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Mifepristone..."The Abortion Pill": The Facts

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Biology 103
2000 First Web Report
On Serendip

Mifepristone..."The Abortion Pill": The Facts

Sujatha Sebastian

On September 28, 2000 the Food and Drug Administration after several years of research approved Mifepristone, better known as the "abortion pill", for distribution in the United States. The FDA's decision will have a definite impact on women's health care in the United States. There will be social and medical repercussions. The drug has caused controversy not only in antiabortion groups, but in Pro-Choice groups as well. Critics are worried that an abortion available in pill form will be "too easy". They are worried that use of the pill will be abused. What many people do not realize is that while Mifepristone will be beneficial to women's health care, it is not without side effects. In light of all the recent coverage that the "abortion pill" has been given in the media, and all the misinformation surrounding it, I decided researching that Mifepristone would be interesting and helpful. The purpose of my paper is to discover how Mifepristone works, how it is administered, and to look at its side effects. I want to demonstrate the benefit Mifepristone will be to women's health care, while showing that it is not an "easy" solution to abortion.

"Mifepristone, formerly known as RU-486, is a medical alternative to aspiration abortion."(1) It works by blocking progesterone from being absorbed into the uterus. When this happens the uterus sheds the endometrium (lining in the uterus, therefore inducing menstruation. (2 When Mifepristone is used as a method for abortion is it administered as part of a three step process. The first step is that 200 mg of Mifepristone is given orally in a doctor's office. Then within 24 to 48 hours the patient is given 400 mg a drug called Misoprostol either orally or in a suppository form. Misoprostol, which is a synthetic hormone, is used to get the cervix to soften and dilate as well as getting the uterus to relax. The embryo is then expelled.(2) This is supposed to happen approximately fours hours after the administration of the drug. The final step is an examination by a medical professional to make sure the abortion is complete. (2)

There are restrictions as to who can use this medical method of abortion. It is only intended for women to use up to nine weeks after their last menstruation period. Women who are under 18 or over 35, epileptic, diabetics, or suffering from heart, lung, kidney, liver, stomach or intestinal disorders are ineligible. As are women who have taken steroids within the past 12 months, or deemed overweight or a heavy smoker. Women who have used an IUD or hormonal contraceptive within three months prior to conception are not allowed to take Mifepristone as well.(2)

Like any drug or medical method there are side effects to using Mifepristone and Misoprostol. It is the number of side effects and degree of each that critics argue about. The FDA has determined that taking Mifepristone does cause various degrees of pain. Short term physical effects can be pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, nausea, diarrhea, and fatigue.(2) There are psychological side effects as well. In some cases products of the conception are visualized. (3)

The use of Mifepristone will have a definite impact on reproductive freedom in this country and the world. (3) It is seen as less invasive procedure which gives the woman more freedom and privacy. In the United States it has been reported by the Alan Guttmacher Institute that eighty-nine percent of the abortions occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Mifepristone will allow women another option to terminate a pregnancy in its early stages. (2) Twenty-four percent of the world's population lives in places where abortion is not legal. (3) As a result a significant population of women perform their own abortions or receive illegal abortions which kills them. The medical method of abortion would allow women in these areas of the world to receive a safe method of abortion.

A major issue that critics of Mifepristone have is that they feel that the drug will allow abortions to become "too easy". But the drug is only administered in a medical office and requires at least three visits. The last visit is an examination to see that the abortion is complete and that the mother is in good health. Before the patient is given Mifeprex tablets (Mifepristone) she must sign an agreement in which she acknowledges that there are side effects, that there is a three step process, and that 5 to 8 women out of every hundred do not have successful medical abortions and need surgical abortions . (5) Critics worry that the drug will cause an increase in the number of women who have abortions. Supporters of the drug cite the fact that in France, where the drug is manufactured and was first administered, there has not been an increase in the abortion rate. (2)

Mifepristone will change the way that abortions are administered. This method gives a woman more autonomy and does not require her to go through surgical procedure. It can also prevent pregnancy by taken as soon as a day after she has had intercourse. This new method will allow more women to have access to safe abortions. Mifepristone opens the door to a new area of medicine in which previously surgical procedures are now approached in a medical manner. Whether in support of or against Mifepristone one has to recognize the new technology the drug represents.

One of the problems I had when researching information was finding unbiased information. Both pro and anti Mifepristone groups used "research" and statistics to their benefit. Distinguishing the difference between opinion and fact was difficult. This is especially true because there is not a lot of accurate information about Mifepristone published by reliable sources. This is due to the fact that Mifepristone has just recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Mifepristone that will be beneficial to women's health care and medicine. But one must realize that it is not without side effects and cannot be seen as an "easy" solution to abortion.

 

WWW Sources

1)www.plannedparenthood.org/mifepristone.html, Mifepristone

2)www.rascalnut.com/naral.ohio/RU486.html, The Facts about Mifepristone (RU 486)

3)www.mja.com.au/public/issues/sep15/henshaw/henshaw.html, Mifepristone

4)http://jinx.sis.unsw.edu.au/~greenlft/1994/137/137p28htm, "Abortion Pill": A Woman's Right to Choose by, Kath Gelber

5)www.popcouncil.orgrhpdev/mifeprex/patient%5Fagreement.html,The Patient Agreement Mifeprex (Mifepristone) Tablets

6) www.pages.map.com/lroberge/ru486.htm, RU486: The Hidden Effects by Lawrence F. Roberge

6) www.nrlc.org/ru486/propsedFDAregs.html, RU486 *Please note that some of the sources read during my research were from biased sources (the National Right to Life Committee web site for example). Facts were not used from these sources in my paper. These sources were instead used to discover the arguments anti-Mifepristone groups had and to see the false information they were publishing about the drug.

 

 

Continuing conversation
(to contribute your own observations/thoughts, post a comment below)

08/06/2005, from a Reader on the Web

I took that pill and almost blead to death now i have have to say it's not as easy as it sounds it is very painful like child birth but more blooder atleast for me i now have endromitrious and may have to have my women parts removed i had nothing before i took those pills i'm 37 so i'm just saying better think it out before you take it because it's dangerious i have a son who is 18 it was easier for me to have him then go through childbirth than taking those pills becuse i'm still not well and it has been 7 months


