt a clot come out but it wasn't a normal looking clot, very pale, almost pink in colour and not that big. A few hours later some more small clots came out and after the nursing staff examined them I was allowed home. I assumed that was it, although I knew I had to return for a follow up scan 2 weeks later.
I bled like a normal period for 8 days and then it stopped. I assumed that all was ok... more fool me. During my follow up scan, which had to be done internally, I was told that the bag was still there along with some other debris (clots)... great. After all the prodding and poking I started to bleed again.
A week later I had another scan, bag and bits still there so I was then referred to another hospital for a surgical procedure. At this hospital, when they looked through the notes they advised that a surgical for just an empty bag could damage my womb... hmmm no thank you. So I was then given another pill and sent home.
This carried on for almost 2 months, no bleeding but then a sneeze or cough would make me pass a clot or start bleeding again.
In total, I'd had 5 scans and bled for over 2 months. I finally passed the products of conception (empty bag and placenta) but it took just over 2 months.
If anyone reading this has the same situation of an empty gestational sac, I would strongly suggest letting nature do it's thing as it will pass on it's own before 20 weeks anyway.
tampons?
did they tell you that you could use tampons if not why?
tampon
If the bleeding is so heavy, tampons sound like a bad idea. I'm not a doctor, but I have read the insert with tampons and excessive backup of blood (from heavy bleeding or long term use) can poison the body and even be fatal. If you were to use anything, I'd suggest a night-time pad.
About the tampon
You can die from tampons. If you put a tampon on and you sleep with it instead; of changing it to a pad you can die from it. You never suppose to go to sleep with a tampon on. It do something to the inside or something I not for sure. But I do know you can die from it.
I have an appointment this
I have an appointment this Friday to go take the first pill. I am so nervous being 20years old and not really sure what to expect. This is something I do not want to do but its what I have to do.neither my boyfriend or myself can support a child,I mean we still live at home. This was such an accident and we were using protection it just didn't work I guess. I have no idea what I am supposed to be expecting, where do you bleed am I supposed to sit on a toilet for hrs or do I wear a pad I'm so confused. Just wondering if anyone has any other facts they can share.
I am in this same situation
I am in this same situation i have taken the 1st pill althought i wish i hadnt, but i will let u know how it goes
what to do
here is my situation i just had a baby january 13 2008 a baby girl who was pre-mature born at 25 1/2 weeks she doing very well and very health now she will be coming home in a few days from the hospital....i just found out a week ago i am pregnate again im am scared to have another premature baby it was tuff...i dont want to have another baby right now i havent even taken home my first baby yet. i talked withmy boyfriend he wanted to have an abortion with our first but i wanted to keep her i just couldnt see myself takin a life away.. but now i dont think we are finacial ready to have another we have no family close to us i quit my job where i was makin great money i want to have another baby in a few years when we are ready but i dont want to do the sergical abortion i have heard some pretty scary stuff but now i have been hearing the same about the pill i have a mild case of anemia and my boyfiend works 6days a week so i have no one to take care of me and our baby girl i need some advice what should i do??!!
scary situation
I'm 18 years old and i jus found out about 2 weeks ago that i was 5 weeks pregnant. Just hearing the words coming from the nurses mouth brought me to tears. I went home and told my boyfriend who was really supportive of me,no matter what decision i chose to make. So, anyway i was and still am very scared.I'm about 7 weeks now.i found out about the abortion pill about a week ago,but after doing research i found out that the abortion pill has very serious side effects including death.i read about bad cramping and bleeding that stops whenever and that really scared me.thank god i did my research because i actually had a appointment to take the pill the next day..so after doing research i immediately called and changed it from the medical procedure to the surgical procedure.my appointment is early in the morning and I'm very,very nervous..but at the same I'm just ready to get it all over with.so wish me luck.
