From Our Blog
Am I Eligible for the Abortion Pill?
The abortion pill, also known as a medical abortion, is an FDA-approved method to end an early pregnancy. You are not eligible for the abortion pill if you are past the first ten weeks of pregnancy, if you have an ectopic pregnancy, or if you are taking certain medications.
Ectopic Pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is when a developing embryo implants outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes. This type of pregnancy is not viable. If an ectopic pregnancy is not detected and treated, it can become dangerous to your health.
Surgery may be needed to treat and remove an ectopic pregnancy. The abortion pill will not be able to terminate one. You must seek immediate medical attention if you have symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy.
Possible signs of an ectopic pregnancy include pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding. If you believe you may have an ectopic pregnancy, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Gestational Age
If you are beyond ten weeks, your pregnancy is too far along to be ended by a medical abortion. The abortion pill only works for early pregnancies.
If you choose to take the abortion pill and you are more than ten weeks along, it can lead to problems such as infection or even an incomplete abortion. Having an incomplete abortion may mean that you need surgery to remove the remaining pregnancy tissue.
It is important to confirm gestational age and assess whether you have a viable pregnancy by taking a lab-quality pregnancy test and receiving an obstetric ultrasound.
Other Reasons You May Not be Eligible
There are additional reasons that may make you ineligible for the abortion pill. According to the Mayo Clinic, these reasons include:
- Taking a blood thinner or certain steroid medications
- Having an intrauterine device (IUD)
- Can’t make follow-up visits to your doctor or have access to emergency care
- Having an allergy to the medications used during the medical abortion process
- Having certain medical conditions, including bleeding disorders, certain heart or blood vessel diseases, severe lung, liver, or kidney disease, or an uncontrolled seizure disorder
Have More Questions?
If you have more questions about your eligibility for the abortion pill, Woman’s New Life Clinic is here for you! Contact us today to make an appointment. You can speak to a licensed nurse and counselor, as well as access our pregnancy services, free of charge!