10/10/2005, from a Reader on the Web

For what it's worth, I though I'd share my personal experience using Mifepristone almost a month ago.. After having made the difficult choice to abort, I learned of this pill as an alternative option to having the traditional surgical procedure. Of course, as anyone would, I opted to try the pill because it seemed -less- painful and was something I could do in the privacy of my own home. After having been given the first pill, Mifepristone, at the doctors office on a Friday afternoon, I finished out my day at work with minimal side-effects at that point. The Mifepristone made me slightly sick to my stomach, but compared to the ongoing morning sickness I'd been going through, it wasn't so bad. (ha ha) Misoprostol was the next step, given to me in the form of 4 tablets, to be inserted vaginally myself at home. I was also given a full bottle of Vicodin, as well as a bottle of 800mg Ibuprophen for the pain the doctor anticipated I would encounter (this worried me a little). Late Satuday afternoon, I'd say around 4:30pm, scared to death not knowing what to expect once everything started, and knowing I couldn't turn back now, I inserted the tablets and took 1 Vicodin as directed. About 30 minutes from the time I did this I began to have cramping comparable to what you would feel during a typical menstrual period.. but not for long. Within an hour I had severe cramping.. I'd been warned the pain could equal that of actual child-birth contractions, and this must have been it. (I've never had a child, so I can only imagine) I was to the point of feeling like I would pass out if the pain didn't let up when I passed the first, and largest, portion of what -was- the pregnancy.. Many people will tell you that all you'll see is blood and clots, and it's unlikely anything will look like actual tissue.. but mine sure did.. Large masses of gray tissue were expelled for the following numerous hours. Somewhere close to midnight that night I felt relief enough to know it was over.. or so I thought. 4 days after this, while I -should- have been feeling more or less back to normal, I began to experience increasing pain in my abdomen. I called and spoke with my doctor about this, but felt as though she didn't seem concerned at all. No more than 2 hours after hanging up the phone I developed a fever that shot through the roof out of nowhere, and my heart began beating unbelieveably TOO fast. The "increasing pain" in my abdomen now had me laying in bed, hardly able to move. I called my mother who left work and rushed to my home to get me. I couldn't even get out of bed to let her in when she arrived I hurt so bad. I ended up in the emergency room that afternoon with a heartbeat of 143 beats/min.. (Check your own and then you'll see just how high 143 is) and a 103 temperature I ended up fighting to keep away for the next 4 days. To make a long story short, that first afternoon I spent over 8 hours in a treatment room in the emergency area before they got my vitals under control and discovered the cause of everything.. The abortion pill I used began attacking my own body in a sense, and began a horrendous infection in my uterus. In the end I spent a week in the hospital on 3 of the most potent anti-biotics available, as well as some heavy-duty narcotic pain killers, while specialists from the surrounding hospitals kept watch over me constantly. It's now been almost a month since then, and I still have to have blood work done, as well as ultrasounds every now and then to keep monitoring my recovery. I have constant sharp pains in my abdomen and have been told the scar tissue left over from the infection may now keep me from becoming pregnant in the future.. It's all so much to deal with, and honestly, I don't think I've come to terms with everything yet. It still feels like a bad dream. Regardless of my experience with the pill and side effects it caused me, I can still step back and look at the broad picture of things.. The majority of women who use this method have no problems, and for them, this is a good way to go. I really do think it's a better choice for most, than to have the surgical abortion.. BUT - be warned.. It's not "easy" using the pill, and there's no way to know how you're body will react to it. I never knew I'd go through the things I did because of it. This is definitely not something to be looked at as the "new contraceptive" either, as some are saying. It's so risky, putting your body through something like this. It could take a toll on you that will effect the rest of your life. Like me.. Will I ever be able to have kids after everything that happened? Every woman out there should begin by being aware of how to avoid an unwanted pregnancy from the start. Such as life happens, and most protection only offers 99.9% effectiveness, we forget that's NOT 100%.. If you still become pregnant and choose to abort, do your homework.. read about all possibilities, and all side effects for each.. then decide what's best for you. I think the pill is a great option.. but be careful, it's certainly not without it's flaws.

 

Additional comments made prior to 2007
It has been almost 2 months since I had made the painful decision to get an abortion. I am only 18 years old so you could imagine hoe scary it was for me. After they examined me and told me how far I was they put me in this rome with a female doctor so I can take the oral pill that actually determines the pregnancy. When I took that pill, I felt fine until I had to get something in my stomach, I couldn't even eat my stomach was turning so bad. the doctor told me that I could insert the four pills vaginally anytime between then and 48 hours after the visit. I decided to insert them that night to get it over with and about an hour after it was literally hell. I was vomiting,bleeding perfusely, and experiencing pain more severe then I had ever felt before. To make a long story shorter, it has been about 2 months and I still haven't exactl stopped bleeding. I am young and afaid to go get checked because of it, and my life will never be the same. I had no choice my situation at the time wasn't what I wanted and now I will always regret it ... Reader on the web, 12 August 2007

 

 

I used the pill around february of '07. I was 6 1/2 weeks and I guess I didnt really know what I was getting myself into. I took the first pill which I had no side effects to. When I took the second one the next day, it was almost immediate cramping. Basically the worst cramps I had ever had. I was puking, had diarrea, and was in so much pain I was balled up on the couch crying. I guess I was a "lucky" one because my horrible cramps only lasted about an hour until I passed the birth tissue and then they subsided. Although I bled for a month after that (most of it not heavy), I completly regret it to this day. All I can ever think about is a perfectly beautiful child is now in a sewer somewhere. It's horrible, but thats how I think of it now. I wish I could go back and change things. I wish I never did it. All I hope is that it didnt hurt my chances of having a child in the future ... Reader on the web, 13 September 2007

Comments

Anonymous's picture

BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE ABORTION PILL!!

I found out I was pregnant around January 2010. I had to make a very hard decision to not keep the baby. I decided I didn't want to get the surgical abortion and if the fetus was more developed than 8 weeks I would keep it, so the abortion pill seemed to be my only option. I then found a clinic that does the abortion procedures and what not. On February 3, 2010, at 6 weeks pregnant, I went to the abortion clinic and got Mifeprostone (AKA the abortion pill). I had to take a pill at the doctors then they informed me that in EXACTLY 24 hours I need to follow up with the 4 other tablets. The next day (24 hours later) I inserted the tablets in my mouth and had to wait for them to dissolve until I could drink any water (they said they don't use the vaginal insertion anymore because it seemed to cause many problems). After about an hour, I started to miscarry. The pain was pretty terrible and I pretty much spent the entire day on the toilet because I was bleeding profusely. After that day, I still continued to bleed and I wasn't able to use tampons because they tell you not to until the bleeding is gone. I went to my follow up appointment on February 17, 2010 and the doctor said all looked fine! LIAR. I was bleeding forever! In March, I was at college and I was wearing a tampon because i though I was experiencing my period. Unfortunately I wasn't. I felt gushing and ran to the bathroom. When i took my tampon out, blood gushed out and a HUGE clot came out. At that point, I called the clinic around March 13, 2010 to inform them i was still bleeding, since they had suggested my bleeding should be over by then I got an emergency appointment. The clinic doctor thought I must have just been exaggerating and she barely gave me the time or day for an ultrasound. (By that time I was fed up, how am I supposed to move on about this hard choice I made in my life while still seeing the effects?) Around April 1, 2010, I went to the hospital's emergency room. After waiting 6 hours, a doctor informed me the abortion pill hadn't worked effectively and that there was still stuff inside me and the pregnancy hormone was STILL in me. (At this point, I was furious that the clinic doctor blew me over and were begging me not to sue them, LITERALLY) They suggested for me to get a DNC, which is basically a procedure where they clean out your uterus. I met with a gyno and he said that he wanted me to wait to get the DNC and see if my body would naturally expel the remains. I also informed him that I wanted to be put on birth control immediately, (since the abortion clinic usually does that for their patients to help regulate the period) but he said to just wait for the bleeding to stop and to get my period. I've been bleeding every since (today's date is May 22. 2010) and I actually had a period for about 3 weeks long and I thought my bleeding was over and done with! Until about two days ago I started bleeding AGAIN. I am so frustrated with this pill and everything it has done to my body. I have been bleeding almost non-stop for almost 5 months (give or take 4 days).I am scared that I won't be able to have a family when I am ready for it. I have an appointment to meet with my gyno within the week and I am demanding birth control (which i heard you are supposed to do after the pill even if you are bleeding as to re-regulate your cycle.) Moral of my story is: Clinics are inadequate, the doctors I went to outside of the clinic like the ER doctors, my family doctor, and my gyno knew absolutely nothing about the pill have heard nothing about this pill (and they are some of the top doctors where I live). So PLEASE think before you decide to take this pill. It can adversely affect you. I wish everyday that i had decided to get the surgery.

Anonymous's picture

RE: "BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE ABORTION PILL!!"