i am nineteen and just took
i am nineteen and just took the second part of the abortion pill today. i dissolved the 4 pills in my mouth at around 4 this afternoon, and about an hour later began to bleed intensely. i am/was 6 weeks pregnant, so there is more blood being released than what i had expected. i had the smallest painless cramp the first hour before i started to bleed, and now i am just going to the bathroom frequently. my boyfriend and i both made the choice for me to take the abortion pill only because i was less than 7 weeks pregnant. if i had been more, i would have kept the baby and given it up for adoption. the first few hours that i have experienced so far are incredibly personal and emotional, but it's also a good feeling knowing that i have gotten it taken care of. i'm just waiting for this insanely heavy bleeding to subside, because then as far as i've been told from a friend who has taken the pill, the bleeding winds down to a period-like bleeding. i wish you luck :)
just take it now
i dont know if im 9 weeks pregnant because my last period was march 20(first day)and today is 5-27-08. i didnt went to the hospital to had an ultrasound i just count. i already had 2 kids eldest is going 3 this june and the going is going 1 this june also. i had this unplanned pregnancy i thought of having an abortion since the first month its just that the reason it took me so long is the money. cause its not legal in our country so i look for a site and i saw womenonweb.com i send them the donation of 40 euro and they send me the package 5 days after. then now just now. 8:40pm i took the mifepristone.. so tomorrow im kinda scared because of what ive read and heard but im still gonna do it. my husband and i talked about it. i can tell that he is worried about me he said that i should take care of myself. he is gonna be by my side when i do it. im just gonna put the 2 misopristol tablet in between gums and cheeks and another 2 after 4 hours. sounds easy but really scarey. but i have to condition myself.
i know how giving birth is painfull but..
ive always pray to GOD to help me, and nothing bad will happen. and i ask HIM to take my baby with HIM. i know its against HIM but i still trust HIM.
I am 20 years old and found
I am 20 years old and found out I was pregnant in late February 2008. I first took 2 pregnancy tests, which tested positive. The next step was calling Planned Parenthood. They informed me that there were two options for the abortion process. Option 1 was the surgical procedure which involved local anesthesia and a sucker like tube inserted into the vagina. Option 2 was the pill abortion which is performed in your own house. I chose the pill abortion simply for the fact that I could preform most of the "procedure" in my own home and that it didn't involve instruments inside my uterus. You must be under 9 weeks pregnant in order to use the pill abortion. Before deciding whether to go through with it, I scheduled an ultrasound to see how far along I was and to give me a few days to think about it. I strongly reccomend having an ultrasound prior to the abortion scheduling, just to give you time to think and make a logical decision that is not rushed while sitting in the room. I had my ultrasound on a Thursday. It was not painful, just slightly uncomfortable. They insert a probe into your vagina for this process. I found out I was about 6 weeks along. I thought about it for a couple of days and finally decided to have the abortion on a Saturday. They will most likely give you another ultrasound just to confirm. I had to answer many questions to ensure I was prepared and informed about what I was doing. The nurses at Planned Parenthood were very nice and did not judge at all. After that they give you all the information and instructions you will need. You have to do a small finger prick to test your blood for positive or negative blood type. Once that is done they give you some crackers and water to eat. A dr. comes by and pops the first pill in your hand and asks you to swollow it and show her that you did. After that you are free to go home with all the information they gave you. I had no side effects from the first pill at the Dr.'s office. They said some bleeding and some cramping could be possible. I spent the rest of the day doing normal activities and just waiting. The next day (24 hours later as instructed) I prepared myself for the second part of the process. I ate a small breakfast, took a vicadin in adavance to prepare myself for the pain, placed an ace heating bandage on my belly and wore the most comfortable clothes possible. I then sat on the bathroom floor, inserted the 4 pills between each gum and cheek and waited the 30 thirty minutes as instructed. During the 30 minutes I was just anxious and became slightly light headed with some hot flashes. At the end of the 30 minutes you are instructed to swollow what is not dissolved. And thats where it all begins. The second I tried swollowing the remainder of the pills I became extremely sick to my stomach. I immediately threw up and felt like I had to poop really bad. I tried sitting on the the toilet but became so light headed and sick it was almost impossible. I began bleeding quite a bit and the heating pad was only making things worse. I called my mom and told her I needed her to come be with me. It was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. I was so uncomfortable, with pains shooting through my vagina, my abdomen, up my back and I was extremely fatigued. At first, I thought something was going wrong and I needed to go to the hospital. My mom found me on the bathroom floor, half naked and curled up in pain. The only way I can describe it is that has to be what childbirth is like. Extreme pain that cannot be eased no matter what. I also felt like my bottom was going to rip open for some reason. Its a deep intense squeezing pain inside your stomach. I was sweating and running a fever. Luckily, this only lasted about an hour for me. As quickly as it had all began, the pain just dissppeared. I suddenly came to and felt much better. My mom helped me get up change clothes and layed me in bed. The rest of the day I just felt extremely fatigued with mild cramps, but nothing like the ones I had been experiencing. I bled for about 3 weeks later off and on, but very light. My recommendations: take your vicadin regularly as directed, drink lots of water, DONT DO IT ALONE, and take 2 days off after starting the 2nd set of pills. You will bleed alot that first day and pass some clotts (expecially when wiping). You must use pads, which suck because you feel like everyone can tell and you change them frequently. 2 weeks later you do a follow up ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy was aborted. My personal experience was that I felt it was the right decision, and I still believe it was. It should not be used as a form of birth control or taken lightly. There are some side effects, and most likely emotional trauma afterwards. If I ever accidently become pregnant again, i could not have another abortion. That pain was unbearable and I could not do it again, ethically. It is extremely painful, extremely emotional, and needs to be well thought out. The decision is a personal one but take time in making it. I dont believe you will ever feel 100% about your decision, but think it through.
