Technically, you can buy the abortion pill online. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against it due to health and safety issues.
Keep reading to learn more about why ordering medical abortion drugs (mifepristone and misoprostol) online may not be the safest option.
1. Shady Online Sources
Sometimes, illegitimate and overseas pharmacies will sell abortion drugs online. However, these suppliers are not regulated or monitored by the FDA. This means there will be many more unknowns.
You will not know whether you received the correct drug in the right dosage, its quality or safety, or where it was produced. Because of these reasons, taking these drugs could be unsafe.
2. Bypassing Screenings Before Abortion
Before an abortion, you should receive an ultrasound to ensure your pregnancy is progressing within the uterus and determine how far along you are (gestational age).
The abortion pill is only FDA-approved for use within the first ten weeks (70 days) of pregnancy. After that, another type of abortion might be considered safer for you.
Additionally, if an ultrasound detects an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy located outside of your uterus), you will need urgent medical intervention to ensure it doesn’t cause life-threatening bleeding. While ectopic pregnancy only occurs in about 2% of pregnancies, it’s still a serious risk to consider.
Finally, if you’ve miscarried, meaning your pregnancy ended spontaneously on its own, it wouldn’t make sense to take abortion drugs. Instead, you would visit your doctor to ensure no other treatment is needed.
3. Not Having Medical Oversight
The abortion pill causes your uterus to contract, leading to vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. This can make the process painful and also lead to uncertainty about whether you are bleeding too much or experiencing a complication.
Medical oversight and access to emergency care are critical to ensuring you can receive quick treatment when needed. Mayo Clinic says medical abortion (the abortion pill) is not an option when you do not have access to follow-up appointments with a provider or emergency care.
Ultrasounds at Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Albuquerque
If you’re considering an abortion, your first step is to verify your pregnancy with a pregnancy test and ultrasound. An ultrasound scan will provide important details about your pregnancy to protect your health and safety.
Care Net Pregnancy Centers of Albuquerque offers pregnancy tests and limited ultrasounds for free, so you can receive the answers you need to move forward.
Schedule your appointment today!