I think you should sue them and tell us the name of this clinic, so anybody else goes through that too! The clinic I went to said that when the pill doesn't work, they do the surgery for no additional cost! (I did the surgery btw).They neglected you and that's a big deal! They don't need to be practicing medicine. It is hard enough for us to make the decision of getting rid of our babies... we didn't get pregnant so we could go have an abortion... It is dangerous to have the remains inside of you, because you can have an infeccion. Tell a lawyer your story and see what you can do against them. They put your life at risk! Do you have any good trustworthy friend that can be there for you at the surgery? They won't allow you to drive after the surgery because of the medicine they inject for pain, anxiety and nausea.

yoyo's picture

abortion pills does not worke

i had sex with my Gf 5 weeks ago..after medical checkup she found pregnant..she take Mifepristone abortion pills yesterday..but it has no any effect..what can i do..plz suggest me

Anonymous's picture

Did she take the second set

Did she take the second set of pills misoprostol ? That's basically what I think makes the abortion work also what clinic did you go to I recommend planned parenthood if your in ny

Anonymous's picture

I am 40 Years old and have a

I am 40 Years old and have a 19 year old son. I have battled depression over the years and suffered a severe depression after the birth of my son. After a painful decision to have an abortion I opted to take the pill. Everyones experiences are different, I was about 4 and 1/2 weeks pregnant. I took the first pill on a friday and the other 4 exactly 24 hours after. I was so nervous, I took dramamine 30 mins before. I had no naseau at all. The cramps started about 1 hour later. I took 800 mgs of Ibuprofen and I was really doing ok. I was kind of waiting for the bleeding to start. It did about 2 hours later. The cramps would come in intervals. It was ok tho. I made it through the nite ok, Sunday I felt good, I was actually being yelled at to get into bed and rest. I was bleeding I guess like a heavy period no clots.Cramping off and on. I honestly think I was so relieved from the anticipation of all of it. I must say I was very tired tho. Monday came and I decided to go to work.

After going to work it was uncomfortable because of the constant feeling of blood kinda gushing. I would run to the bathroom thinking I was bleeding through, but I wasnt. Here comes the wierd part. Half way through the day, I was opening desk drawers some of very heavy and hard to pull. Not realzing the strain. I became very crampy worse then the day I took the pills. I was bleeding more heavy and felt overall worse. I came home and went to bed, with still more cramping throuhg the night, I took the next day off and rested all day in bed. Which brings me to today Wednesday, I decided to take another day. By mid morning I was feeling good. No more cramping, just almost like a little sore if I move the wrong way. I am bleeding but it has definately lightned up.

My overall experience wasnt as bad as I thought. I think I did to much to quick. So now its been 4 full days and I am feeling more like myself again. Just finding that my breasts are still so tender as if I was pregnant. I think I was told it could take up to 7 days for that to stop.

Emotionally I am battling with it and I hope in time I can start to feel better about the decision I made.

Nicole's picture

so I have a question...

so I have a question... during your entire process did you ever pass any clots? because i have been cramping and experience the same type of gushing feelings and such that you have but i am worried because I have not passed any clots, or, atleast, they were unnoticeable to me. please answer.

Anonymous's picture

Can anyone tell me how to

Can anyone tell me how to have an abortion if you can't take the pills please because I can't take pills

Anonymous's picture

hey i read your post and i

hey i read your post and i was in the same boat as u i cant swallow the smallest pills of all.. but its okay the first pill u take u just can eat some crackers and swallow it like that and then the 4 pills u get u insert them in ur vaginal area to dissolve. the only thing u would have to worry bout is the pain killers and antibotic but the antibotic comes in a chewable tablet ... it will all work out.. hope i could be of a help to you

Anonymous's picture

dont do it, keep the baby,

dont do it, keep the baby, please. it is life not a game...

Anonymous's picture

S O S ... I am 42 ...PILL or The Procedure????....

Can someone, please be so kind and give me an opinion/suggestion?!...
I am 42yrs of age.I have a 22 and a 13 yrs old. It took me forever to get pregnant with my 13 yrs old, and I was in my late 20's, than... I never thought I would get pregnant ever...but unfortunately...I did. I am 4 weeks pregnant, now and very high risk. I have researched about "The Pill" and I found out that it is not given to women after 35. In addition, even if I would be eligible for the pill, after reading the reviews I am a little terrified. I will see the doctor this week but before I do, I want to be "prepared for the worst and hope for the best", as one lady mentioned above...
Any comments and suggestions in regards to my problem, would be greatly appreciated...

Anonymous's picture

I am 41 and took the abortion

I am 41 and took the abortion pill yesterday.
I was admittedly very apprehensive but it really wasnt that bad.
I WAS 6 weeks and 2 days by the scan.
I took the first pill at 10am and the 2nd 4 pills at 4pm.
The cramps started almost immediately but were very mild until about 8pm, they then increased and I did go through about 8 nightime pads and passed clots into the toilet.
However with the use of ibubrofen and paracetamol the pain was bearable and today has completely disappeared. I am still bleeding quite heavily but more like a period now.
Hope that helps

abhijeet's picture

abortion pills

hey, i had sex wid my grlfrnd...........her period is missed by 1week.....we r scared,if v hv child den...........so is it ok to tke abortion pills widout any doc.........?pls hlp me out...m too depressed coz of dis............

Anonymous's picture

take your pain meds and you will be fine!

I would have never imagined that I would be faced with the decision of having an abortion or not but when I was 2 weeks late, I took two pregnancy tests just to make sure. When both came out positive, I knew right then and there that I was not in the right situation to be having a baby. I am still in school without a stable job and not married. I am in my early 20's and am currently with my boyfriend for almost 6 months. Anyway to make a long story short, I would like to share my experience about the pill.

I was terrified beyond belief reading posts in this forum but there were a few that were very reassuring. Every girls' body is different but I just wanted to be aware of the worst so that I can expect the worst but hope for the best. Anyway, I went to Planned Parenthood to get the abortion pill. I went on a Friday and took the first pill that stops the progesterone to end the pregnancy. I didn't feel any side effects from that. Maybe a little bit of nausea here and there but nothing major. Saturday, I had work so I couldn't take it until after 5pm but I had some errands to do. I kept postponing the time because I was just plain terrified in case something went wrong. Finally around 9:00pm Saturday evening I decided I had to go through with it. I was spending the night with the boyfriend so he could be there for me in case I needed anything. When you're going through this, definitely have someone there that you trust and cares about you. I couldn't imagine going through it alone even though my experience was not that of a negative one. I was terrifed out of my mind because I had NO IDEA what to expect and I didn't voice this to my boyfriend (I had a pretty non chalant attitude following the positive results up until me taking the 4 pills because it didn't seem real to me. I didn't feel pregnant because I was only 5 weeks 3 days into the pregnancy. The only symptom was that my breasts felt tender and were bigger than they normally were.) because I didn't want to panic him also.

He was napping when I took the anti-nausea medication first (I had to get a prescription filled for that.). I was so scared I was shaking. I kept rereading the instructions to make sure I was doing everything correct. On the instructions it said to take the pain medications AFTER you take the 4 cheek pills but I read another girls' post that she took the pain meds before and it helped her so that's what I decided to do. 30 minutes after the anti-nausea medication I took 800 mg of Motrin PM. Then I decided that maybe to be safe I'd also take the Tylenol 3 (with codeine) and did so 5 minutes after taking the Motrin PM. I made sure with the nurse practitioner when I was at the clinic that it was safe to take all these at once and she said it was fine even though she recommended that I only take the Motrin, then stagger the rest. I normally get horrendous cramps during my periods so I wanted to be safe than sorry later, crying in pain. I was afraid I might overdose because I am a very petite person and normally only take 400 mg for cramps (which actually doesn't help). After the pain meds, I waited another 30 minutes, then put the 4 pills in my mouth. This was around the time when my boyfriend woke up. He asked me what I was doing and I told him I had the cheek pills in. I kept them there for 30 minutes. I was surprised they had no taste, was just chalky. Then after the 30 minutes, swallowed the rest with water. This was when I started feeling terrified, not knowing what to expect. I just lay there and drifted in and out of sleep. About approximately an hour later, that's when all of a sudden I felt EXTREMELY LIGHT HEADED and WEAK. I started to panic. The first thing that crossed my mind was that I had taken too much pain medication and something bad was going to happen. My boyfriend saw that I looked really weak all of a sudden and became very concerned. He asked me what pills I took because I had like 6 bottles out on the nightstand but I was so weak I couldn't even tell him what I took, which I believe made him panic more. I just told him to read the instructions I was given. I couldn't believe how light headed, drowsy and dazed I was. I was so weak I couldn't even pick up the paper with the instructions and just pointed to it. This feeling probably passed after 15-20 minutes? I also felt feverish and after taking my temperature, it was a bit elevated. I kept drifting in and out of sleep. A few minutes after that light headed feeling passed, I felt very, very minor cramping in my abdomen which lasted not even more than 5 minutes. This was actually the only time I felt pain throughout this whole process; thanks to the pain medication. Still no bleeding however. I think I started bleeding 2 hours after taking the 4 cheek pills. I figured I should try going to the bathroom and getting up, I realized I was still pretty weak. My boyfriend helped me up and I went to the bathroom and sat on the toilet and blood gushed out. The second time I went, a big blood clot the size of a small lemon that was sac shaped came out of me and was hanging there (I was grossed out but expected it from other girls' experiences). I didn't want to "pull it out of me" in case I ripped out and damaged my insides. A minute or two I relaxed a little and the rest fell out. Another small clot came out right after it. Most of the blood and clots come out when I was sitting on the toilet. It wasn't painful, just feels disgusting feeling the actual clots sliding out from your body. I didn't bleed too much into my pad while I was lying down. The next morning (Sunday) I felt perfectly normal. Another small clot came out and the rest was blood and very minor clots. I felt a little nauseous in the morning but I decided to go to work. Once I got to work, everything was fine. At times here and there, I would feel small gushes of blood come out of me.

