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Mifepristone..."The Abortion Pill": The Facts
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, Mifepristone2)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.
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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
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.
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| This paper reflects the research and thoughts of a student at the time the paper was written for a course at Bryn Mawr College. Like other materials on Serendip, it is not intended to be "authoritative" but rather to help others further develop their own explorations. Web links were active as of the time the paper was posted but are not updated. |
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Comments
pregnancy after pill
what did u do??? i took to pill and it didnt work, now im about 3 months pregnant still..... what did u do?
I jus found out I'm preggo
I jus found out I'm preggo and I don't start my pill cycles for another two weeks but my doc said if u take the pills and r still prego afterwards theb surgical abortion is necessary bcuz it can cause serious birth defects
hey
hey i just read ur article n i personal wudn't advise u 2 ave a surgial abortion i did back in nov 07 i was 10 weeks preg at da tym n even dow i ave a 1 year old son nw, avin da surgical abortion was da worst day of my lyf i still aven't n dont eva fink i'll cum 2 terms wif wot i did, i ave nite mares still remeba every fink frm tyms 2 wot music played to wot i wore =[ it rli was da biggest regret of my lyf... if u wnt 2 no anyfink bout it i'll tell u cz tbh da nurses n dat at da clinic wont tell u everyfink invovles ope ur ok xx
Omg... How did you learn how
Omg... How did you learn how to write like this? I hope your son isn't going to learn this style of writing... It was so difficult to read...
I'm not positive...
...but I know at Planned Parenthood they make you sign something that says if the pills do not work, you must get the surgical abortion. I'm not sure if the place you went to had you sign something like this. If it makes you feel any better, my friend had the surgical abortion at about 12 weeks and she said it was painless. I'm really sorry about your situation, it sounds awful.
pills did not work???
I don't mean to scare you but i know that you wish for the truth. If your child birth procedure goes well with no issues then that is a absolute miracle. I wish you all the best but its very unlikely that you will even stay pregnant. If you do, someone upstairs really had a plan for that baby. Who knows, mabye he or she will be the next president.
If you really decide to keep
If you really decide to keep the baby make sure you get tested to make
sure the baby is growing normally. Before I took the pills I read that If the pills did not work their is a high risk in defects. Just letting you know. Good luck!!! I'm still just 4 days into it. What a bummer!
healthy baby after pill
From what I have read and the cautionary statements on my script bottle, I don't believe it is advised to continue as these meds can cause serious birth defects.
I am sorry.
But please verify with your doctor.
abortion pill
hey i got an email off here i must have been doing some research whilst pregnant, well i took the first pill then 2 days late stood infront of 4 doctors defying them as i wasnt going to take the other ones, im so glad i did i now have a healthy 1 year old, i alrady had 4 children and was in a state of shock, i was told b4 i took the pill i had to go through with it because there would be deformities etc, but once i said i wasnt taking it knowone offered me any advice etc, it was a long pregnancy ill tell you, xxxxxxx
Could u please fill me in a
Could u please fill me in a bit on how your pregnancy went. Were there any tests that u took to check to see if the baby was okay. My sons girlfriend is pregnant and took the first pill. She now has decided to keep the baby. We are very concerned of the possibility of deformities, yet at the same time would lovefor her to have this baby. She has a doctors appt at the clinic tomorrow, but I am concerned that they r going to just tell her that she has to follow thru with the abortion. Any information u can give mr to pass on to her would really help. Thank u & god bless u. Tanya
Wow!this is what I needed to here
I myself am 5 weeks pregnant. And today I just took the first dose of mifepristone, and they sent me home with the four others pills to be taken in 48 hours on Friday orally. But the more I think about it the more I'm thinking I made a mistake, and I am regretting it. I wanted to know if there is any way that I can keep this baby even though I already took the pill. I feel crazy even considering this. I mean is this even possible? Hearing your story gives me hope. Can you please email me and tell me the rest of your situation, and just share your story and some advice for me. Thank you.
im 20 years old..just
im 20 years old..just recently found out on april 1st that i was pregnant.. the guy i was dating..we talked and decided abortion..doctor gave me pills today is the second day..emotions come out but gives you the chance to take in everything and set things aside.. very hard to do even when HE has 2 kids of his own.. its a hard to choose this way.. knowing that before i got pregnant i was against it.. you really never know what you are going to do until you are more likely put into that situation.. also if you ever get the feeling of like "what if" its alright..just stay positive and it would be more easier down the road... also for the pain they talk about depending on how far u are and how ur body reacts.. i taken the 4 pills last night around 1130 slept threw out the night alot less pain..today period pains not as bad as i thought but sure hell wouldnt do it again....
don't be scared, i went through it yesterday.
