Abortion Pills Side Effects: What You Need to Know
The topic of abortion is complicated and frequently sensitive. When a person wants to terminate the pregnancy, they can choose for a pharmaceutical abortion, which involves taking abortion pills (also known as RU-486, medical abortion, or the abortion pill). It's important to understand the risks and problems that might come with using this method. This blog article will look at the side effects of abortion pills and provide information that will help people in making educated choices regarding their reproductive health.
Understanding Medication Abortion
Medication abortion is the procedure of inducing a miscarriage-like process by taking two different medicines, usually misoprostol and mifepristone (RU-486). Misoprostol is usually taken at home, while the first medication, mifepristone, is given under medical supervision. This method has a success rate of around 95–98% and works best during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Common Side Effects
Most of women who get an abortion with medication will have some negative effects.
These adverse effects, which are often transient, might consist of:
- Cramping and pain: When the uterus contracts to remove the pregnancy, abdominal cramps and pain can be experienced. The level of pain varies.
- Heavy Bleeding: Heavy bleeding is another common problem. It could continue for several hours or even days and is comparable to a heavy period.
- Nausea and Vomiting: Some individuals may feel uncomfortable and occasionally vomit up. Anti-nausea medicines may typically be used to treat this.
- Diarrhea: One of the medication's side effects is diarrhea.
- Fever and chills: Two potential side effects include a low-grade fever and chills.
Less Common Side Effects
Even while the negative effects listed above are typical, they are not always the case.
They might consist of:
- Incomplete Abortion: The incomplete abortion sometimes requires a surgical abortion or a follow-up operation.
- Infection: Although uncommon, infections can happen, particularly if you don't practice good cleanliness or get enough medical attention.
- Allergic reactions: While they are uncommon, allergic responses to medication might happen.
When to Seek Medical Help
It is crucial to identify potential issues and to get medical attention if any of these happen:
- Severe or Prolonged Pain: If pain is intense or continues for a long time, there could be an issue.
- Excessive Bleeding: It should be taken seriously if you soak through more than two maxi pads in a two-hour period.
- Fever: An infection may be indicated by a body temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
- Severe Nausea and Vomiting: Seek medical assistance if you are unable to stay clean or eat for longer than twenty-four hours.
Emotional Impact
It's crucial to understand that abortion might have psychological and emotional negative effects in addition to physical ones. Each person's experience is different, and some may feel a variety of emotions, such as relief, guilt, grief, or a mix of emotions. Having emotional support from relatives, friends, or a mental health professional might be beneficial.