Right now it's Monday night. I've had little gushes rush out maybe once every 2 hours just like a normal period. I feel completely normal and can't even believe that the experience wasn't traumatizing for me and only lasted a few hours. So in conclusion, my experience was unlike many of the others on this forum, I believe largely thanks to the pain medication, so GET YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED AND USE THEM! If I was cramping and in pain, I wouldn't even know how I would have made it through the night much less make it to the toilet to let everything out. I am also thankful for my boyfriend who stayed by my side holding my hand and watching me the entire night while (I drifted in and out of consciousness the whole night) I was going through this even though I didn't experience pain like I expected. Just knowing that he was there for me definitely calmed my nervousness and kept me at ease. I knew that if something went wrong, I wasn't by myself and he would take care of me. My follow up is in two weeks, I pray that everything went well.

In conclusion:
1. Get your prescriptions filled and take your pain meds! Better safe than sorry! If you wait until you have horrible pain, the meds may not work as well.
2. Have someone there with you while you're going through all this, EVEN IF you don't experience any pain at all.
3. Don't stress and sleep to pass the time.
4. Be prepared to see a lot of blood and disgusting looking blood clots/tissue.
5. I didn't mention this in my little essay but talk to your close friends about what you're going through. It definitely helps knowing that someone is there to listen in case you need to talk. When I first found out I was pregnant, a mixture of emotions overcame me. I was in shock, terrified, but in awe that I had a life growing inside of me. I confided in my best friend when I found out and it helped because she told me about a friend that went through the same process. I spoke to her friend who reassured me everything would be alright. I must have been such a nuisance to her, asking all these questions. This whole abortion situation was on my mind for a good two weeks until I had my appointment at the clinic and throughout those two weeks, I spoke to my boyfriend and my best friend about how I was feeling. Before putting the 4 cheek pills in, I told my best friend how terrified I was not knowing what to expect but at the same time I was sad. I was sad that this fetus I was aborting could have been a beautiful little baby but that now was just not the right time and place and that it was not the baby/fetus' fault. It hurt me just thinking about that and will always be at the back of my mind. My boyfriend and I spoke about this too for some time but we both knew now was not the right time for a baby. When I am married with a stable career, then I would love to have a baby. Maybe more than one :)

Good luck to all of you women out there! Don't worry, you will be fine!

mamakat's picture

Abortion Pill very gentle and painless! I am SO relieved!

It was much more peaceful and gentle than I had thought.
I was incredibly scared of all the possible intense side effects after reading all the forums- however a surgical termination certainly was not an option for me.(scared of surgery)
I am 31, have three children (natural V Births) has 1 miss and three surgical terminations)(never ever agin..)
with baby still breastfeeding- we were simply not ready for another child. I was 5-6 weeks and considered myself to be a good "candidate" for the medical/vs surgical..
I felt responsible for my situation and felt i wanted to "own" my experience and for it to be as natural as possible so that my body and mind could react and respond accordingly.- Much better for the healing process all round..
I took the mifepristone tab at the clinic and felt very emotional. I was crying and felt very sad. Within half an hour i felt very quiet and sleepy (emotionally exhausted). When i got home i had slight blood spotting already. My temperature peaked and within two hours by basal temperature had dropped and I no longer felt "pregnancy hot". I went to bed and rested for the afternoon. emotionally exhausted- i rested and meditated.
Day two. i nervously did my housework and cooked for a couple of days for my three kids so i could rest.
at 12 i took two naprogesic -naproxen sodium (period pain tabs) and two mersyndol (9mg codeine and paracetamol)
I lit my fire very warm, made my room very dark and put meditation music on.
one hour later at 1pm I put the four tablets in my upper gums. I lay down very still and rested.
Just a quick note to let you know that postive thoughts and intentions go a long way. I focussed on the "lesson" learnt from being pregnant and the choice as to why i was aborting the pregnancy. I gave "thanks" to the spirit of the baby for reminding me to be motivated to finish my study, work hard save money and buy a home. I gave thanks for the increased intimacy with my partner on an emotional level. I asked for a quick, graceful, gentle pain-free process and "asked" the baby to leave quickly.
They took over an hour to dissolve. I had sips of water and had to swallow little bits at a time. I rested and was very very still. My partner kept checking on me and i would keep my eyes closed and simply nod.
I think this "stillness" alleviated any dizziness, nausea, and general feelings of feeling Bad.
When i moved i would feel slight cramping so i stayed very still and let my body do it''s job.
i watched a movie but mainly slept.
Within two hours i started bleeding a small amount.
within four hours it was gently constant but nothing to be concerned about.
i continued to rest and the cramping was kept to a minimum.
After three hours a felt very hungry. I was scared eating would induce nausea- however i realised i hadn''t really eaten in 30 hours due to nerves. I ate toast and a cup of tea and fell asleep again.
The night was very uneventful.

the next day I felt "achey" like my uterus was bruised. Getting in and out of the car made me aware, but I was incredibly pleased with the process. I felt blessed to have had such a gentle process and wanted to share this with other girls/mama''s who are reading this trying to make up their minds.
Day three and i am a bit crampy and tired also, bit grumpy! (hormonal drop?) all in all there was no drama, big clots, sife effects or intensity.
Good luck for your process. Be very gentle with yourself.
I was prepared for the worst- but wished for the best and that''s exactly what i got.

have your friends, naproxen, codeine, bucket and blanket ready! Play your meditation music, stay warm, light your candles, get snuggly and take some codeine before eyou begin.
xxx Good luck!

Anonymous's picture

My Experience

Hi All I Found Out I Was 4 Weeks Pregnant 3 Weeks Ago. After a Tough Decision I Decided To Travel To The Uk. As Much as It Hurt I Had To Do It. I Had Just Been Layed Off My Job and Money Wasnt Really a Major Issue But The Time Wasnt Right. Anyway I Have Only Been Going Out With My Boyfriend Two Weeks Now and as Much as I Love Him We Just Were Not Ready. Last Monday We Travelled To Birmingham For an Abortion, On The First Day, Scared Outa My Wits Must I Add, I Was Scanned and Told I Was 5 Weeks, I Was Asked To Fill Out Forms and I Was Given The First Pill, After The First Pill I Could Go Straight Back To The Hotel and I Had a Normal Day After That. The Next Morning at 8.30 I Went Back To The Clinic Where I Swallowed 2 Pain Tabs and Then 4 Tablets (Known as Passeries)Were Inserted Into My Vagina. I Was Told I Could Go Staight Back To The Hotel and Not To Pee For an Hour. After That I Slept For about an Hour and Then I Began To Feel Slight Pain Like My Stomach was Closing In, It Quickly Got Worse, I Ran To The Loo and Passes The First Of The Blood and Clotting. The Blood Was Heavy But Just Like a Period With Clots, The Pain Was Very Bad But Nothing You Couldnt Deal With, It Lasted About 2 Hours of Bad Pain and Then an Hour Of Slight Cramping. I Then Felt Much Better and Found It Helped To Move Around. I Was Then Able To Eat, This Was about 2.30 and I Felt Like Myself Again. At 3.30 i Was Able To Leave The Hotel To Get The Train To The Airport To Go Home. I Made It Home Ok and The Travelling Wasnt Bad at All. The Worst Part Of The Procedure was Thinking About It. Im Just Glad I Didnt Read This Website Before I Went Because i May Have Backed Out. It Was The Right Option For Me and All In All Wasnt To Bad. My Boyfriend Was Amazing He Went Through The Whole Thing With Me and It Has Only Made Us Stronger. The Trip and Procedure Cost Us about 1300Euro All In All. But You Know What They Say You Cant Put a Price On Health. Good Luck To You All, Its Not As Bad as It Seems and Is Quickly Over. My Support Is With You. xxxxxxxxxx

Anonymous's picture

Abortion pill.

