Abortion Pill |
Abortion Pill |
Regular 'Surgical' Abortion (Vacuum Aspiration) |
| 1. How Far Along In The Pregnancy
Can I Be? Up to 7 weeks LMP (49 days from last menstrual period) for best success (95-98%). Success rates decrease as the pregnancy advances. |
Up to nine weeks LMP (63 days from last menstrual period) is the upper limit. | Five weeks on up. Surgical abortion has a higher than 99% success rate. A surgical at less than 6 weeks may increase the chance of retainage (some tissue left) and you would have to come back for a re-suction. |
| 2. How Long Does It Take? -3 visits to the clinic. -Swallow mifepristone. -Insert misoprostol vaginally on Day 3 AT CLINIC by nurse. -It usually takes several hours after the misoprostol for the miscarry to occur. -Follow-up visit on Day 4-14 at clinic. |
-Two visits. -Swallow mifepristone at clinic. -Insert misoprostol in mouth between cheek and gums 12 to 36 hours later. -It usually takes several hours after the misoprostol for the miscarry to occur. -Follow-up visit on Day 4-14 at clinic for a re-sonogram. |
-One visit to the clinic. -The surgical abortion takes 15 minutes. -Follow-up visit at the clinic or your own doctor's office in 2½ - 3 weeks. |
| 3. How Painful Is It? From mild to very strong cramping off and on throughout the miscarry. Pain medicine given to you helps. |
Same as FDA mifepristone plan. |
From mild to very strong cramping for 5 minutes if awake. If asleep during abortion, then mild cramping to no memory of it at all. We charge nothing to give Twilight sleep. |
| 4. How Much Will I Bleed? Heavy bleeding and passing clots is common during the miscarriage. Afterwards, lighter bleeding is common from 9-14 days or longer. One percent heavy bleeding will require care. |
Same as FDA mifepristone plan. |
Usually light bleeding from 1-7 days, but may
continue off and on up to 2 weeks. |
| 5. How Much Does It Cost? $720, the cost of the surgical abortion plus the expense of 3 mifepristone pills. |
$400. | $400 if less than 10 weeks. Up to $580 at 15 weeks. |
| 6. Can The Abortion Fail? Success rate varies with the length of pregnancy and protocol used. When it fails, a surgical abortion is necessary. Usually only a 2% failure rate. |
Same as FDA mifepristone plan. |
Over 99% successful. Less than 1% re-suction rate needed. |
| 7. Is It Safe, And Can I Still Have
Children Afterwards? -Both medications have been formally studied and used safely. Possible complications are rare. -Child-bearing ability is not affected, barring rare serious complications same as for surgical abortions, 1 in 10,000. |
Same as FDA mifepristone plan. |
-Surgical abortion has been formally studied for
over 25 years. For abortions less than 14 weeks,
the complication rate is less than 1%, and is at
least 10 times safer than childbirth. -Childbearing ability is not affected, barring rare complications, 1 in 10,000. |
| 8. What Are The Advantages? -It may seem more natural, like a miscarriage. -No shots, anesthesia, instruments, or vacuum aspiration machine, unless it fails. -The pregnancy can be ended earlier than with surgical abortion. -Being home instead of a clinic may seem more comforting and private. -Any support person can be there during the miscarriage. -A physician is available before the medical abortion for emotional support or answering questions. |
-Same as FDA mifepristone EXCEPT
second pills are taken bucally (between
cheek and gums in mouth). -Usually only 2 visits, Day 1 and second visit choosen from Day 10 thru 14. |
-It's quick, over in 15 minutes. -It's highly successful. -There's less bleeding than with medical abortion. -There's less time spent cramping than with the medical abortion. -Medical staff is present. -A counselor or physician is usually available before surgery for emotional support or answering questions. -It can be done farther along in the pregnancy than with medical abortion. -It's more predictable. |
| 9. What Are The Disadvantages? -It takes 4 to 14 days to complete. -It is not predictable like surgical abortion. -Bleeding can be very heavy and lasts longer than with surgical abortion. -If hemorrhage occurs, patient must come into clinic for immediate surgical suction evacuation. Might need to travel to a hospital for blood transfusion. -Cramping can be severe and usually lasts longer than with surgical abortion. -Three visits to clinic are necessary. The doctor or nurse will insert the vaginal misoprostol on Day 3 at clinic. -It fails more often than surgical abortion, but has a higher success rate than methotrexate by 1-2%. -It cannot end a tubal pregnancy, but methotrexate could have. |
-Same as FDA mifepristone plan EXCEPT
only 2 visits. Same heavy bleeding is to
be expected. This can happen up to your
first menses but is rare. |
-A doctor must insert instruments inside the
uterus. -Anesthetics and drugs to manage pain during the procedure may cause side effects (dry mouth, medicated/drunk feeling). -There are possible complications, although in less than 1% of cases which is still better than for medical abortions. -The woman has less control over the abortion process and who is with her. -The vacuum aspirator may seem noisy. -It can't be done as early in the pregnancy as with the medical abortion. -It cannot end a tubal pregnancy. |
medical.htm, Oct2006, (c) Central Family Medicine dba Aid For Women, 2000-2006.