So, before I decided to take the pills... I've did my research and read almost half of the blogs that were posted here. I hate to say this, but all you pro lifers here who are only here to scare the girls can eat shit... Some people are not ready to have children, so instead of bringing in a child who isn't going to have a decent good life, this decision has to be made... It's not a simple decision either.
So this is for the girls out there who are scared shitless. Don't be. Do what you got to do... If you have any questions reply to my blog, and i'll try to reply back as soon as possible. I too, was scared...
Before becoming an adult, and while still being in high school, I myself was against abortion. Now going to college and seeing all the struggles that moms go through, I puzzled all the pieces together, opened up my eyes and see why people must go through this route.
So here is my experience. On Monday, March 5th my husband took me into the clinic at 10:30am for the abortion pill. I was scared shitless. Filled out paperwork, waited and waited for 5 hours before they gave me the first pill. I took the pill at 3:25pm. In between hours, they called me in for 2 urine samples, a blood sample, heart rate, height, weight, and went through all the instructions of pain meds and whatnot. I was in a waiting room with about a group of 15 girls, everyone going through the same procedure. If you get that chance like I did, don't keep to yourself. Ask around, some people have had like 4 abortions but you can seek personal experiences from them, and believe me, this helped me out A LOT... Anyway, yesterday Tuesday, March 6th, I stuck the last 4 tablets in between my cheeks and my gums for an hour. Thirty minutes before I did that, I took a ibuprofen and Tylenol 3 together so it would reduce any cramping pains. The 4 pills didn't taste like anything, but it was just powdery so basically that was gross. After having that in my mouth for an hour I rinsed my mouth with water and drank it, as the instruction said. By 15-20 minutes, I felt light cramps and my period started right away with clots and tissue. An hour into it was when I felt the pain, but it wasn't as bad as most say it is. Just imagine the worst cramp you have had from your past menstrual cycle. That's exactly how mine felt. Rather than lying in bed and thinking about pain *cause i think it hurts more thinking about it laying down* I went outside with my husband and started walking for about 30 minutes. In the beginning the period was heavy and within the hour I felt the biggest piece of tissue come out... It was still hanging, yes I know it's gross, but I had to go to the bathroom and let it all out. After that, I did not feel anymore cramps or pain... As of today Wednesday, March 7th I just have a light period. Hopefully everything is done and over with, my checkup isn't until Monday, March 19th.
You had a good experience, but this is not always the case
I had the first pill on tues, and the second on wed - its sunday now. I wasn't told the extent of the bleeding, nor the length it could go for. After having the four pills in my mouth for 20 mins, i began having severe cramping pains, not like my strong period pains, but much much much worse, and as soon as i swallowed the pills, i vomitted and couldn't stop for many hours, even though i had nothing left in my stomache. I have had bad cramping every day since. Today i was standing up and felt a ball the size of an egg come out of me. I didn't want to look, but it was on my pad, so I had to remove it with tissue. It was not the colour of blood, but much lighter, greyish, whitish, covered in blood. I am so glad that I was at home and not out, as I was hysterical and felt physically sick. This has been the most disturbing thing I have ever experienced and I wish i took the other option. I am not trying to scare any one at all, or tell any one not to have an abortion, but my friends that have had surgical abortions have found it alot less disturbing. Obviously some people are going to experience it alot better than others, as some people experience heavy period, with cramps and others have never had a period pain in their lives. I do not think it is fair to say just because you had a good experience, everyone else is just trying to scare others out of doing it. Personally I would not recommend this option, as it may seem easier, but I certainly do not think so.
Your experience
I might possibly be going through this tomorrow and friday and was just wondering how it went for you and how far along were you when you took the first pill ? I am about 5 weeks do you know if this is counted from the day of your last period or from the day of conception ?
How are you today. My
How are you today. My daughter is considering the pill's but after much reading I am thinking of talking her into the old fashion procedure. She had unprotected sex last week of July and is now two weeks late on her cycle. We took second test today which is positive. How long did you bleed after wards. Concerned Mom.
thank you
i completly agree with everything you are saying. I just took the 4 pills today and let me tell you how scared I was after reading all of these horror stories. Yes, I will admitt that it hurt(the cramping), I did throw up and I am bleeding and its gross. But I want other girls out there going through the same thing to know that everything is fine and dont be to scared! I'd say almost all of these scary stories are just so exaggerated..so follow your heart with your decision....