Hello. I'm 21 and this was my first pregnancy/abortion. I was a month and 3 weeks;I took the abortion pill on March 19,2010. The next day,March 20th, was when I placed the 2 pills UNDER my tongue. As soon as they started to dissolve my body felt uncomfortable. I began having severe pains and felt really naseous. BeforeI took the pills I had breakfast, so I just wanted to barf everything out. I couldn't stand the feeling. I live with my mom, no she doesn't know what I did, so I had to act as if everything was alright. I laiddown in bed and just waited for the pills to dissolve away. As soon as that was down I had to take four other pills (like tylenol) to relieve the pain. As soon as I swallowed my first pill I had that "I'm going to throw up right now," feeling. I ran to the bathroom and threw everything up,including the pill I had swallowed! I called the clinic and asked if it was normal or ok and she said yes,that I could take another pill if I couldn't handle the pain. So what I did was I stopped taking the pills. I started bleeding and so I began wearing a pad. I didn't bleed a lot, I didn't have to change my pad every hour. I wasn't allowed to have sex, nor go to the beach/pool for TWO WEEKS. After the two weeks, I thought I was okay. I didn't have anymore pain, no more pregnancy symptoms. I had sex with my significant other, with protection that is. Afterwords I started bleeding! I went to the clinic and the doctor did an ultrasound on me and said that my uterus was perfectly fine. That if I bled and had discharge andpainit was normal. TILL THIS DAY MAY 6TH, 2010 I'M STILL BLEEDING AND DISCHARGING AT THE SAME TIME! THE BLEEDING TENDS TO STOP BUT YET COMES BACK! IT'S NOT HEAVY BLEEDING BUT STILL. YESTERDAY FOR CINCO DE MAYO I HAD A PERFORMANCE, BUT BEFORE I DID MY PERFORMANCE I USED THE BATHROOM AND SOMETHING THAT LOOKED LIKE A TAMPON (HARD AND KINDA' BLOODY) CAME OUT OF MY VAGINA. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL IT IS, BUT IW ILL TAKE IT TO MY DOCTOR! I DON'T CARE IF IT STINKS AND WHAT NOT;IT'S MY HEALTH. OTHER THAN THAT I STOPPED HAVING SEX AND I'M TIRED OF HAVING TO USE PADS EVERYDAY! IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE AND I JUST CAN'T STAND IT! I WISH I COULD REWIND EVERYHTING! BUT EVERYTHING HAS A REASON AND YES I'VE LEARNED MY LESSON!

Alinka's picture

You must be out of your mind

Sweetie, if you took the abortion pill in march and vomited the second pills you took, that means you missed a vital portion of the medical abortion process. The first pill kills the embryo and if it doesnt kill it on the first try it causes irreversible defects. Second, the pills you vomited were supposed to contract your uterus so that all the pregnancy may be expelled. By you going on with your life and not following up with the clinic, you do not know whats inside of you. YOu will bleed endlessly not knowing if your embryo is alive or dead. Either way, it is not healthy. The thing that looks like a tampon may be the embryo that died due to lack of pregesterone. If you actually took it to your doctor, they would be able to tell you if it's the embryo or the sac. For a 21 year old woman, you need to have some female anatomy lessons and actually know your body. After, this whole ordeal you placed yourself through make sure you have an ultrasound to make sure nothing was left in your uterus. Good luck.

Tiffany's picture

Abortion pill

I know what you are going through. I ended up taking the pill on March 4th and to this day I am still bleeding. I stop for few days and get it back. I don't know what to do. I am so tired of this. I feel dizzy and weak. I went to a party few weeks ago and was dancing so much and realised that when I move too much and walk around to much the bleeding gets worse. Hope you feel better soon. let me know what your doctor says when yougo back for the check up.

Anonymous's picture

what to do

im 20 will be 21 in a couple of months and my boyfriend is 19..so my boyfriend and i went on a trip and while we were on the trip we had sex everyday for a week. it has now been 4 weeks since our trip and i havent had my period. i took a test and it came out positive and i told my boyfriend. i have two sisters who just had kids one a year ago and one 2 months ago and my parents told me i better not be next and guess what i am i havent went to the doctor yet but goin asap noone knows other then my boyfriend bc were scared to tell our parents. my boyfriend wants me to get an abortion bc we are not ready to have a kid right now bc he is about to go into the marines and we both dont have jobs. im scared to have an abortion bc its not the babys fault it was ours to choose to have sex. im just scared he is goin to leave me if i decide to keep it. idk what to do

Mommy of Athena's picture

abortion

hey there I know what you shoud do, but I was in the SAME problem as you last yr when I got preg by my boyfriend of 2yrs he was 2weeks for leaving to the ARMY and I reaslly didnt want to get a abortion and he told me over and over again I better get a abortion or he is DONE with our relationship. At 1st I was really worryed so I was going to do it, but last min I changed my mind, this is your baby if you fill you will and can do what eer it takes for your baby and you want to keep it dont let anyone get in the way of that. If you want to keep it then let him leave you, they come crawling back after some time. Now my boyfriend loves are daughter he is the best dad ever, he was just scared cuz we were only 18 and we did it my daughter is now a yr old and he never been better. so you really thing on it. babys are such a joy!!!

Anonymous's picture

I wish you the best

It's not the baby's fault you chose to have sex, you are right. Many will say it's your choice. But what would your baby say if you could ask him or her what they wanted? I'm sure they would say "I want to live!" There are so many open adoptions now. I tried for a while to have a baby. I'm now considering adoption with my husband. With so many great families wishing to adopt, even many allowing open visitation with the birth mother, it's senseless and cruel to end the life of a child. After reading so many testimonies of women who have aborted and the guilt that overwhelms them, won't you consider open adoption? It might be a sad thing to lose your boyfriend over it but which is worse? IF he really loves you he will want what's best for you including your mental state. Do your research, many women go thru major guilt and depression after abortion. Babies have been known to fight and struggle during abortions. They want to live. I know so many people who have sick kids with cancer all they wish is for their child to get better. It's so ironic so many women want their kids to die. All I can say is do your research see how the abortions are done, it is ending a life, regardless if you believe in God or not. There are so many women like me wanting to adopt. Please won't you consider us? If you carry to full term and still haven't decided on adoption you might realize once you hold your baby boy or girl in your arms you can't ever let them go! children are precious. If i had a child when I married they'd be teenagers by now. Now I'm older I'm considering adoption. I love your baby enough that I don't want to see anything bad happen to him or her or any child and I don't even know him or her. how much more do YOU love your child who is a part of YOU and someone you love? I wish you the best and for your baby to be able enjoy puppies and wonderful things kids get to enjoy. hugs and support. april

Anonymous's picture

Seems like you are ready for

Seems like you are ready for a baby, which is not the case of all of us here! I made sure that the embrio didn't have a heart or anything like that formed, my husband doesn't have a job in like forever and I make $600/month! Is it really fair to go through all the unwanted pregnancy so somebody that cannot have children can adopt one? we are human beings already, with feelings, struggles, etc and the embrios are "potencial human beings". I don't agree having an abortion in anadvanced pregnancy but I am sure whom ever did it have their good reasons. Nobody gets pregnant so they can go have an abortion. Is a very hard decision to make. I didn't think I could get pregnant (PCOS), so I smoke regularly, I drink occasionally and took medicines that can cause birth deffects.Even the cream I use in my face can cause birth deffects. Now, who would be willing to adopt a child with special needs? If I didn't have the abortion and my child needed special care when I'm making 600/month? We can barely feed ourselves and I thought that would be cruel to bring a child to this conditions. I want the best for my child too! All I could think was not being able to even bring the baby to a doctor! Babies get sick often... I don't have insurance and to have a child at home costs 4 THOUSAND dollars! Having a child is 10x more dangerous than having an abortion, I mean, having a child in the hospital or with someone experienced! I cannot put my life at risk and try it on my own, specially not being able to have pre-natal and everything else you are supposed to! I could barely pay for the abortion, I had to make a research and find the cheapest one. I'm saying all that because like me, I believe many of the other ladies were in the same situation, maybe different reasons but debating between having the child or not! Is not like "I'm pregnant, I'm taking it off!" It is a very hard decision to make and I am not trying to be rude, I just want to make you and others that are against abortion (like I used to be!) understand that we already feel bad enough for our mistakes.

