When facing an unexpected pregnancy, many women choose to terminate it with as much privacy as possible, so they get an abortion pill prescription online after a telehealth visit and perform the procedure in their own homes. The FDA has only approved this method up to 70 days or less since the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period.
How Do You Order the Abortion Pill Online?
In some states, abortion clinics offer telehealth consultations that do not require an in-person visit to a clinic to get a prescription. When you choose a telehealth consultation, it’s important to not skip the essential step of an in-person exam as well as an ultrasound.
An ultrasound is the best medical practice to ensure you are under the 10-week window, confirm if you’ve had a miscarriage, and eliminate health risks, such as an ectopic pregnancy (which happens 1 in 50 pregnancies).
What Are the Risks?
According to the Mayo Clinic, some of these pre-existing conditions eliminate your ability to use the abortion pill:
- Your pregnancy is too far along
- You have an intrauterine device (IUD)
- Have a suspected ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy is located outside the uterus).
- Certain medical conditions, such as bleeding disorders, certain heart or blood vessel diseases, uncontrolled seizures, etc.
- Take a blood thinner or certain steroid medications.
- Can’t make follow-up visits to your doctor
In addition to skipping the step of an ultrasound, other potential risks of an at-home abortion include the possibility of an incomplete abortion (this may require surgical intervention to remove the remnants of the pregnancy).
Additionally, there is no medical oversight or emergency care when taking the abortion pill in the convenience of your own home.
Do I Qualify for an At-Home Abortion?
You’ll first want to confirm your pregnancy as well as verify how far along you are, and eliminate the possibility of a miscarriage.
Here at Pathways Pregnancy Resource Center, we offer lab-quality pregnancy tests and no-cost ultrasounds. Our staff is available to answer questions and share resources in a confidential and pressure-free environment.