Medical abortion
Im so nervous. I have 5 kids already and just confirmed that im 6 weeks pregnant last week after a visit to planned parent hood. Im scheduled to take the first pill friday morning at 8 so im praying everything turns out okay. Im mostly conerned with the pain, but after having 5 kids naturally im sure i will be okay. Reading all of your entries have made me relax a little so i wantred to thank all of you for sharing your stories. Wish me luck:)
i am schedualed to take my
i am schedualed to take my first pill tomrrow at 1 im nervous...i know this was the right choice for me im just nervous my little sisters graduation is on sunday the same day im schedualed for my next set of pills....i dont kno if i will be able to make it...also i am nervous about seeing the fetus in the blood clots that come out has anyone seen them?
second stage of abortion pill
i have recently cum back from turkey to cum down with a bug sickness and diarr really bad , i had it for over a week and spoke to nhs they advised me to drink plenty and let bug cum out , still had week on, when i finally remembered i was late on my period, so done 1 test came neg waited s week done another to find i was pregnant, i have been seein a turkish bloke which i met last year but didnt really wanna settle with him has i already have a 6yr old beautiful boy here with a english dad ,
so i decided to have the abortion pill 10/06/2008 11.00am i took the pill at the centre to then go home for 2day for second pill, i had slite cramping last nite but nothin dat i couldnt handle ,
got up this morning to make way to clinic arrived at 12.00 was givin he second lot of tablets at 12.15 pm i am now at home its 16.00pm and my pains are gettin alot stronger just started to bleed so got hot water bottle,how long know till the blood clots start and fets is out ?
I am doing the abortion pill
I am doing the abortion pill in four days, i am sooo scared!!! Any Advice? I am only a couple weeks pregnant...
I did it yesterday...
Hi There,
I did the abortion pill yesterday (26th June '08). Are you going to the hospital to have it done? I live in the UK and thats how it is done here.
Mine took a very long time to happen and I ended up having to have 2 lots of pessaries inserted. This doesn't happen to everyone though, the girl in the bed next to me had hers inserted after mine and she had it all over with in about 3-4 hours.
I had my first set inserted at 0930 and then the second at 1600, I finally left the hospital this morning.
I dont want to say that to frighten you its just that yesterday morning i went to hospital with the expectation of it being over in 6 hours and was devastated that it took as long as it did. So go / be prepared for a full day.
Also I would suggest that you do not do it on your own, take a friend with you as the amount of blood can be frightning and it is quite painful, so make sure you have good paracetamol. Also I would advise you to take / have with you extra clothing, my bleeding was particularly heavy and I went through 18 towels and 4 pairs of trousers / underware in the time that I was there.
I really hope i have not scared u with any of this, I read so much stuff on the net and none of it prepared me for what I experienced.
BUT remember every woman is different, I was 8 weeks pregnant, you may be more / less, my nurse was brilliant and said that it doesnt really matter how far you are people just react differently ... what I am trying to say I guess is be prepared for anything!
Good luck, you will be fine, get a great friend there with you and thats the most important thing. I am the biggest drama queen in the world with it comes to pain etc, and I lived!
If you have any other questions at all, and I mean anything, please do not hesitate to contact me, I will be as honest as I can with you.
Chaz x
my last period was the end
my last period was the end of april. what happens if you are further than 9 weeks and take the pill?
Im 19 and worried...
i just found out im pregnant and figured out i wanted to do the abortion pill, the thing that worries me is..is the abortion pill a good way to end pregnancy because i heard about numerous deaths and im scared of that so should i worry about that? Or will it be fine when i take it? i never had an abortion before its my first time i had my period last in the last week of may and it ended june 5th..today is july 3rd how many weeks preg would that be and when is too late to take the pill how many weeks in? i just really need to know cuz im scared and i want to get this done but i know once its done and over with ill regret doin the abortion but i know if i keep it ill get kicked out and i cant tell my parents especially my dad cuz ill get kicked out..i dont have money for a kid right now i dont know im emotionally stressed out sooo much...can someone help answer my questions it would mean so much and make me feel better...thank you
I have done abortion pill
I have done abortion pill previously and regret that since my bleeding was so heavy and didnt stop until my Doctor gave me some healing medicine. I was bleeding around 2-3 month!