Anonymous's picture

This is not a Pro-Life Forum

April, please post your pro-life comments on a pro-life site. These women are not asking your opinion on whether they should abort or not, they are looking for testimonies on the abortion pill. I feel for you and every woman that cannot bare a child but it is cruel of you to pass judgment on these women at this difficult time in their life.

Anonymous's picture

think

well i'm 19 now but I had an abortion on 28/02/2010 at the time i was 18 and my boyfriend 21. I had the exact same problem as you, my boyfriend wanted me to have an abortion and i knew he loved me but he was scared and although he didn't say it, I felt like if I had it he was going to leave me. I felt SO pressured because i knew he 100% didn't want a baby now and he 100% wanted me to have the abortion so i done it. Please make the decision is made on your own because i feel like my boyfriend chose for me and i regret having the abortion every single day of my life, I felt like I was going crazy and cried every night. I don't think i would have felt like that if i had make the decision based on what was best for me and no one else. You don't want to do anything that you will regret so make sure you do what is best for you. If your boyfriend really loves you he will be there for you no matter what you decide. I personally would not advise anyone to have an abortion unless they are 100% they don't want a baby.

Irish girl's picture

*****taking mifepristone without medical supervision!!!!ADVICE

Dont even consider it, my minds screaming... but I ve bought them over the internet, and they ll be here in 9 business days I m assured. I m terrified. They ll need to arrive on time, to be within 8 weeks of my pregnancy. Here in Ireland, its illegal to have a termination, a trip to the uk will average 1000e all in, and i ll never get ther and back in the one day, I can only make an excuse to my partner about a bogus shopping trip. I m very alone, and very frightened.. What if my plane is delayed,if I travel for it.. or I m kept at the clinic if something goes wrong?I ve my others small children here to worry about. I m in a very mentally draining and agressive relationship for 15 years.. It s too much of a risk to take. I came accross these pills on the internet, it s my only option at this time.. but I ve read the risks, and am caught between a rock and a hard place.I got myself into this..I accept responsibility. I m so far down this post that I m worried no one will come accross this in time to advise me. Has anyone taken these pill s soley on their own??? Help...

Anonymous's picture

Do not take the

Do not take the pill...please...I know you don't know me but trust me...your kids need you and cannot risk losing you. I took this pill and bled so badly for over a week....when I finally made myself go to the hospital...they told me if I would have come any later I would have been dead. I passed out in the hospital from severe lack of blood and had to have all of my clothes taken off of me in a room full of strangers and bright lights...and have a million things hooked up to my body to monitor me. I then had to have an emergency surgery to scrape the inside of my uterus wich caused severe scaring. God gave you this child for a reason....trust in him that he knows and wants what is best for you. You can get through this...do not risk leaving your children without a mother. I will be praying for you. God bless you.

Juliana's picture

One person's story - pill and aspiration abortion

I wrote a blog post about my experience with abortion - I've had two. The first was via the pill, the second was the aspiration method (which is not surgery, by the way).

I wish I'd found conversation like this when I was 21.

My story is here:
http://nitewriting.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/this-ones-long/

Anonymous's picture

I just took my first pill today May 4,2010 at 4:30

So i just took my first pill today and came to find out i was 6 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I'm so scare of taking the next 4 pills tomorrow, I don't know what to do because I'm so scared... I haven't had any type of morning sickness or anything really that gave me any type of signs that I was pregnant, other than constant urinating... Does your belly goes down after the abortion is complete?

Anonymous's picture

This website almost scared me half to death.. for no reason.

A month ago, I found out I was pregnant and knew I couldn't keep it. I went to the clinic the very next day to get the abortion pill(s). I was only 4 weeks along. I took the first one in the office and then I decided to google the effects of the other four. I stumbled upon this website and thought it'd be a great heads up.
..
No. I was absolutely terrified. I cried and cried and begged my boyfriend to take me back so I could have it surgically done. He managed to calm me down and convince me that it'd be the more "natural" way.
So I sent him out to get me some pepto, as I was told by the nurse that it'd cause vomiting and diarrhea. I took tylenol-3, took the pepto, and inserted the four pills (two on each side) between my cheeks and gums.
About half an hour in, the cramps started. They felt "deeper" and stronger than my regular menstrual cramps. I went to the washroom and found out that I had started bleeding. The pain then became oh so much more intense.
I'm not going to say "oh, people are lying, it doesn't hurt." No, it hurts. It hurts like hell. But it won't kill you. I took another tylenol-3, some more pepto, and cried. I didn't cry because it hurt so ungodly bad. I cried because it made me ungodly tired.
But luckily (yes, LUCKILY) the pain came in waves, I was told, similarly to contractions. It would hurt for about 30 minutes, and subside for about 10.
All of this lasted about 5 hours, but the last hour was just very heavy bleeding and lesser cramps.

To conclude:
Don't be terrified out of your mind. But be prepared for pain. Take your tylenol or codeine. Take some pepto, too! It hurts like a mofo, but it passes. Trust me, it will pass. Right when youre about to lose your mind... it goes away.
And buy pads. The super-overnight-ultra-absorbing-almost-resembling-diapers pads. The bleeding isn't that horrible either. Sure, it's a lot, but just sit on the toilet when it begins and when you have the most pain and it'll pass.
And afterwards, you'll get odd, but mild cramping and some pretty gross spotting (brown and just icky) and probably won't get your period for a while.
Don't worry over that either. Ask your clinic about it if you truly are so worried. Don't google around for answers. Some people will only try to scare you.

Anonymous's picture

REPLY TO WEBSITE ALMOST SCARED ME TO DEATH

Thank you for this ... I am just about to possibly do this and you have told me like it is ... there are risks, it hurts but you'll survive! Shocking what people do and say - not saying these are not true stories but come on.
People sometimes need this ...

Anonymous's picture

dont do it

i took the abortion pill march 26th i did the one pill in office and the four oral pills the next day around the same time i took the one in the dr office i went to sleep and woke up 3hrs later with the worst pain it was so bad i cried and balled up like a little baby this was worse then the c-section i had with my daughter who is now 3... i had the pill after finding out i was 8 weeks pregnant...i am 23 a mom of a 3yr old daughter and currently in college and working full time couldnt have another one right now. well i bled for about two weeks and this it stopped i didnt have sex or baths or anything and all the sudden about 2.5 weeks later i started bleeding it was heavy i was going through a pad every 45 minutes i went to the er and they told me i was ok if it happened again they will do a d&c...well it slowed down the next day and i have now been bleeding for 10 days and today is is heavy back to blot clots and cramping i regret doing this stupid pill the pain bleeding pads changing bed sheets clothes its just not worth the emotional drain that this puts on you and your body for anyone who is thinking about doing this just do the surgical and get it over with dont do the pill...now to read everything i have since after taking the pill i regret every moment about it all...

priya's picture

hi i wnt to comform that

hi i wnt to comform that after taking obortion pill mef..after a month , when the next period will come,will it come on the same day or it will be delay for some day and if period not came than what precution should i take,it is total 1 month gone for period by obortion pill (29march the period has started by obortion pill)please help

Anonymous's picture

I too took the pill, I didn't

I too took the pill, I didn't bleed right away so I fell asleep, when i woke up it all hit me like a stampede. The blood that is. I didn't think it worked so i was surprise to see blood, My mouth was watery because of the nauseas but my best friend was extremely supportive. I was scared bcuz i didn't know what to expect. The cramps were out of control so i took 4 motrins and i was good. It's not bad as ppl try to say it is. Just have a good support system and some pain killers, you should be just fine. Just make the right decision.