MY PROCEDURE IS 2MRRW APRIL
MY PROCEDURE IS 2MRRW APRIL 21. HOW ARE YOU FEELING NOW WERE THERE ANY TRUBLES?
I'm so grateful that
I'm so grateful that everything went through!!! I'm feeling great now... I have stopped bleeding already but some people say you start to bleed again. I hope I'm fortunate enough to not get that extended period!!! How are you feeling now that you have taken
the pill?? Tell me about it!!! :-) I just have really bad constpations right now... I think from the meds??
This was my experience as
This was my experience as well. The pain from cramping was pretty awful but only lasted an hour. I fell asleep and then woke up to the feeling that blood was starting to come. I passed three or four clots about golf ball sized and then smaller ones after that. I feel some cramping and bleeding but nothing like some experiences I have read. My worry at this point is that it will be partial and I will have to have surgery.
~ I wonder what made many of the women from blogs I have read choose the pill to begin with. I consulted probably four different clinics, all of whom tried to talk me out of this method saying it was painful. All of the things I read online said it was painful as well.. so I wonder why so many are surprised when it is, in fact, painful. What I liked about the medical abortion was that I could have it at home and create my own space in order to experience it. The clinic I went to had a room full of girls in gowns and shower caps sitting in chairs pushed up against the wall. One girl would get up and go in and then like 20 minutes later another would do the same. It was like cattle and would have been much more traumatic for me. I wanted to be connected to my experience because that is the way I cope best. I realize this might sound weird and gross to lots of you... but I saved some of the clots and buried them under a rosebush at my house. It was my way of releasing the little guilt I felt and staying connected to my experience in a positive way. My advice is to be prepared for it to hurt, but it doesn't last forever, you get the chance to have it be more personal and comfortable which is what I went for. I took off the weekend and feel fine with returning to the world tomorrow.
i have to go tomorrow to take
i have to go tomorrow to take my pill,im only 3 weeks in and im as scared as anything :(
How do you feel now? You
How do you feel now? You might wannah blog and share your experiences so other girls can get a clue!! My check up is on Monday and
nervous about it because I'm anxious to know If everything went accordingly. Which I hope it did... Make sure you follow the rules... I know I didn't... ;-) lol.
Recently took the pill
Upon taking the first pill that is administered at the office of the clinic, there were very few side effects. When taking the 4 pills that have to be inserted vaginally, about an hour or so later, the cramping starts. The cramping is severe enough pain to make you feel like you just want to die. That is my personal experience, there may be some women who have a higher pain tolerance. When advisers at the clinic tell you that taking the abortion pill is like having a "very bad period"- that is their way of warning you that if you try to imagine your worst period cramping pains- you can expect to have that same pain. I've had very few periods that have been painful so the pain I experienced from taking the abortion pill isn't even comparable. I felt like I could pass out or vomit from the pain. However, the pain does subside and in turn, if things go smoothly, you will not have the responsibility of raising a child for exchange of a few days or so of some pain.
It isn't an easy decision as to whether or not to have an abortion or to give birth to your child. I was raised in a community that were very pro-life and would frown upon abortion.But because of my OWN beliefs and reasons I decided to take the abortion pill. I've never believed that people should just be careless and think that there will be a "way out" if they "screw up" but sometimes no matter how careful you are or how hard you try to do the "right"thing-something doesn't go as planned or a mistake occurs - and there will always be someone who is going to put you down for your decision and disagree with you. In the end YOU are the one who has to live with your decision. If you get pregnant unexpectedly and decide to have an abortion- try to be more careful next time and make a conscious effort to be more responsible with contraception. Don't make a habit of being careless and thinking there will be a "way out". No one is perfect and no one has the right to judge. We should try to be understanding of each other and support each other because you never know when you might be in the same situation as someone else, and make the same decision that they made.
I hope this helps some of the women on the site.
Quit with the horror stories.
I never dreamed that I would have to have an abortion, but life sucks and it's a cruel world today.
I did everything I could to try to have the child, but chose to take the pill because I do not like surgical procedures.
The clinic was really shitty, so rude and unprofessional.
I had horrible morning sickness, was hard to take the pill but I managed. For the rest of that day I felt somewhat better. I vomited up my antibiotic pill the next morning, but tried very hard to keep down my second set of abortion pills.
