What Is a Medical Abortion?

May 5, 2025

If you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy and considering your options, we’re so glad you’re asking important questions like this. Gathering comprehensive information about medical abortion—and all your choices—is crucial before making any decision.

At First Choice Pregnancy Services, we’re here to provide accurate details and compassionate support, empowering you to make an informed choice.

Read on to learn more about how medical abortion works, the risks involved, and important next steps.

Understanding Medical Abortion

Medical abortion, often referred to as the abortion pill, involves taking two different drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The process typically includes the following:

• Mifepristone: This first drug works by blocking progesterone, a hormone essential to sustaining pregnancy. Without progesterone, the uterine lining will loosen and shed, causing the pregnancy to detach and eventually end.
• Misoprostol: Usually taken 24 to 48 hours after mifepristone, this second drug causes contractions to expel the pregnancy from the uterus and out through the vagina.

Medical abortion is only FDA-approved if your pregnancy is 10 weeks gestation or under, which is why it’s important to confirm exactly how far along you are before considering this option.

Physical and Mental Health Risks

Medical abortion may seem straightforward, but it’s important to understand potential risks. If you select this option, you will experience bleeding and cramping, which can be intense. Physically, common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach. Serious complications can include incomplete abortion, which is when parts of the terminated pregnancy remain in your uterus and can lead to a potentially life-threatening infection.

Mental health risks are also significant. Women who have abortions can experience emotional challenges such as anxiety, depression, regret, and emotional distress. Each individual’s experience is unique, but it’s essential to acknowledge and prepare for these possibilities.

Why an Ultrasound is Essential

Before making a decision about medical abortion—or any pregnancy decision—an ultrasound is critical. An ultrasound provides key information by:

• Confirming pregnancy viability: It verifies if the pregnancy is viable by detecting a heartbeat and determining if it’s developing properly within the uterus.
• Determining gestational age: Knowing exactly how far along you are is essential since taking the abortion drugs when you’re further than 10 weeks gestation can make you more likely to experience a complication.
• Identifying safety risks: An ultrasound ensures the pregnancy is not ectopic (outside the uterus), a condition requiring immediate medical attention.

First Choice Pregnancy Services is Here for You

At First Choice Pregnancy Services, you’ll find a safe, compassionate space to explore all your options thoroughly.

We offer free ultrasounds, medical consultations, and pre-abortion screenings to help you confidently make the best decision for your situation.

You’re not alone—contact us today for free, confidential support.

First Choice Pregnancy Services does not provide or refer for abortions. 

All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.