Anonymous's picture

my feedback to the pills... for you!

I was 5 weeks late and scared out of my mind to take these pills...I don't trust anything and I was scared something bad was going to happen, but I knew I had no choice because I'm not in the right situation to have a child right now. After taking the first pill in the office I had no side effects just little cramps....sunday I woke up and took the 3 pills and 20 minutes later had horrible cramping and just crawled up into a ball...it only lasted about 30 minutes and then I got my period 20 mins later..it was a little stronger than a nornal period but not bad at ALL..I scared myself into thinking it would be worse pain and so much blood I was going to die but that never happened! That's my story and I'm ok now so don't read everything you hear!

Anonymous's picture

Question about the abortion pill

Hey everyone, I am going through the abortion via pill right now with my girlfriend. We are 5 weeks preg, and we went to the doctor yesterday. We took the first pill there, and today at about 12:30 she went ahead and put the 4 pills between cheek and gum. The pills did not dissolve very much so she left them in longer than the 30 minutes, and after about 45 minutes she swallowed them with water. She experienced nothing for about 2 and a half hours, maybe some mild cramping but it was hard to tell because she took the pain killers. after about 3 hours she vomited quite a bit and then had some severe cramping, lasting about an hour. She had some very light bleeding, with maybe 1 very small clot. she never experienced the heavy bleeding. now, it is 7 o'clock so it has been a total of about 6 hours, she with the pain killers she is doing ok, not in much pain. she had been sleeping for a couple hours.

We are a bit scared that there was no heavy bleeding and no more clots or tissue. Can we still expect it? And if not, and we have to get the surgical procedure (would have to go somewhere else as the PP clinic by us only offers the pill) would it still cost full price, and would we get any kind of refund from P.P.? Unfortunately we would not be able to afford another procedure. Thanks for any help and advice and info.

Anonymous's picture

i know the fear

Hi,
I don't really know why i'm doing this...maybe to give you hope, maybe to reach out, maybe to get it out of my system. I found out I was 5 weeks pregnant probably 2 months ago and I was devastated. I was always raised to be pro-life but the minute my boyfriend of a year and a half and myself found out the news, we decided to get an abortion and i was going to take this pill that all of you are talking about. I had to explore all of my options and this seemed like the most rational decision because i wasn't married and wanted to be, i felt we weren't financially stable, and i wasn't ready to be a mom(i'm only 20 years old), I was only in my second year of college, etc. But two days later on the drive to the abortion clinic with my bf, we decided we couldn't do it. It was OUR child in there. I am now exactly 3 months pregnant and it hasnt been a joy ride like they make pregnancy out to be. My hormones are up the wall and out the door every day, i cry all the time, I worry constantly, I stress about my relationship with my boyfriend even though I know he wont leave me. All in all, I am still scared as hell and feel my youth has been taken from under my feet. The choice i made wasn't easy but it was the right one i believe. I know everyone has their own choice and they make that choice for their own reasons which I too almost made the same choice. I can't say that living with my choice will be easier than if I didn't have to but i don't think I could live with my choice if I had taken a different path. To all those who have already experienced the pain(emotional and physical) of abortion...i don't judge you a bit and i hope you make it out ok in ever sense.

Anonymous's picture

My experience

Everyone have their own reasons for abortions so we should not judge anyone. I went the medication route and it was an easy process for me. I took the first pill tuesday at around 1145 at clinic. I went home and slept rest of day and then the next day wednesday I took 2 of the hydrocodone i was presribed 500 mg and 1 of the promethazine 25mg for nausea at around 11:15 am. At 12 a gush of blood rushed out and i jump up and sat on toilet. It continued to flow then I just put on pad and laid down round 1230.I woke up round 230 and It was all over and sittin right in pad. I felt no pain but light cramps afterwards and bleeding slow at this point and mild cramps here and there. Guess the pills put me to sleep and eased my pain, but I was prepared for the worse. I read all these post before I decided this route and I experienced none of the above. I considered myself the lucky one. But remember everyone is different.

Crystal's picture

SOULD YOU OR SHOULD YOU NOT TAKE THE ABORTION PILL

This has to be something that you really want to do, cuase once you've taken thaqt first pill, there is no turning back, unless you want a deformed baby! I am married with a son who is developmentally delayed, so I decided not to have the baby because I'm also in college, was about to move, planning to learn how to drive and have things going on. Yes I DID want the baby, but the more I thought about how much a sitter charges a week to keep a baby, especially when you have to go back to work, ios like 200plus! And I don't have any program such as ACD, transitional childcare or none of that! All i can suggest is that when you make a dedcision, take all things into consideration what's going on in your life at the moment, the things that your trying to possibly accomplish and if a baby will fit into your budget. Also, I felt pain but not compared to the symptoms many women had, no vommiting or anything, just crapms but have you some IBUPHROPHEN 800'S! You'll be good with that, it's just the blood and how long you'll have to bleed. I aborted in early feb and bled all the way to march. Blood stopped for 2 weeks and came back, but was light. Now April, last week I started bleeding , but it don';t seem like a regular period, and here a week later and i'm still bleeding, this is the part that sucks! The bleeding, so have plenty of pads, cause I would really like to know if your period ever goes back to normal after this ABORTION PILL!!!

Denise's picture

My experience

ok this story might make me lok like a complete idiot but im just telling my experince and if it does then i guess u can see y i couldnt keeep the baby im just not ready.
ok so heres my experience:
im 19 was 7 weeks preg. i took the first pill at the docs office 6 days ago, then i inserted the 4 tablets vaginally two days l8r on sat. night.
right b4 i inserted the tablets i took 2 tylenol3 pills with codene. about a half hour or an hour l8r i began having cramps. i never had a baby so idk how contractions are supposed to feel but i guess i was having them. when i have my period normally i hardly ever get cramps and they usually last for 4 days. so when the doc told me it was going to feel like a severe period i didnt think it was gonna be so bad. they really didnt repare me. i had no clue i was gonna be passing along giant pieces of fetus and whatever else.
ny way the pain was so bad i had to lay on the bathrom floor wrapped n my blanket just to feel comfort. and then it subsided and i fell asleep. then i woke up about an hour or two l8r and felt like i had to take a crap but i didnt and i had so much blood in the pad i was wearin it was ridiculous and while i was standing trying to throw it away a giant thing came out of me which felt disgusting. idk what it was i feel like and idiot. maybe it was the thing that the fetus is supposed to be in. but anyway i just picked it up with tissue and put it in the toilet. after i was like omg i might have just flushed my baby down te toilet! but ne way its 6 or 5 days l8r and i just felt somethin come out of me and when i went to the bathroom it looked weird idk what it was. it was about the size of a small egg but it was nasy and covered in blood.
ne way b4 hand ididnt do much research so i didnt know all this would be happening. i have to wear these giant pads that i never even knew they sold in stores. and i find out the cramps and bleeding can laast for up to 2 months!?!! this is ridiculous! ne way i have sickle cell disease so i have a full stock of prescription pain killers thank God! cause without them idk how i could go thru this!
so whoever might want to take this pill its a good way to go and idk how a surgical abortion feels or ne thing so i only have this one side. just make sure they give you really strong pain killers for the pain. and if you dont need them idk i guess you have something for if u break a bone or something.