I was upset that nothing had happened yet. A few hours later I felt some period-like cramps and about a spoonful of bloody discharge finally came out. Then some small clots. About an hour later the cramps got worse, felt like contractions for the next few hours. I had to stay at home since this was very uncomfortable. I didn't have much blood surprisingly. Light bleeding for about a week, then clear discharge.
I had no other option, believe me I explored every one. I am sad that my life sucks so much that I had to do this. I didn't even think I could get pregnant, at all. At least I know that I can and will try again when my life is better. Till then I am scared to even think about sex.
I know everyone has different experiences, but that is honestly how it went for me. Sad but true.
Scared
I am 6 in a half weeks and today i am taking my 1st pill at 12:45..im terrified after all these comments and dont know what to do..tomorrow im taking the other four,but im scared. honestly,is the pill better or the in-clinic????? the only reason i dont want the in-clinic is because i dont want a shot down there:( ive had shots in my mouth and on my butt for strep throat but not down there...heck no..is their a way to do the surgical ne without the shot????????????
NEED ADVISE ASAP- Thank you.
Hello. I am around 3 weeks pregnant and need to have an abortion- as of now I would not be able to support my child as my partner and I are in Uni. We have agreed this is the best route for now.
How do I get the abortion pills? I have heard they are between $300-$500, is this correct? Am I able to order then in a manner that keeps this totally private as well as off my medical record?
Also, my friend used a different abortion means called Powerful Abortive Herb + (PAH +). She had a safe abortion and has told me various other ways to have a 'natural abortion'. What are your medical reviews on that?
PLEASE ADVISE!!
facts of the abortion pill
The abortion pill is free if you have medicaid, but if not idk how much it is in other states, but $375 in Columbus, GA. As for natural miscarriages, those are just works of nature because I was in fights when I was pregnant, fell off a ladder, stressed out real bad, and nothing seem to give me a miscarriage. I have a 10 month old son and am currently pregnant. About a week, I'm gettin the abortion pill as well. I would like to keep this baby, but 2 babies at the age of 19, still in college, and barely making it by now is not good 4 this baby.
I hear all these young girls
I hear all these young girls that are constantly getting pregnant, which pisses me off. I've had a medical abortion 2 years ago, and yes it was the worst pain I ever felt in my life. You would think that someone would smack an IUD or a pack of birth control across their ass. Some of these girls just need to get fixed cause they are just like dogs, they do nothin but have sex and bread babies, probably don't have a job, and living off welfare which is disgusting to me. There is more to life than opening your dam legs to a man that don't even respect you enough to want the baby that ya'll made. I learned my lesson and went and got a mirena put in me.I'm thirty years old med student with a five year old and thats all I need. Get it together people, its embarrassing.This is directed to the 17-20 year old girls being irresponsible, when they should have their fucking head in a dam book.
wow
I do not regret what i did. i have a one year old and am 19. its hard with one diaper and bottle and screaming and crying and laughing and trying to watch constantly so he dont eat a penny off the floor or a dead beetle. (recently). sometimes i have dreams about it and wonder if it would have been a girl or boy. what it would have been like to adopt MY CHILD if i would have kept it. cause i have no job. no money. i cant support my one child. i would have felt bad if my CHILD would have been deformed or cripled and i know I MADE her or him this way. i did what i had to do. i will not go through this again
and i hope that everyone knows that there decisison was theirs alone. no one had the answere but you. have it or not depending on your mind. make the
right decision that you feel in your heart. just dont wait till 5 to 6 months.
.
Need advice
Did anyone have an abortion pill in less than 3 weeks of pregnancy.??
If yes, please share the experience.. Would like to know if the bleeding and pain is lesser when the pill is taken in the early stages of pregnancy (say less than 3 weeks)..
Thankyou...
I just took the pill today..
I just took the pill today.. it was not bad at all...im only 3 weeks or was i should say... i had my first and only child when i was 15... I had him without drugs all natural.. anyways the pill did not hurt the cramps were not bad AT ALL i dont cramp ever when I have my period so it has been kind of uncomfortable but not painful at all.. some people must just be wimpy... i have been bleeding heavy but i have had periods that were way worse.. i would do it again if i had to...
Abortion Pill
I thought i would share my experience too as i used this site as a preperation for me takin the pill myself!
