Eat prior to using the pills. It is best to have something in your stomach when undergoing a pill abortion
Pregnancy Calculator
How far along in your pregnancy are you? Research indicates that medication abortion is most often recommended for pregnancies prior to 13 weeks since your last menstrual period. Use the pregnancy calculator to determine how far along you are, since your last menstrual period.
If your last period started on or after:
February 11, 2025
You can still consider using abortion pills.
Are you over 13 weeks pregnant?
The HowToUseAbortionPill protocol is only intended for pregnancies up to 13 weeks. However, abortion pills can be taken later in the pregnancy with another protocol.
For more information, you can reach out to our friends at www.womenonweb.org. Or go to our country profiles to learn more about abortion resources in your country.
Considerations before taking abortion pills
General Advice
Eat prior to using the pills. It is best to have something in your stomach when undergoing a pill abortion
Drink plenty of water throughout the whole process. Staying hydrated will help with cramping.
When you use the misoprostol pills, be in an area (like your home) where you have privacy and can lie down for a few hours after you use the pills if you want to.
Having a support person around can be helpful while going through the process.
Consider taking ibuprofen before you use misoprostol to help minimize pain from cramping.
Make a safety plan before using the abortion pills in case you need emergency medical help.Creating A Safety Plan
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), abortion with pills is very safe and complications are rare. However, it is good to be prepared for a medical emergency if needed. Consider our questions below to help create your safety plan in case you need it.
References:
- “Induced Abortion.” American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Induced-Abortion
- “Care for Women Choosing Medication Abortion.” The Nurse Practitioner. https://journals.lww.com/tnpj/Citation/2004/10000/Care_for_Women_Choosing_Medication_Abortion.9.aspx
- “Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems.”The World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/70914/?sequence=1