Anonymous's picture

Day of Prom.. My experince with the pill

Im reading a lot on here about peoples experience with the pill and how you guys took it in two separate days which made me kinda worried..

I was 17 years old and on the morning of my prom i found out i was pregnant with my bf of 9 months.. I went to the doctor found out i was only 3-4 weeks along and this was the best choice. Taking the pill.. I received a pill at the doctor office and then i was to take the next 4 hrs later.. Im reading here that you all took the second pills the next day and that a lot of your guys bleeding and pain only lasted a few hours when mine went on for 2 weeks.. Im currently 21 years of age and i have been thinking a lot about my future.. Kids and such but im wondering if my doc messed my body up by giving me the pills all on the same day...Im starting to worry the last thing i want is for a mistake at 17 to have ruined my chances of being a mother =[

Anonymous's picture

Ouch !

I would just like to share my experience : 6 weeks and first pregnancy

Took the first tablet at 9am. Only symptom was slight feeling of sickness. Went home and slept for a few hours.

Went back to the clinic 6 hours later and had 4 tablets inserted. I went home and felt okay. Had mild stomach cramps come on after about 3 hours and then on the 4th hour all of a sudden it hit me. I felt like I was on another planet. The pain intensified beyond belief. I was lay on the bathroom floor and the pain was excrutiating and i belive i have a high pain tolerance. I really thought something was terribly wrong with me. The pain came in waves and then eased off. I have never had a baby so i cant compare it to labour pains but i can say it was horrendous. The really bad pain lasted about an hour and then it eased slightly. I managed to get onto the toilet and felt a slight gush and passed blood with clots. After this the pain did subside but i will never ever forget that pain. I had my boyfriend at my side and he was fab. Please dont do this alone you will need support. That evening i felt utterly exhausted and I did manage to sleep. The following day i still passed quite alot of blood but felt alot stronger in my self.

I would never ever be able to go through this again and if i had known just how bad it would have been i would have gone for one of the other options. However, i do understand it affects different people in different ways.
I think the surgical option would have been less traumatic for me personally. i hope this helps x

Anonymous's picture

not that bad...

...wow, I feel really amazed at how painless my experience was. I have never had cramps and have very regular periods (maybe that is why I managed to get pregnant so easily even with birth control pills and a condom...guess I'm super fertile lol) I think just follow the directions EXACTLY as they tell you, and you should be ok, and do what you would for normal period cramps also! I ate lightly the night before, and the day of taking the first pill. I rested and didn't do much that night. The next morning you just take an anti-nausea pill, than a half hour later I took two vicodins with breakfast. I'm not sure how your clinic will tell you to take the painkillers-but I do know you are supposed to take them really early before you are expecting pain-if you wait until you have pain, the painkillers may not have time to work. Make sure you take them early enough, and that your clinic knows this!!! Than a half hour later I sucked on the four pills (two in the gums on each side of my cheeks) It said to keep it for a half hour, but I kept them in just a little longer until they dissolved more, and than swallowed it. After this I just rested and didn't move at all. I think a hot water bottle or heating pad would help at this point. I also visualized it being painless, and this may sound silly, but talked to the spirit of the baby, asking it to leave nicely since it just wasn't the right timing. I know, that sounds crazy, but I definitely think the mind is what controls the body-and feeling confident in my decision I think helped my body do what it needs to do. I had some mild cramps, and felt nauseous and weak...but this didn't hurt that bad or bother me unless I tried to sit up or move around. Just lay really still for a long time, and then have someone help you to the bathroom (I felt very weak!) in case you fall...the worst part of this whole experience was the first trip the bathroom...when I sat up all of the blood came rushing out at once, and I could feel the clots passing. It didn't hurt, but it was really just uncomfortable, and kind of gross and sad too. :( It is not pleasant to pass your embryo (obviously!) but it didn't last long. After that I just rested, and had a heavy period. I took another two victodins when the time was up for more. I went back to work the next day, although I'd recommend you stay home if you can afford to. I was ok at work, but had minor sharp pains if I moved around too much. Take some probiotics with your antibiotics (you can get them at health food stores) I tend to get yeast infections after antibiotics...and the doctors said infections are the worst complication from this (although I'm sure those of you who had terrible bleeding, would disagree on that! But the side effects of infection are supposedly really bad so you don't want to get an infection) I also took an iron pill today to help cope with all the blood loss. All in all, it was like a really bad period...but to me, that was a lot better than surgery. I just hope that everything went ok,but won't know for a few more weeks. Thanks to everybody who shared their stories. Good luck to everyone else going through this!

Anonymous's picture

I took the first pill at the

I took the first pill at the doctors office on Friday, it is now Sunday and I have had barely any bleeding and my cramps stopped yesterday around 4-5pm. I called the doctor this morning and she said if nothing happens by thursday to come back in for another dose, but that the meds I already took can still make it happen. Has anyone been through this where the pills didn't work and there was little to no bleeding? I hate the waiting another 4 days not knowing whats going on inside me...

Anonymous's picture

I am actually in the same

I am actually in the same situation as you were but without any bleeding at all. I just posted something on this site today asking for help with this. Can you please let me know what happened with your situation??

Anonymous's picture

hey, question about your post and the pill you took

Hey there, i just wanted to ask about the abortion pill. My girlfriend took the pill in the office yesterday, then took the 4 others at home today around 1230. It took until about 3 or 3:30 for her to have cramping, which was severe as she was in a lot of pain. she said she barely bled, just a little bit of bleeding, and the pain still comes and goes. she has been sleeping now, and it is almost 530 and we are concerned as there was little blood, like you. What happened with your situation?
thanks for anything help/advice/info you can give us.

Anonymous's picture

The Pill

So i am going to be taking the pill on friday, but i am leaving work. And since i didnt want them in my business i told them that i was just going to the doctors for something else. After i take the pill at the doctors, can i go back to work so that they dont think anything, or do i have to make up an exuse and skip work? PLEASE HELP!!

Anonymous's picture

I took the abortion pill in

I took the abortion pill in the end of feb. And now it is almost the middle of april and I am still bleeding. Is this normal. Should I go see a doctor. This is going on 8 weeks now. The abortion pill was successful but this bleeding is ridiculous.

Anonymous's picture

you should go back for a

you should go back for a checkup! this is my 2nd week and i hope the pill went through for me because i only bleed for 6 day... i'm hoping it is successful but really u should go back and check up again!

summer's picture

pill experience

I have to say that I spent all day reading posts and I was terrified. I was given the pill by my doctor because I miscarried at 8 weeks and my body did not progress naturally in expelling the pregnancy. I initially skipped the first pill and was given 8 pills of mistopropol (sp?). I took the first dose today at approx 530pm. I was directed to hold 4 pills between my gum and cheek for 1 hr and then wash down with water. At about 645 I began experiencing cramps, similar to that of strong menstrual cramps. At about 7 they were becoming more intense to where 1000mg of vicodin was not doing too much. I found that a hot shower really helped aleviate the pain. I passed a golf ball size tissue at about 715 pm. After that initial tissue was passed the pain diminished somewhat, but cramping has continued and it is now about 930pm. At this point 500mg of vicodin has done the trick, but still with mild pain. I have to take a second dose of 4 in a few days just to make sure my uterus is clear. And also maintain antibiotics twice a day for 7 days. And a follow up in 1.5 weeks.
I know that my situation does not exactly apply to the topic of abortion, and I am in no way trying to make anyone feel bad. I just felt that after reading all the posts maybe one more less severe experience might help some one feel a bit better.
Yes everyone is different, but iit's not always bad.
Good luck should you make the choice to go the medical route, I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery.

Anonymous's picture

Is it possible to have a healthy baby if the pills dont work

When I found out I was pregnant I wanted to keep the baby but was too scared. So I decided on the four pills, I took them the night they were given to me and was told id have cramping, and bleeding. I was told the bleeding could last for up to 2 months and that it would be heavy. I had almost no cramping and no bleeding. 4 weeks later im still pregnant. Im not sure how this could happen, but is it possible to still have the baby and it be healthy even though I took the pills? SOMEONE HELP!!!