Now i think that surgical abortion is much quicker and easyer by means of bleeding and recovering!
I found out i was pregnant a
I found out i was pregnant a week ago and went to the local planned parenthood where they confirmed a 6 week pregnancy. however, they then told me that since the doctor was out of town, i would have to wait another week and five days to actually have my abortion. initially, i wanted the medical abortion, and still believe it is the right decision of the two. however, after reading all of these stories, and also being so much more far along than i was at first, i am terrified of the experience. i am supposed to take the first pill in about six days. the local pp wasnt very supportive, and almost all the info ive read about these pills are contradictory (effectiveness, safety, when you can take them, etc) so i am feeling very alone and confused. the idea of inducing a miscarriage is nauseating to me, but i dont feel like there is any better option. any support would be great, i am completely in the dark.
My second abortion
I have had a surgical abortion....a year after my daughter was born...It was very painful during the procedure...and I know that I could not do it again...But now, I am faced with another pregnancy that I cannot handle...and I am going to opt for the medical abortion pills tomorrow. After reading all that has been said, I am completely scared to death...I have my mother to help be by my side through this....and I know I can do it...but I cannot handle infections and defective pills....!!! How horrible! To think that after making such a tremendous decision of ending the life inside of you only to end up half dead yourself (and with a child already in this world who depends on you to make it)! I know that they will explain the risks associated with the pills tomorrow....or rather later today...but still, to read such horrible circumstances leaves me with great fear...I can only hope that I have the strength to get through this...God be with me....
I did the pill......on 6/26/08
Hi..I did the pill about 3 weeks ago. I took the first pill at the clinic. That just caused me to feel nausea all day. I decided to do the 2nd part the next day. I inserted the 5 pills, 2 on each side of my cheeks at about 11:30 am. Left them there for 30 min as I was instructed and before I even swallowed, I began having intense cramps. And I started bleeding really soon after swallowing them. The cramps were really bad at one point for about 2 hours. I started clotting and that lasted for about 11 hours. Everytime I would even stretch out my leg or make the littlest movement, I could feel a clot come out. I slept sitting up on the couch, I mean I had to get up every 5 min anyways. The next morning, the cramping eased a lil, but I took pain pills to help. My bleeding was really heavy for about a week after that, then it was light pink and barely there by the time I went back for my 2 week follow up. At the appointment, the doctot discovered there was still some pregnancy tissue left in there that needed to come out, so she gave me a repeat of the 2nd pills. I took them this past sunday and I didnt bleed or pass anything at all! Does anyone know what will have to happen next? I am worried that that tissue will never come out...please anyone who has any idea about this, please comment. Thank you.
abortion pills
please im a university student have 2 children already im 8 weeks pregnant but mentallly not fit to carry with this pregnancy. please help where i can go for abortion pills
Still Bleeding......
Ok, Im not sure if anyone is still reading this since all the posts are from a few months ago but I will try it anyway because I am scared and I dont know what to do..... I had the medical procedure done on May 23, and inserted the suppositories the next night before bed. I woke up the next day with diarreah like cramps and sure enough, I went to the bathroom, had diarreah and passed a huge "clump" in the toilet at a campground. So I knew that was it... They gave me vicodin for the pain and it really wasnt that bad. A bad period is what it felt like to me. The hard part for me was that no one knew what I was doing, including my husband, except my mother who was in another state. So I was camping with a bunch of people I barely knew and secretely going through this alone. I had to tell my husband I was having a miscarriage.
To make a long story short, I have been to the hospital twice since then, once for bleeding and once for pain. They did an ultrasound and said they didnt see anything there anymore but I still had the pregnancy hormones in my blood. Keep in mind I never told them what I did, I just said I had a miscarriage so Im not sure that I was checked the way I should have been. Here it is July 29, More than 2 months later and I am still bleeding. It has not stopped at all and the past few days its getting even worse so no signs of letting up, yet.
