Which kind of abortion you choose all depends on your personal preference and situation. With medication abortion, some people like that you don’t need to have a procedure in a doctor’s office. You can have your medication abortion on your own schedule, at home, or in another comfortable place that you choose. You get to decide who you want to be with during your abortion, or you can go it alone. Because medication abortion is similar to a miscarriage, many people feel like it’s more “natural” and less invasive. Some people may not have an in-clinic abortion provider close by, so abortion pills are more available to them.

Your doctor, nurse, or health center staff can help you decide which kind of abortion is best for you.

The abortion pill process has several steps and usually includes 2 different medicines: mifepristone and misoprostol.

First, you take mifepristone. This pill stops the pregnancy from growing. Most people don’t feel anything after taking the mifepristone.

The second medicine is misoprostol. You’ll either take the misoprostol right away or up to 48 hours after you take the first pill — your doctor or nurse will let you know how and when to take it. This medicine causes cramping and bleeding that empties your uterus. The pregnancy tissue will come out through your vagina. The process is very similar to an early miscarriage.

You can expect the cramping and bleeding to start 1-4 hours after taking the misoprostol. It’s normal to see large blood clots (up to the size of a lemon) or clumps of tissue during the abortion. The cramping and bleeding can last for several hours. Most people finish passing the pregnancy tissue in 4-5 hours, but it may take longer. The cramping and bleeding slow down after the pregnancy tissue comes out. You may have cramps on and off for 1 or 2 more days.

It’s normal to have some bleeding and spotting for several weeks after your abortion.

Before you take the abortion pill, you’ll meet with your nurse, doctor, or health center staff to talk about whether abortion is the right decision for you, and what your abortion options are

You’ll have a lot of bleeding and cramping after taking misoprostol, so plan to make the process more comfortable. You can be at home, or wherever is comfortable for you to rest. You may also want to have someone you trust with you (or nearby) that you can call if you need anything. The abortion process takes several hours, so try to clear your schedule for the day and just focus on caring for yourself if you can.

Stock up on maxi pads, food, books, movies, or whatever you like to help pass the time, and a heating pad for cramps. Make sure you have some pain medicine like ibuprofen — but don’t take aspirin because it can make you bleed more.

Here at Affirmative Care Solutions, you can take the abortion pill(s) up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. After 10 weeks, the abortion pill(s) are less effective, and there are higher rates of complications, so abortion procedures are preferred.

For most people, medication abortion feels like having an early miscarriage. You might have:

• Lots of cramping and aches in your belly

• Very heavy bleeding with large clots (If you don’t have any bleeding within 24 hours after using the second medicine, misoprostol, call your nurse or doctor.)

• An upset stomach and vomiting (Your doctor or nurse may give you medicine to help with nausea.)

• Diarrhea

• Dizziness

• Tiredness

• Mild fever (99-100° F) or chills on the day you take misoprostol. If you have a fever after the day you take the misoprostol pills, call your doctor or health center right away — it could be a sign that you’re getting an infection.

To help ease pain and make you more comfortable, you can:

• Take pain medication like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). Don’t take aspirin because it can make your bleeding worse.

• Take anti-nausea medicine.

• Put a heating pad or hot water bottle on your belly.

• Take a shower.

• Sit on the toilet.

• Have someone rub your back.

Abortion starts a new menstrual cycle, so your period should go back to normal 4-8 weeks after your abortion. When your next period will come may also depend on your birth control situation.

If you’re not on hormonal birth control, you can expect your period by 8 weeks after your abortion. If you’re not using hormonal birth control and you don’t get your period 8 weeks after your abortion, call us.

Keep in mind that you can get pregnant very quickly after an abortion, even if your periods aren’t back to normal yet. So if you don’t want to get pregnant again, it’s a good idea to talk to your nurse or doctor about birth control.

You can have sex as soon as you feel ready.

Like any medication, abortion pills do come with risks but complications are very rare. The risks include failed abortion (meaning the abortion pills did not work), hemorrhage (or heavy bleeding), and infection. We thoroughly check the current state of health and history of health in all of our patients for any risk factors before we prescribe the abortion pill to reduce these risks. The abortion pill is NOT associated with an increased risk of infertility, future pregnancy loss (or miscarriage), breast cancer, or depression.

The abortion pill has a high rate of success, from 90-95% depending on how far along in the pregnancy it is taken. If the abortion pill happens to not work in your case, you may be given extra doses of the medications which usually result in the completion of the abortion. In rare cases, you may need to have an abortion procedure to complete the process.

Medication abortions are incredibly well tolerated. For most patients, you will be able to return to normal activities a few days after the heavy cramping/bleeding has occurred.

You can start a new birth control method immediately after having a medication abortion. You can get pregnant very quickly after your abortion, so it’s a good idea to talk with your nurse or doctor about birth control as soon as you can — they can help you find a method that’s right for you.

No, you do not. The choice to have an abortion is your choice, and you can do so legally without anyone else’s consent/permission.

In Illinois, a pregnant minor does not need their parents’ consent/permission to have an abortion. We are here to support you, and we will not contact your parents if you come to us for abortion care without your permission.

We understand that having an abortion can be a difficult choice and that some people close to you may not support your decision. Due to this, we hold patient confidentiality in the highest regard. We will never inform another person of your abortion unless you specifically ask us to. Your information is completely confidential, and we will not share it with anyone.