When you take the drugs used in the abortion pill regimen, you can expect abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. However, it’s vital to recognize when those symptoms become severe enough to seek immediate help.
If you’ve already taken abortion drugs and are experiencing heavy bleeding, severe pain, fainting, or other symptoms that concern you, contact a healthcare provider or seek emergency medical attention. If you haven’t yet made a decision and still have questions about your pregnancy options, contact HopePlace Fordyce to schedule a free appointment.
In the meantime, keep reading to learn about critical signs that could indicate the need for medical attention.
Bleeding That Becomes Excessive
Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and empty, so vaginal bleeding is part of the abortion pill process.
However, very heavy or prolonged bleeding can require urgent treatment. It’s crucial to contact a healthcare professional if you soak through two or more pads per hour for two hours in a row.
Go to the emergency room if heavy bleeding is accompanied by weakness, dizziness, extreme lightheadedness, or fainting. Those symptoms can indicate significant blood loss.
Severe Pain or Pain That Keeps Getting Worse
Cramping can be intense after misoprostol, but severe abdominal or pelvic pain warrants medical attention, particularly if it continues to worsen or doesn’t improve as expected.
Severe pain with fainting, shoulder pain, dizziness, or vaginal bleeding can also occur with an ectopic pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. Abortion drugs cannot be used for an ectopic pregnancy, and a rupture can cause life-threatening internal bleeding.
If those symptoms occur, go to the emergency room.
Fever or Feeling Seriously Ill
Misoprostol can temporarily cause fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
A fever that persists, begins well after taking misoprostol, or occurs along with worsening abdominal pain or foul-smelling discharge can be a sign of infection.
Pay attention to how you feel overall, too. If you feel extremely weak or very ill, especially when several symptoms occur together, seek medical evaluation rather than waiting to see whether they improve.
Don’t Try to Tough It Out
You know what your symptoms feel like better than anyone reading an online checklist.
If you are experiencing concerning symptoms or feel that something isn’t right, seek help right away. Bring information about the abortion drugs you took and when you took them so the medical team can evaluate you properly.
If you haven’t taken abortion drugs and are still researching your options, contact HopePlace Fordyce to schedule a free appointment and ask your questions before making a decision.
HopePlace Fordyce does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.