Im not sure if I should go to the hospital and just be honest and tell them what I did so they can make sure I am really ok. I have read that some people have to have surgery to stop the bleeding and some actually need a blood transfusion. My question is, how do you know if you are one of those people?? Am I ever going to stop bleeding?? Someone pleace tell me if you have had this experiance because I am really getting scared now and I have no one to talk to. Thank you
I think the bleeding will
I think the bleeding will stop cos the medical abortion pill is same as miscarrying. If you've been to the hospital then you shouldn't worry and you've had an ultra sound done, then there's no need worrying. I had a friend bled for about 3 months too. Why not try and get the depo provera shot see if it will help.
im 16 years old and scared
hi, im 16 years old and found out i was 7 weeks pregnate. I knew that I am too young too conceive a child at my age, and didn't want to ruin my life. It was a really hard descion to make especially since i did not tell my parents, or well my friends. I was in on this alone. I made all my appointments at planned parent hood right after my pregnancy test came up positive. I cried for over 7 hours. I decided to go for the pill abortion, thinking it was my best option. I was throwing up and felt realyl sick for awhile before and after i took the first abortion and spotted a little bit. I took it around 11pm on a Saturday around 3 weeks ago. it was the worst descion i could ever make. Considering i only had tyleol with codein to help the pain that i was going to experience i was a little nervous that it wouldn't be enough. About an 20mins later after i inserted the 4 pills orally to the side of cheeks i threw up. And started to feel the worse pain ive ever felt in my entire life. I was screaming and crying in pain that my brothers friend heard me over my music and air conditioner and came upstairs to see what was wrong with me. At that time i was desperate i told him what was going on, and he kind of sat there just watching me holding my legs so close to my body and barley being able to move and just screaming cause i was in so much pain. he ended up just walking out of the room and going home. I ended up falling asleep and waking up several hours later with blood all over my bed and myself and a lot of blood clots. i went to the bathroom to clean myself up and more just started dropping into the toilet. A week after i felt really sick and was crying a lot and didn't feel normal. I decided to tell my mom what i went threw. Shes an emergency room nurse and didn't like that i was running a fever and not feeling well. She made me an appointment at planned parent hood to get another sonogram there. They told me i was still pregnate and had to rush to the emergency room. My mom was "too busy" to take me so i ended up calling one of my friends and telling them what happened and he brought me. The doctors told me that it was normal that there was still stuff floating around in my stomach and it will take another week for the baby to be fully aborted. I was in the hospital for 9 hours. Planned parent hood almost killed me. I am blood type Rh negative, the father is Rh positive.. if i didn't get the roagan shot before the baby was fully aborted its blood would of ran threw my bloodstream and i would of been dead by the end of the week. Sitting alone in the hospital for 9 hours made me really depressed and scared. I wasnt cooperating well with the nurses or doctors either. I was so scared and so alone and felt that someone that was supposed to be born is now dead, i just felt like shit. They finally released me and gave me more antibiotics to fight off infection. Its been 2 weeks since then and i am still bleeding, having cramps when i wake up in the morning and have been feeling really sick still. Ive been nauseous and constipated. My boobs are also extremely sore still. My mom isnt listening to me when i tell her that i feel really sick and isnt taking anything into matter. I guess i gotta go threw this all alone again. I hope everythings okay though. I hope i can still have a child when im older. If not, then i messed up. I messed up big time. =[ i dont wanna go threw this alone anymore...
going to take second dose tomorrow
Hey peoples
I took the first dose of the pill today and went thru the day without cramps or bleeding....tomorrow ill let yall know what happens to me with the second dose.
Scared
I am 25 with a two year old son. I found out I'm about 5 weeks pregnant and I have an appointment at planned parenthood next week to take the pill. I'm currently in school and work, and I just see no hope in having another baby. I do not know how in the world I will support it financially. Besides the guilt that I already feel, I think by reading some of the stories I would never get the sight of the tissue out of my mind. But at the same time I can't afford, nor do I want another child at this time. I see some stories of the experience not being so bad...decisions, decisions...
Scared
I took a home pregnancy test this week and it came out positive. My last period started on August 15th, so I figure I'm nearing the end of my 5th week. I am positive I conceived on August 27th...with my ex-boyfriend. He wore a condom, but it slipped off near the end. I'm 28 years old, and still live at home, and am in no position to raise a child right now. I called a local Planned Parenthood and made an appointment. Does anyone know what usually happens when you go there? I guess they have to do a pregnancy test first to confirm it? And can any Planned Parenthood give out the abortion pill, or only certain ones? I don't know what to expect, and am a little worried...
3 months
Can you be 3 months and still take the pill?
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