If you’ve had unprotected sex and think you could be pregnant, you may be considering taking the abortion pill or Plan B.
While the two drugs may seem similar, they work very differently.
The abortion pill terminates an existing pregnancy, and Plan B is used as an emergency contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy.
Continue reading to learn more about the use of the abortion pill and Plan B and the potential health risks. You deserve to have the information you need to make an informed decision for your health.
Plan B
Plan B, also called the morning-after pill, may be used in the following scenarios:
- You didn’t use birth control/protection
- You missed a birth control pill
- Your birth control method failed
The use of Plan B prevents pregnancy by inhibiting the release of an egg from the ovary, fertilization of the egg, or implantation of the egg into the uterine lining.
After taking Plan B, you may experience the following side effects:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Breast tenderness
- Bleeding between periods or heavier menstrual bleeding
- Lower abdominal pain or cramps
The Abortion Pill
The abortion pill uses mifepristone and misoprostol to terminate a pregnancy, but according to the FDA, the abortion pill should not be used after ten weeks of pregnancy.
Mifepristone is administered first to block progesterone and cause the pregnancy to detach from the uterine lining.
Then, misoprostol creates uterine contractions, which lead to the expulsion of the pregnancy through the vagina.
Every woman’s body responds differently to the abortion pill, so it can be difficult to predict how it could impact your health. The risks of the abortion pill include:
- Incomplete abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Find Out More
New Beginnings Pregnancy Center is here to help if you think you could be pregnant.
We provide free lab-quality pregnancy tests and follow-up limited ultrasound scans. After learning more about your pregnancy, the staff can discuss your options and answer any questions you might have.
Contact us today for your confidential appointment.