In this blog, we will be discussing the link between abortion pills and endometriosis and the very important question: Is it safe to use abortion pills if you have endometriosis?

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition when the tissue similar to the tissue that forms the lining of your uterus—the endometrium—grows outside of your uterus where it doesn’t belong.

In this condition, microscopic bits of the tissues can usually grow on the organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, outside of the uterus, the ligaments that support the uterus, abdominal organs, the space between the uterus and the rectum, and the space between the uterus and the bladder. Additionally, it is important to highlight that endometriosis has received little attention in the health research system, which makes it difficult to understand its exact causes and to develop better prevention and treatment methods. There is no known cure, but some of its symptoms can be treated with medication or, in some cases, surgery.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF ENDOMETRIOSIS

  • Pelvic pain can be considered the most common symptom of endometriosis. It is a common problem among women, which can cause painful periods and heavy bleeding
  • This condition can also lead to the risk of miscarriages. There are several theories on why endometriosis makes it harder to get pregnant. Overall, an estimated 60-70% of women will have no issues getting pregnant. For example, if the ovaries are covered in thick adhesions, the egg may not be able to escape from the ovary to be fertilized. Also, if the ovaries or fallopian tubes are stuck in abnormal places by adhesions, the egg may not be able to ‘find’ the entrance to the fallopian tube. Such damage is usually found only in some women with moderate or severe endometriosis. However, there is no evidence that endometriosis causes repeated miscarriages.
  • Some people may experience pain during or after sex.

According to endometriosis.org, endometriosis affects an estimated 176 million women worldwide regardless of their ethnic and social background. Many remain undiagnosed and are therefore not treated.

All these factors indicate endometriosis is a complex situation that can impact several things.

What is a medical abortion?

Medical abortion is a safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy by using a combination of abortion pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, or misoprostol only. To know more about how an abortion with pills works, how to use the abortion pills, or any other relevant questions related to having an abortion with pills, you can start a chat with Ally, the safe abortion chatbot, or watch our video series on self-managed abortions.

Is it safe to use abortion pills when you have endometriosis?

Abortion and endometriosis:

Doctors are not sure what causes endometriosis; still, there is a prevalent myth that claims that abortion can cause endometriosis, which is not the fact. It’s important not to confuse endometriosis and endometritis (irritation or inflammation in the lining of the uterus), as they are not the same. The fact is abortion does not cause endometriosis.

It is perfectly safe for a person with endometriosis to have an abortion with pills. Just like every other pregnant person, the only factors you need to consider are personal preference, weighing whether you prefer a surgical abortion or an abortion with pills, and your gestational age.
You should also know that mifepristone has proved itself to be effective in treating endometriosis.

How to manage pain if you have endometriosis and decide to use the abortion pills?

People with endometriosis already experience chronic pelvic pain, which is one of the common symptoms of the condition. This can heighten anxiety associated with using the pills, as cramping is also the top side effect of misoprostol. At HowToUse, we recommend taking a pain reliever like ibuprofen (800 mg) about 30 minutes before using misoprostol because cramping will start soon after you take the pills.

You can continue to take three to four ibuprofen pills (200 mg each) every six to eight hours to manage the pain, if needed. Do not exceed 3200 mg in 24 hours, and do not use regular aspirin, as it increases your risk of bleeding. Acetaminophen, or paracetamol (1000 mg), can also be used if you are allergic to NSAIDs, but they may not work as well as ibuprofen.

Additionally, if you have the resources available, you can have a conversation with your healthcare provider about using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), alternative therapies, or other ways that will effectively alleviate pain symptoms, without necessarily talking about abortion.

Conclusion

Choosing to get an abortion can get very easily associated with prejudice and stigma that leads to several misinformed dialogues around abortion. Hence, facts and reliable information get blurred with fear and misinformation. This is why it is always important to fact-check any abortion-related information and the process as well.

We hope this blog has helped you learn more about endometriosis and the use of abortion pills. If you or anyone you know needs accurate and reliable information on how to use the abortion pills, Ally, the safe abortion chatbot, is available 24/7 to provide support in different languages.

By: Kiran Rai
Bio: Kiran is a student of social work and comes with an experience of 8 years in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) issues.

Edited in 2025 by: Gail Peprah