How To Use The Pill
Before using the pills, read over our advice on Before Using The Pill. Be sure:
- Your pregnancy is within the window of our pregnancy calculator
- You've reviewed all of our considerations and general advice
- You have a safety plan in case of emergency
There are two options for medical abortion. Both ways are very effective:
Note: There are two ways to use misoprostol: putting the pills in your vagina or in your mouth between your cheeks and bottom jaws or gums. HowToUse suggests that you only use misoprostol orally because it is more private (it dissolves faster) and it has less risk of infection.
How To Use Abortion Pills: Mifepristone + Misoprostol
Step 1: Swallow one pill of mifepristone (200 mg).
Step 2: Wait 24-48 hours. You should wait 24 hours before using the misoprostol, but wait no longer than 48 hours. While you wait, just do the things you normally do in your everyday life, like taking care of your family or going to work or school.
Step 3: Swallow a drink of water to make your mouth moist. Put the 4 misoprostol pills (200 mcg each) between your cheek and bottom gums (2 pills on each side).
Step 4: Hold them in your cheeks for 30 minutes. They may make your mouth dry or taste chalky as they dissolve. Do not eat or drink anything for these 30 minutes.
Step 5: After 30 minutes, rinse your mouth with water and drink down everything that is left of the pills.
- Learn what to expect after taking mifepristone + misoprostol here.
- If you experience bad cramping ibuprofen is a good medicine to cope with pain. You can buy ibuprofen 200 mg strength over the counter (without a prescription) in most countries. Take 3-4 pills (200 mg) every 6-8 hours. This should make your pain better. (Remember that you can also take ibuprofen before using misoprostol, too.)
- If you used the abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol, you probably do not need to visit a healthcare provider for a follow-up visit. Make sure you do not feel pregnancy symptoms, you feel in good health and your bleeding isn’t heavy. These medicines are so effective that the World Health Organization recommends that you need to have a follow-up only if:
You feel sick or if your pain is not getting better after two or three days. If this occurs, seek medical attention right away.
You are still feeling pregnancy symptoms two weeks after taking the abortion pills.
Your bleeding is heavy and not getting lighter after two weeks.
How To Use Abortion Pills: Misoprostol Only
These instructions assume that you use 12 misoprostol pills that are 200 mcg each.
Step 1:
- Swallow a drink of water to make your mouth moist. Put the 4 pills between your cheek and bottom gums (2 pills on each side).
- Hold them in your cheeks for 30 minutes. They may make your mouth dry or taste chalky as they dissolve. Do not eat or drink anything for these 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, rinse your mouth with water and drink down everything that is left of the pills.
- Wait 3-4 hours before proceeding.
Step 2:Repeat step 1 with another 4 pills. Remember to wait 3-4 hours before proceeding to step 3.
Step 3:Repeat step 1 with the last set of 4 pills.
After Taking Misoprostol
- Learn what to expect after taking misoprostol here.
- If you experience bad cramping ibuprofen is a good medicine to cope with pain. You can buy ibuprofen 200 mg strength over the counter (without a prescription) in most countries. Take 3-4 pills (200 mg) every 6-8 hours. This should make your pain better. (Remember that you can also take ibuprofen before using misoprostol, too.)
- If you used the abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol, you probably do not need to visit a healthcare provider for a follow-up visit. Make sure you do not feel pregnancy symptoms, you feel in good health and your bleeding isn’t heavy. These medicines are so effective that the World Health Organization recommends that you need to have a follow-up only if:
You feel sick or if your pain is not getting better after two or three days. If this occurs, seek medical attention right away.
You are still feeling pregnancy symptoms two weeks after taking the abortion pills.
Your bleeding is heavy and not getting lighter after two weeks.