3 Things to Know if You Are Considering Mail-Order Abortion
Facing an unexpected pregnancy can bring a lot of emotions, and often, a sense of urgency to make a decision quickly. You may have seen options online to order abortion pills by mail and wondered if it’s a simple solution. Before making a decision, it’s important to understand how this option could affect your health and what steps you can take to make a fully informed decision.
1. Your Health Should Always Come First
Mail-order abortion often skips important medical safeguards. In many cases, there is no in-person evaluation before receiving the drugs. That means key health factors, such as your medical history and potential risks, will not be fully considered.
There can also be uncertainty about the source of the drugs, including how they were handled, stored, or dosed. In fact, the FDA does not recommend this option because the drugs’ quality, safety, and effectiveness cannot be guaranteed.
Taking time to understand your health first is a smart and proactive way to protect yourself.
2. You Need Clear Answers About Your Pregnancy
A pregnancy test alone doesn’t give you the full picture. Before considering abortion, it’s important to confirm details about your pregnancy through an ultrasound.
An ultrasound can tell you:
- How far along are you?
- Whether the pregnancy is developing (or if you’ve miscarried)
- Where the pregnancy is located
These details matter more than you might think. Abortion pills are FDA-approved only through 10 weeks of gestation, and without accurate dating, it’s possible to miscalculate how far along you are.
An ultrasound can also detect an ectopic pregnancy, which occurs outside the uterus and requires immediate medical attention. Abortion pills will not treat this condition. What’s more, if you’ve experienced a miscarriage, you may require medical follow-up to prevent complications.
Getting these details first helps ensure your safety. We offer limited OB ultrasounds following positive lab-quality pregnancy testing with us.
3. It’s Important to Understand the Process and Risks
Mail-order abortion may sound straightforward, but it’s important to know what it may actually involve. The process includes significant cramping and bleeding as the body expels the pregnancy, with some women describing the pain as being unexpectedly severe.
Other side effects can include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever or chills
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
There are also potential risks, such as heavy bleeding, infection, or an incomplete abortion that may require additional medical care. Without in-person support, it can be difficult to know what’s expected and when something may need medical attention.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
When everything feels overwhelming, it can help to take a moment to evaluate your next steps and get the information you need. At Collage, we provide no-cost, confidential services so you can ask questions, gather accurate information, and explore your options at your own pace in a one-on-one setting.
Schedule your appointment today.
Collage does not provide or refer for abortions; however, we do offer pre-abortion screening through our no-cost services.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
