The “abortion pill” — also called medication abortion — is a super common method of ending a pregnancy in the US. According to The Guttmacher Institute, abortion pills make up more than half of all abortions in the United States. Abortion pills are a safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy. You can use abortion pills up to 12 weeks after the first day of your last period.
Now that Roe v. Wade is overturned and many states are banning abortion, abortion is harder to access than ever before. But help is available, no matter where you live. Below are details on where to get abortion pills and how to take them, as well as financial, medical, and legal resources — no matter what state you live in.
Before You Take Abortion Pills
Make sure you’re pregnant by taking a pregnancy test.
Know the first day of your last menstrual period — you can use abortion pills up to 12 weeks after the first day of your last period.
Don’t use abortion pills if you have an IUD, bleeding problem, or are using a steroid treatment.
Details on the Pills
STEP 1: Take 1 pill called mifepristone. This stops the pregnancy from growing.
STEP 2: Between 24-48 hrs after taking the mifepristone, take 4 misoprostol pills. This causes cramping and bleeding that empties your uterus. You may need to take 4 more misoprostol pills if your health care provider tells you to.
Note:
30 mins before you take the misoprostol, take some pain meds (like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen) and anti-nausea meds if you have them.
Don’t take aspirin — it can make your bleeding worse.
You can find illustrated instructions on how to take the pills at mahotline.org
What to Expect During the Abortion
Cramps
Heavy bleeding
Passing large clumps of tissue and blood clots (up to the size of a lemon)
Diarrhea
Mild fever
Chills
The process of a medication abortion is similar to a very heavy period or early miscarriage.
For most people, the cramping and bleeding usually starts 1-4 hours after taking the misoprostol and can last for several hours. The pregnancy tissue usually passes by hours 4-5, but it may take longer. The cramping and bleeding slows down after the pregnancy tissue comes out. You may have cramping on and off for 1 or 2 more days.
Self Care During and After Your Abortion
If you can, plan to take off work, school, and other obligations on the day you take misoprostol so you can rest. Gather comfy clothes, blankets, books, music, movies, and a buddy for support — anything that might help you feel more comfortable. A heating pad or hot shower may help with cramping.
You can go back to work, school, driving, and most other normal activities the next day if you feel up to it. But don’t do hard work or heavy exercise for several days. You can continue to take medicine for pain or nausea as directed by your health care provider.
When To Contact a Health Care Provider
Complications with abortion pills are really rare. But call your doctor or go to the emergency room if it’s been more than 24 hours after your last dose of abortion pills and you:
Soak more than 2 maxi pads an hour for more than 2 hours in a row
Bleed heavily for several days
Have dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or fever 100.4 or higher
Have really bad pain or discomfort in your belly that doesn’t get better with pain medication
The symptoms after taking abortion pills are the same as a miscarriage. Doctors and nurses can give you medical care whether or not they know about your abortion — that information shouldn’t affect the treatment they give.
Where to Find Abortion Pills
Find Abortion Pills In Any State:
Find Abortion Clinics In Certain States:
The links above will take you to reliable abortion providers. If using Google or local ads, beware of anti-abortion clinics, also called "crisis-pregnancy centers." These places advertise pregnancy testing and abortion information, but they won't help you get an abortion or provide honest facts about your options. And most of them don't have to follow medical privacy laws like real abortion providers do. Learn more about CPCs here.
How to Pay for Your Abortion
A medication abortion can cost up to around $800, but it’s often less. The average cost at Planned Parenthood is around $580. Cost can vary depending on whether you have insurance that covers abortion pills and where you get the pills. Many places offer sliding scale care, and you may qualify for financial support through abortion funds.
The National Network of Abortion Funds offers judgement-free support and help with paying for your care, travel and housing, and other logistical needs you might have when trying to access a safe abortion in the United States.
Medical and Legal Support for the Abortion Pill
For medical questions and support, visit mahotline.org or call 1-833-246-2632. You can talk anonymously with licensed clinicians about your symptoms, how to take the pills, and more.
For legal questions, visit reprolegalhelpline.org. This is an anonymous helpline to assist with any legal issues you’re worried about or questions you might have.
Disclaimer
The information provided on this page is strictly for informational purposes and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician. You should not use this information for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription for any medication. You should consult your health care provider if you have or suspect you have a health problem or concern.
This page has been thoroughly reviewed and checked for accuracy by licensed health care professionals on October 30, 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
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You can start birth control immediately after you take the misoprostol abortion pills.
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If you soak through two maxi pads per hour, two hours in a row, contact your doctor or a health care provider.
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It’s normal to bleed or spot off and on for several weeks after an abortion. Abortion starts a new menstrual cycle, so your period should go back to normal 4-8 weeks after your abortion.
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You can have sex as soon as you feel ready. But it’s possible to get pregnant right away after an abortion, even if your period hasn’t started yet. So use birth control if you don’t want to be pregnant again.
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Abortion pills are very effective and usually work — if they don’t, you can take another dose or have an in-clinic abortion.
If you get your abortion pills from a doctor or health care provider, they may give you a special, extra-sensitive pregnancy test to use later to make sure the abortion worked. Or they may give you an ultrasound or blood test.
Note that regular pregnancy tests can show a false positive result for up to 5 weeks after your abortion, because you may still have some pregnancy hormones left in your body that the test can pick up — but it doesn’t mean you’re pregnant.
