If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may have turned to the internet for a solution, and are left feeling overwhelmed. As with any medication or medical procedure, there are many things to consider before taking abortion pills. Keep reading to learn more.
Can Abortion Pills be Mailed?
Texas’s law prohibits residents from mailing or receiving abortion pills in the mail.[1] Websites that claim to mail abortion pills to prohibited states often use foreign pharmacies.
Women should never order abortion pills online from a pharmacy that has not been approved by the FDA. The FDA has not evaluated those pills for safety[2] and could contain the wrong amount of medication, be expired, or be fake.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
With the abortion pill, a woman intentionally takes medication to terminate her pregnancy. Abortion pills may also be called a medical abortion, chemical abortion, RU-486, or at-home abortion.
The process involves two medications. The first medication, mifepristone, interferes with progesterone receptors and prevents the pregnancy from developing. The second medication, misoprostol, causes the uterus to cramp and expel the pregnancy.
Women qualify for the abortion pill only up until 10 weeks of gestation.[2]
Call Mid Cities Women's Clinic for your free ultrasound today.
What To Know Before You Order the Abortion Pill by Mail
Before ordering abortion pills, a woman should speak with a qualified healthcare professional. Then she should verify her eligibility for the abortion pills. This will include:
- Estimated Gestational Age. Gestational age (how far along you are in pregnancy) can be estimated based on a woman’s last menstrual period, but an ultrasound is the most exact way to determine the gestational age.[3]
- Location of the Pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy develops outside of the uterus and can be life-threatening if not properly treated. So, before taking abortion pills, it is recommended that a woman receive an ultrasound first.
- Rule out a non-viable pregnancy. It is important to verify if you have a viable or non-viable pregnancy before taking the abortion pills. 1 in 4 pregnancies end naturally on their own which means that you may not need to take the abortion pills. Mid-Cities Women’s Clinic can help determine the likelihood of this for you by checking if there is a heartbeat.[4]
Call Mid Cities Women's Clinic at 817-577-4387 today to receive a free ultrasound.
What are the Risks of an At-Home Abortion?
As with any medication or procedure, women should be aware of all of the risks associated with the abortion pill, including:
- Hemorrhaging or excessively vaginal bleeding[5]
- Infection[5]
- Allergic reaction to the medications[5]
For these reasons, women need to have access to emergency services before, during, and after an abortion. So, women should be under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
Abortion Pill Information in Euless, Texas
Sorting through all of your options can feel overwhelming. But you aren’t alone. Visit Mid Cities Women's Clinic to speak with our qualified and compassionate staff. We provide a confidential space for you to sort through all of your options.
Please be aware that Mid Cities Women's Clinic does not provide or refer for abortion services.
Sources
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- CHAPTER 171. ABORTION. Texas Constitution and Statutes. (2021, September 1). Retrieved from https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.171.htm#170A.002
- FDA. (2023, January). Questions and Answers on Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation?sm_guid=NTU1NzgyfDYzMDE1OTM2fC0xfGppbUBha2ZhbWlseS5vcmd8NTY4OTI4MXx8MHwwfDE5OTYwMDk4OHwxMDg2fDB8MHx8NTQ3NzI2fDA1
- Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Ultrasound in Pregnancy. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/9704-ultrasound-in-pregnancy
- Dugas, C., & Slane, V. H. (2024, January). Miscarriage. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30422585/#
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2023, December 15). Mifepristone (Mifeprex). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600042.html