I took and carried out the 4 pills on weds (now fri), and it was very painful, and very similar to contractions - however it DOES pass and is bearable - i had a hot bath before the bleeding started and sat on the toilet for a while once it had started. I also used a hot water bottle which again helped lots! People may have their own experiences as written here, and seeing all the bad ones made me prepare myself for the worst - im glad i did! For me it was painful, horrible and not a nice experience whatever, but the worse of it does pass relatively quickly then its more like period cramps. Try and snooze inbetween the contractions and goin to the toilet and have someone there to help you if you can - the support does help, i was lucky to have it.
Good luck and remember the pain will pass, just try to breathe through and do all the things to relieve it as you would a period. Hope this helps.
So sad
Hi,
I just wanted to share my story about the abortion pill. After alot of thought about whether to do it or not and alot of convincing from my husband, i painfully decided to end the pregnancy. I took the first pill at the clinic and then took the other ones at home the next day. I didn't have any bleeding atall and only a small amount of cramping. I phoned the clinic and I had to go back for more pills. I took the second set of pills that afternoon and started to get light bleeding that night. I passed a couple of clots and then i stopped bleeding and i thought it was all over.
I went for my check up two weeks later, only to find that my baby was still alive after all that and had grown normally! I am absolutely shattered as i did want this baby, but I have no choice but to have a surgical termination (at the recommendation of the clinic nurse.) I have changed my mind completely and regret with all my heart what I have done. This baby went against all odds to survive and now on wednesday It has to be removed for good. If I was guaranteed a healthy baby, I would definatey have this baby.
Anyways i just wnated to share, that the pill doesn't always work and this has been a very painful experience emotionally for me.
Painless Pill
I just completed abortion by the pill(s) and I felt nothing but the mildest of period cramps. Right before I took the pill(s) I took 15mg Roxicodone, 4mg Xanax, 350mg Soma. I fell asleep, woke up every few hours to go to the bathroom, 8 hours later I am done and feel great. I realize this drug combination may me hard for some to come by but 3 Percocets will have the same effect.
The pill is not the ' easy
The pill is not the ' easy way ' it makes me angry that people think this. I have had two abortions after trying many different contraceptions and not working. My first was surgical and i had no pains and was at work the next day. About a week ago i had 'the pill' i was 13 weeks pregnant, i was in so much pain for most of the day. My waters then broke and i had to sit on a toliet with a bed pan to pass the fetus in, the nurses did make sure i didnt have to see anything. But the fetus came out and then i had to sit on the toliet which seemed for hours to wait for the placenta to pass aswell. while the fetus was still hanging from me. I had to take the pill as where i live they wont do surgical terminations after 12 weeks. I would warn anyone away from this procedure, or make sure you have a hell of a lot of pain killers. Which is difficult because if your like me you'll vomit them all up as soon as you've taken them and have to do it with out. It's only been a week but im still in a lot of pain, and have got an infection almost straight after. A termination was the right thing for me, but please think about the pill because they dont prepare you for what your going to go through. All i was told was period pains and bleeding. This really isnt the easy way.
I agree with you that the
I agree with you that the pill is not the easy way out, but every woman is different. I think the further you are into the pregnancy the more painful of an experience you will have. I had an abortion over 2 years ago and i decided to terminate via the pill. I can honestly tell you that i had no cramps at all. I guess i must've been one of the lucky ones or just smart. After i found out that i was pregnant and i knew that i wanted to terminate the pregnancy, I immediately made an appointment and went to see the doctor. I had done a lot of research online about my options and the pill just seemed like a more natural way to abort as opposed to having a surgical abortion. I was terrified of being put to sleep and the risks associated with scraping was just too much for me to handle. I did a lot of reading online from women who have had medical abortions and i noticed that in most; if not all of the positive cases that i've read, all the women were smart enough to take the pain meds before they took the last set of pills. When i went to the doctor he basically told me that all i had to do was take 1 pill and then insert the other 4, i would get a lil bit of cramps and i'd be done. I thought, wow, it's really that easy.....but luckily i had done my reading and didn't feed into the bs he was trying to sell me. I was maybe a lil over 5 weeks and he told me that i needed to wait a few more days and allow the pregnancy to get a lil bigger before i started the process in order to ensure that the abortion meds worked. I'm rh- so i got a rhogam shot and was on my way home.
On the day i was to start the procedure, i went and got a prescription for some tylenol 3 with codeine. I took the first tablet and the only side effect it had on me was nausea for which u can have your doctor prescribe something. The following night I took 1 tylenol 3 and 4 advils 30 minutes before i did the insert. I think this is why i didn't have any cramps. Taking the pain killers in advance gives them time to kick in so that when the actual pain hits u won't feel 2 crappy.
