A “mail-order abortion” is also known as the abortion pill method. You take two powerful drugs to end a pregnancy. When you order the drugs through the mail, you run several risks. Plus, the FDA recommends not buying one of the drugs online.
Here are three things you need to consider before buying abortion drugs online.
Why Does the FDA Recommend Against Ordering the Drugs Online?
The first drug, mifepristone, is highly regulated by the FDA. Only certified providers can prescribe it. This drug blocks the hormone progesterone from reaching the pregnancy, which cannot survive without progesterone.
There are several sites on the internet offering cheaper mail-order abortion drugs, but many of these sites are located in foreign countries. Prescription drugs that the FDA approves are reviewed for safety, effectiveness, and quality.
You do not know what you are getting through mail-order companies. You also don’t have the oversight of a healthcare provider, so if something goes wrong, who do you call?
Did You Know There Are Limitations to Using the Abortion Pill?
You may not be eligible for the abortion pill because of specific health concerns or your medical history. It’s essential to see your healthcare provider first before ordering the drugs to confirm eligibility.
The Mayo Clinic states that this method may not be for you for the following reasons:
- You are too far along in your pregnancy. The FDA recommends not taking the drug past 10 weeks. The Mayo Clinic suggests taking the drugs through 11 weeks only. The further along you are in your pregnancy, the less effective the drugs are.
- You run the risk of an incomplete abortion (the pregnancy ends, but not all of it is expelled from your body) or an ongoing pregnancy if it doesn’t work.
- You have an intrauterine device (IUD) currently in place.
- You have a suspected ectopic pregnancy. This is a pregnancy that grows outside the uterus and can be life-threatening if left untreated.
- You have certain medical conditions, including bleeding disorders, particular heart or blood vessel diseases, severe liver, kidney, or lung disease, or an uncontrolled seizure disorder.
- You take a blood thinner or specific steroid medicines.
- You can’t make follow-up visits to your provider or don’t have access to emergency care.
- Have an allergy to the medicine used.
An ultrasound determines how far along you are in your pregnancy and if it’s ectopic. To qualify for a no-cost limited ultrasound at Carolina Pregnancy Center, you’ll need to receive a positive pregnancy test result first. Our team will then assess your eligibility for an ultrasound. If eligible, she will call you to schedule your ultrasound appointment.
There Is a Possibility You Are No Longer Pregnant
Experts estimate as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage. Most miscarriages occur within the first 12 weeks.
Because it takes your body time to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels, it is possible to get a positive pregnancy test result days or even weeks after a miscarriage. To ensure you didn’t get a false positive when taking your pregnancy test, you should take more than one test.
Carolina Pregnancy Center offers no-cost, medical-grade pregnancy testing. Come to our center, whether it’s your first test or you need to retest.
A limited OB ultrasound also determines if your pregnancy is progressing or if you have miscarried.
Schedule Your Appointment
Before ordering abortion drugs through the mail, visit the Carolina Pregnancy Center. Although we do not perform or refer for abortions, we can provide no-cost pregnancy services to give you the information you need. Plus, we can review abortion procedures, side effects, and possible risks.
Schedule your appointment today. We’re here for you.