If you are considering seeking the abortion pill by mail, it’s essential to understand that this choice puts your health and safety at risk. This is because the abortion drugs you can find online aren’t FDA-approved, which means that the FDA can’t guarantee the quality, safety, or effectiveness of these drugs.
While the FDA advises against buying the abortion drugs online, there are essential steps to take to protect your health before seeking the abortion drugs from a clinic or pharmacy.
Schedule an Ultrasound
Even if you’ve already taken an at-home pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy, you will still want an ultrasound to determine the key details you need to know to protect your health. These details include:
- Pregnancy viability: Did you know that one in four known pregnancies miscarry? An ultrasound will look for signs of life, like a heartbeat. If you’ve miscarried, you will need medical follow-up to ensure you don’t face complications.
- Pregnancy age: If your pregnancy is older than ten weeks (70 days) gestational age, the FDA does not recommend a medical abortion because it puts you at greater risk of experiencing a complication.
- Pregnancy location: Rarely, a pregnancy develops outside your uterus. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy, and it’s a life-threatening condition that requires emergency treatment.
Learn All You Can About Your Pregnancy Options
The abortion drugs that you can receive from a clinic or pharmacy are FDA-approved, but they still come with risks to your health, so it’s essential to learn all you can beforehand.
Besides abortion, your other pregnancy options are parenting and adoption. You’ll want to learn more about these options as well to decide what’s right for you.
Next Steps
If you feel overwhelmed or uncertain of your next steps, you are not alone. At Ridgeway Women’s Clinic, we offer free appointments where you can ask questions, share concerns, and get fact-based education on the pregnancy process.
Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential appointment in the Freeport and Rockford areas (Loves Park).