I actually started to get very afraid because i was waiting for the pain to hit but nothing. I fell asleep while waiting and got up to use the bathroom at around 1 am, sat on the toilet and i started to expel the pregnancy. I continued to take a tylenol 3 every 4 hour and i basically had no cramps whatsoever.
Make sure you drink lots of fluids and and eat before you take the pain killers. Taking them on an empty stomach is not a very good idea. I hope this helps anyone else who is not certain of what to do and good luck with everything :-)
Abortion Pill Experience
First of all, I want to put it out there that the topic of abortion is a very difficult one indeed. There are SO MANY people who rant and rave either pro-life or pro-choice, but they fail to grasp that this issue is certainly not black or white, it has MANY shades in between. The first time I got pregnant I was 21 yrs. old and it happened with my boyfriend of 5 1/2 months. We barely knew each other but he convinced me that having the baby was the best thing, and I wasn't ready to leave him... I had my son right after I turned 22 and it has been a beautiful, hard and exhausting experience... I wasn't ready financially, emotionally, physically.... I'm 27 yrs. old now, got pregnant again using condoms and I just took the second dose of the misoprostol yesterday evening. To let any of you ladies who might be curious know, do not choose the medication route for abortion if you are weak or faint of heart. DO NOT EXPECT TO GO INTO THIS PAIN FREE!! It's not some "miracle pill" that will magically remove your embryo.. it is a process induced by synthetic drugs that forces your uterus to contract, and it forces your body into a miscarriage. When the drug started to take effect, a strange feeling washed over my body. I knew that "this was it" and although I knew there was no turning back at the clinic, now I knew there was no turning back from whatever was to come next. The contractions started slowly at first, very similar to a period cramp, but no blood came out. About a half an hour into it I took my ibuprofen 800mg meds that the doc gave me as directed, figuring that when the cramps started to get more intense, the meds should kick in so I could be comforted soon enough. Boy was I wrong!! The pain kept intensifying, I had diarrhea, and slowly but surely the blood started to flow. But the pain meds were not kicking in. Luckily, my very good friend came over to be with me last nite, and we called the clinic (who was very rude and unhelpful, telling me if the pain was still bad on Monday that I could call the doc!!!!! Can you believe it!!??) One thing they did say that actually was informative was that sometimes the pain meds can take 8 hrs or more to fully kick in, so I thought I was just out of luck. It was like THEE worst period pain of my life, and although I went into this expecting pain, it still hurt regardless, but I was determined to grin and bear it, and just get through it. It was getting bad though, so my friend told me she had some marijuana and that I should smoke a little bit for the pain. Although I used to smoke, I do not anymore, and I don't because it makes me paranoid, and I thought it would really make this situation even harder than it already was---- having an abortion while being paranoid!!!----- but alas, she convinced me, and I took a hit. About 10 minutes later I got sick and threw up, and then after that the marijuana took effect and my uterus relaxed, blood started clumping out of me, and I watched a movie and the pain subsided, just like that!!! I believe that the marijuana helped with the pain, and maybe even got the pain meds to start working, because I am pain free right now, and it's been 24 hours exactly. I really liked this method despite the uncomfortableness (which is STILL NOTHING compared to real childbirth!) because it seemed more natural and Im not all into doctors puting instruments into me, I just don't like hospitals or clinics, period!! So it was very nice to do it in the comfort of my own home. I suggest having heating pads to help relax your uterus, plenty of healthy fluids to sip on, a good friend or friends for moral support, and some marijuana as well if your into that, it really helped!!! I don't personally believe that it should be a scary or "scarring" experience to see your blood and tissue come out.... because even though this was NOT and easy choice for me to make, I DID decide to do it, and if you truly are ok with your decision, you wont be scared by what you see, and really for me, it was just a lot of period looking blood and some clots. That's all.
I took it and....
