Since ending a pregnancy is unacceptable by several groups, rumors have formed around medication abortion, which needs to be busted with the right facts and knowledge. People often believe that abortion pills do not work, or that they cause health issues, which you cannot recover from. They may even have the false notion that you cannot self-administer the pills, and may have to visit a clinic for them. Or, the pills may result in issues with future pregnancies, increasing the risk of miscarriage, and other myths.
In this post, we will refute such myths about abortion pills and the medical procedure to terminate an early pregnancy.
1. Abortion Pills are Unsafe and Ineffective
Mifepristone and Misoprostol pills together can oust the pregnancy portions out of the uterus and vagina through heavy vaginal bleeding. The procedure is 97-99% effective and it is safe and easy to take the pills by yourself. Mifepristone is an anti-progesterone that detaches the embryo from the uterus wall by shedding the endometrial lining. Misoprostol leads to uterine contractions and ripening of the cervix to expel the pregnancy remains from the womb. You can successfully terminate an early pregnancy with pills within 24 to 72 hours mostly.
2. You Need the Assistance of a Physician
It is believed that you cannot administer the pills except in the clinic. And that you need the assistance of a physician for the procedure. However, in medication abortion, you do not require help to take the pills if you follow the dosage and intake indication properly. You can administer the medicines by yourself at home, and you need not visit a clinic or get admitted, or remain under observation. However, as a word of caution, always have access to emergency care in case of sudden need.
3. All the Pregnancy Parts Do Not Get Removed
There is a misconception that pills cannot completely evict the pregnancy parts from the uterus and that the sac or some section of pregnancy tissues may remain in the womb after the procedure. However, this is untrue. The medicines are capable of the expulsion of all the products of conception from the uterus so that no remains are left behind.
4. You Can Take the Pills Anytime During Pregnancy
The abortion pills will only work effectively if used for a pregnancy that is within 9 weeks of gestation. If you use the medicines for advanced pregnancy or gestation age over 9 or 10 weeks, then the termination may not happen. For pregnancies of a later stage, invasive removal of products of conception through dilation and evacuation or dilation and curettage is more conducive.
5. Medical Abortion Cause Permanent Side Effects
During a medication abortion, some of the temporary side effects are nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, headache, and tiredness. But these may last only for a few hours or till the time the uterus still has remains of pregnancy. After a successful pregnancy termination, these side effects cease to exist. Because of hormonal changes during pregnancy and ending it, these effects are expected. However, there is no indication that these outcomes will last forever.
6. The Pills Increase the Risk of Future Miscarriages
No evidence states that the abortion pill procedure will increase the risk of miscarriages in the future. When you administer the pills, it does lead to the expelling of the pregnancy parts from the uterus as like in a natural miscarriage. But that does not indicate that if you get pregnant again later, a miscarriage will happen because of the previous use of abortion pills.
7. The Pills Lead to Infertility and Childbirth Problems
You can get pregnant soon after a successful medication abortion and that is why you must start with birth control within 3 to 9 days of pregnancy termination. The pills do not result in infertility, and they are not going to lead to any issues in future childbirth. All these are myths, so if anyone tells you not to end your pregnancy with pills, you can counter them with facts and educate them.
8. The Medicines Make You Lose Interest in Intimacy
There is no relation between the use of abortion pills and losing libido. Terminating pregnancy with pills will not affect your desire to get intimate. However, you must avoid vaginal intercourse for 2 to 3 weeks after ending your conception because of the abortion bleeding. Also, your body needs to heal. Give some time to yourself and let the bleeding reduce before you can get intercourse vaginally. But you can always engage in other forms of intimacy until then.
To Conclude
Taking abortion pills in early pregnancy is a convenient way to end your unplanned pregnancy. If you have any other queries on medication pregnancy termination, then do speak to your healthcare provider for facts.