Have you ever ordered something online and gotten a completely different product than advertised? The colors were different, the size was ridiculously small, or the quality was not what you expected.
That is one of the problems with a mail-order abortion. You may not get what the company advertised. Here’s what you need to know.
The FDA Does Not Recommend Buying Mifepristone Online
A mail-order abortion is also known as the abortion pill method. You take two powerful drugs over a 24 to 48-hour period.
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the hormone progesterone from reaching the uterus. Progesterone is essential for pregnancy development; without it, the pregnancy cannot survive.
The FDA highly regulates mifepristone and recommends not buying it online. Only certified healthcare providers can prescribe it. Many online companies that claim to sell the drug cheaper originate in foreign countries. The drugs haven’t been reviewed for safety, effectiveness, and quality. You may not get what you ordered.
You Might Not be Pregnant
It is possible your pregnancy test was incorrect. Home pregnancy tests are reliable, but you must follow the directions carefully. You could get a false-negative test result if you take the test too early or incorrectly. A false negative means the test indicates you are not pregnant when you are.
False positive results are not as common, but they can happen. A false positive result means the test indicates you are pregnant when you aren’t. This can occur if you have recently miscarried.
Experts estimate as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage. If you take the test after you miscarry, the pregnancy hormone (hCG) may still be in your body, and the test would be positive.
How can you know if you have miscarried? An ultrasound can determine if your pregnancy is developing or if you have miscarried. Come to HopePlace for a free pregnancy test. We will refer you for a free ultrasound if the test is positive.
You Must Know the Correct Gestational Age
Gestational age refers to the number of weeks and days you have been pregnant. The FDA approves the use of mifepristone through the 10th week of pregnancy only (70 days after the first day of your last period).
The Mayo Clinic states that one of the risks of using the abortion pill method is an incomplete abortion. Incomplete means the pregnancy ends, but not all the pregnancy tissue leaves the body.
The abortion drugs become less effective the farther along you are in your pregnancy. You may experience an incomplete abortion, which could lead to infection, or the drugs do not work at all, and your pregnancy continues.
It is recommended that you have a limited obstetric ultrasound to find out exactly how far along you are in your pregnancy. At HopePlace, you receive a free ultrasound referral to determine the gestational age. Don’t skip this vital step if you are considering the abortion pill method.
Get the Facts at HopePlace
There are other things you should know before taking the abortion drugs. Because you take them in your home without physician oversight, you need to know how much bleeding or cramping is too much and when to contact someone for help.
Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we can give you medical-based facts regarding what to expect and the potential physical and emotional risks. You deserve to have as much information as possible.
Contact us to schedule your free appointment. Fill out our online contact form or call or text (870) 352-8506. We look forward to meeting you!
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.