I took the pill and I've only read a few of these stories and I must say you people are obviously pansies and have no idea what real pain is. It feels like an INTENSE period and how many periods have these woman had in their life?! It is not that painful. It's more uncomfortable than anything and it gives you a diarrhea feeling. Yes you bleed and yes it's a little different than period blood but it's nothing to get all dramatic about. At the end of the day you made the decision to take the life of an embryo so stop looking for sympathy. Not everyone's story on here looks like they are looking for that but a good amount do. This is information about the pill not "your" story on why you decided to take it or this and that. INFORMATIVE not a short BIO. Just write down what happened and be realistic. Compare that pain to something that most ppl have had happen so they know what to expect. I jammed my middle finger and it hurt more than what the pill did. It's UNCOMFORTABLE not death. It's not constant pain either, it comes and goes like contractions. Get a heating pad put it on your stomach and go to sleep because the medicine they give you makes you very tired. So seriously ladies grow a back bone & never have a child because you might suffer a heart attack if you think it was that painful.
yea um
listen, everyone is different...i literally took the pill minutes ago(my frist time being pregnant and having an abortion), and your entry did nothing but piss me offffff. some people feel more pain then others, get it straight, and some people have more pain tolerance then others...this is a difficult process and you being negative is NOT helping.
wow you are very ignorant ...
Every persons body is different and reacts differently to
drugs. maybe your pain wasn't very bad but you got lucky. I have a very high pain tolerance and when I took that pill yesterday my mother honestly thought I was dying.
I took the pill and about an hour later I started getting mild cramping in waves, about 20 minutes later I was having the worst pain of my life, horrible cramps to the point where I couldn't move because it hurt so bad, I had diarrhea, my hands, legs and feet went completely numb, My eyes wouldn't stop rolling into the back of my head and I kept almost fainting thank god my mom was there to catch me. She then drove me to the doctors while I was screaming bloody murder the whole time, only to find out there was not a emergency room at that kaiser. The ambulance had to come and get me and they kept telling me how low my blood pressure was. they finally got me into the hospital, gave me an Iv and some morphine and then I finally was able to relax. I had to stay in the emergency room for 6 hours until they said I was okay to go home, but right before I left I went in the bathroom and my pregnancy passed, it was not just a blood clot, I could tell it was my forming baby. absolutely the most horrible pain I have ever felt and it has only been a day so I don't even know yet what long term effects this could have on my body. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS PILL TO ANYBODY, I do not think that it is safe nor okay to see what comes out of you.
Have you gotten your first period yet?
I took the abortion pill on March 20th and have not had any signs of having a period yet. I did my follow up and everything checked out fine. Negative preg test normal uterus. I just also want to say that I had cramping but not painfull enough for pain meds. I was not very far along though. Less than five weeks. I only bled for about nine days. Yes it is a very painful decision. I have a 14 yr old son whom I love very much. He means the world to me. I am also married. My husband and I made a very tough decision. I have always been against abortion. However until you are put into a very tough situation do not judge until you have walked in that persons shoes. I just want to know when to expect my period again.
I am curious and please dont
I am curious and please dont think this is an invasion of privacy... but i am just as far along as you were and i have yet to pass any clots but i was bleeding and am still cramping and its going on 2 days after i took the seconf set of pills.
hi
how long in pregnancy are you...im just curious because i took the pill minutes ago and im kind of scared...
I was 8 and a half weeks, how
I was 8 and a half weeks, how did it go for you?
children complaing
OMG PLEASE SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!...YOU ABOVE! you are absolutly out of line by saying do not take this pill. "nor is it ok to see what come out of you"??? are you retarded? what did you think would happen> it would magically disappear and there would be rainbows and butterflies? YOU ARE INTENTIONALLY INDUCING A MISCARRIGE!!! do you think there would be no pain involved when they told you your embryo would DETACHE from you utures your cervix would open up and you would EXPELL your embryo? I took it, yes it was uncomfortable, there was pretty severe cramping and pain for about 7 hours BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY TELL YOU. stop complaining and saying its horrible...dont get knocked up in the first place!
I am not retarded, and No
I am not retarded, and No they didn't tell me that it was going to be like that- they told me that I would have heavy bleeding. Stop being so fucking rude, I'm trying to help other girls out so they don't have to experience that. stop being so ignorant and immature.
Hi. I'm the father of an
Hi.
I'm the father of an incredible 9 year old girl. When her mother and I conceived her, the thought of an abortion (pill or otherwise) never crossed our minds, and I got her preg just 2 months after we'd met!
And NOW what do I have to show for it?...someone who looks up to me?...someone I can go see perform in a school play?...someone who'll surprise me in the morning by cooking us breakfast?...someone who enjoys watching 'Gilligan's Island' re-runs as much as I do...or is SUPER excited because she learned to ride her bike with no hands?...yep, all those things! and SO MANY MORE!
