Unfortunately, abortions have been a taboo for a long time. The shame and stigma attached to abortions have prevented many women from talking and asking questions about it. Many women shunned away from talking about abortions for so long that they lacked so much necessary information. Gladly, organisations like ours exist and are available to educate and answer every question on abortions and everything that concerns it. Some of the most consistently asked questions are as follows:

Is the abortion pill less effective if I’ve used it before?

No, each pregnancy is a unique event. If you used the abortion pill before, you don’t need a higher dose if you use it again for a different unwanted pregnancy.

How Does the Abortion Pill Work?

There are two types of abortion pills, and each has a different mechanism of action. Mifepristone blocks the hormone needed for a pregnancy to grow, while the ingredients used in misoprostol work by relaxing and opening the cervix (the opening to the uterus) and causing the uterus to contract, which pushes out the pregnancy.

What is the difference between taking misoprostol only and taking both mifepristone and misoprostol?

Both the combination of mifepristone and misoprostol and misoprostol-only are effective options. However, if available and affordable to you, the combination of mifepristone and misoprostol should be your preferred choice.

Can I take misoprostol while I have an IUD inserted?

If you have an intrauterine contraceptive device in the uterus (e.g. the coil or the progesterone IUD), you must get it removed before your medical abortion.

Under what circumstances should I avoid taking abortion pills at home?

You should avoid using abortion pills at home if you are more than 13 weeks pregnant; if you are allergic to mifepristone or misoprostol; if you have serious health problems, including blood-clotting problems; or if you believe or know that the pregnancy is growing outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy).

How much bleeding and cramping is normal after taking misoprostol?

For some women, cramping is very strong – much more painful than menstrual cramps (if you have menstrual cramps) and the bleeding is much heavier than a menstrual period. You might pass blood clots up to the size of lemons in the first few hours after taking misoprostol. For other women, cramping is mild and bleeding is like a normal menstrual period.

How soon can i get pregnant again after an abortion?

You can get pregnant again as soon as 8 days after a medical abortion. If you have sex, you should consider using contraceptives to prevent an unplanned pregnancy.

Is abortion a method to prevent pregnancy?

Abortion methods should not be confused with methods to prevent pregnancy (contraceptive methods, including emergency contraception). Contraceptive methods work by preventing ovulation (the release of an egg) or by stopping the egg and sperm from meeting. Contraceptive methods, including emergency contraception, cannot be used to terminate or interrupt an established pregnancy. You can visit www.findmymethod.org to learn more about contraceptive methods

Will taking the abortion pill make it harder for me to get pregnant in the future?

No, having an abortion with pills will not make it harder to get pregnant in the future.

What can I do to manage any pain after taking the abortion pill?

Take 3-4 pills (200 mg) every 6-8 hours to help alleviate your pain. Remember that you can also take ibuprofen before using misoprostol, too.

It is highly important that all women have access to information on abortions. As the saying goes, “knowledge is power”. There would be fewer to no cases of unsafe abortions if women had information on which safe methods are recommended and safe places to go for abortions around them. Visit the Frequently asked Questions page on our website for more answers to all you medical abortion questions.