Having a child is literally the best thing that has ever happened to me (cliche, I know)
Question...Have any of you ever had a pet that you loved so much it hurt? When it got soooo excited to see you get home from work it made you feel good, right? Well, imagine that from a life that can draw you a picture, or write you a poem, or hug you so hard that you feel like you're going to suffocate! Or, how about just a simple " I love you, dad!" for no reason at all...trust me, it's an awesome feeling. Well worth the sacrifices you'l find yourself gladly making for them.
So in conclusion, I hope my stupid little post here will persuade at least one scared, overwhelmed person to stop and think of all the love (UNCONDITIONAL love)that is to be had by not terminating...and the intense emotional trauma you'll likely suffer if you do (I cried when I read the post from the poor girl who said all she could think about was "that her perfectly beautiful child was now somewhere in the sewer"
I don't think I'd be able to handle that...and I'm a pretty tough guy.
this guy is full ofcrap. im
this guy is full ofcrap. im 19 years old my mother has no money, the father has no money and his mother has no money. so the child i aborted would be screwed. there woulnt be happy plays cause we would probably be ina homeless shelter. so pleas dont ell ne one what they should do.
ahahahahha im sorry, SIR, you
ahahahahha im sorry, SIR, you are not allowed to be writing on here. Just because you knocked up her and whether or not being mentally and fincially stable for a child if your problem. so to write it on here is ridiculous. none of us are sitting here thinking wow i want to kill a life bc im selfish. NO we are doing it because WE ARE NOT SELFISH. We are not stable enough to bring another life into this world...clearly if we got pregnant. Why struggle and have your child struggle bc youre a bible thumping idiot. nobody told that stupid girl (in a sewer)to abort her child and now she wants sympathy? why didnt she think this through? i mean its not like someone is lying to everyone telling people its going to be ok no pain no side effects. YOU ARE CLEARLY TOLD WHAT TO EXPECT! SHUT UP YOU STUPID USELESS PERSON. im glad you love your child...we definitely need mroe responsible parents like yourself. BUT to go on a website that women go to, to look for FACTS about their decisions and for you to sit here and write this garbage and want sympathy and to 'change somesones mind" IS FUCKING LUDACRIS! YOU ARE CREATING FEAR IN WOMEN THAT IS UNECCESSARY!!! YOU ARE TO GIVE FACT NOT OPINIONS. WHAT IF SOMEONE READ YOUR POST WHO WAS SO READY TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCEDURE THEN BC OF YOU DECIDED NOT TO, THEN HAD THE BABY BUT YET WAS NOT FINANCIALLY STABLE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANOTHER HUMAN LIFE AND THEY CHILD DOESNT NOT GET ALL THE OPPURTUNITIES AS OTHER KIDS BC HER MOTHER IS ON WELFAR AND HAS TO WORK 3 JOBS AND IS NOW REGRETING AND HATING HER CHILD....YOU ARE AN ASSHOLE SIR. ENJOY YOUR CHILD BUT DO NOT GIVE YOU BIASED OPINION ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT AND SERIOUS SIGHT.
It totally makes the mind
It totally makes the mind boggle, how Dad's, nurses, anti-abortionists, give their opinion, how wonderful having a child is, (despite probably never having had any). To give the impression that ladies young or older, have an abortion, as though they are deciding whether to have tea or coffee in the morning, as though it is such an easy decision. I have had three children, and found myself being pregnant by 'suprise'. My husband and I absolutely, adore our children to bits, but having to make the decision to keep a child when our other were nearly grown up, was not at all easy. Nor did my GP or NHS service have any compasion at all. Then the world wonders why there are so many children in the world that people can't afford, or so many single parents. At the end of the day, I chose to end my pregnancy, very early, and had to pay a lot of money to do so, as the NHS did not seem to want to help in the most humane way, and wanted us to wait longer and either change our mind or offer a more evasive abortion at a later stage of pregnancy. Who does that benefit. If a decision has been made, it has been made. Basically, abortion is chosen as an option for all sorts of reasons, and despite what dad's, nurses or anybody else might say, perhaps some do it for selfish reasons, I don't know, but it is up to the individual, and personally, I did not do it lightly. I have no regrets. Have the opinionated persons, that say how bad we are to have an abortion, ever thought that perhaps that the selfish people are the ones, that have a football team and expect the rest of us to pay for them for the rest of their lives, as they don't really wnat children they are just to lazy to get off their arse and do a decent days work like the rest of us. No wonder they have time to make babies.