If you are worried about whether abortion using pills is safe or not, then let me tell you that according to my research, medication pills are safe and effective to use for abortion. If you are wondering about pills for unwanted pregnancy then Medical Termination of Pregnancy, also known as MTP Kit.
A set of drugs used to induce a medical abortion is called an MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) kit. Usually, it contains two different kinds of medications: misoprostol and mifepristone.
Let me also tell you that pregnant women should be examined by a physician before using abortion pills to ensure that there is no ectopic (tubal) pregnancy and to verify the safety of the medication. Women who have chronic steroid use, adrenal issues, or bleeding disorders may not be safe candidates for medication abortion.
Additionally, performing a medication abortion early in pregnancy (before 10 weeks) is safer and more effective than doing it later. Abortion pills should not be used for ectopic pregnancy because they are unable to address this problem.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), medication abortion, also referred to as medical abortion or abortion with pills, is a method of terminating a pregnancy that entails taking two different medications, misoprostol, and mifepristone, which are both safe to use for the first 70 days (10 weeks) of pregnancy.
Use up to 12 weeks of pregnancy has been approved by the World Health Organisation. The drug’s use in the US has rapidly increased since the FDA first approved it in 2000. In the United States, medical abortions accounted for 63% of all abortions in 2023.
What pills are used for abortion?
Abortion using pills is done to end the pregnancy. Mifepristone 200mg and misoprostol 200mcg, together referred to as the MTP Kit, are two separate medications used to terminate a pregnancy that are commonly referred to as the abortion pill. Misoprostol by itself can also be used to have an abortion. You start by taking a medication known as Mifepristone. Progesterone is a hormone that is necessary for optimal growth during pregnancy.
You will receive comprehensive instructions from your physician or nurse regarding the location, timing, and method of taking the medications. Additionally, they will discuss medications to treat adverse effects, such as nausea and cramps.
MTP Kit: Mifepristone and Misoprostol Regimen
In the United States, mifepristone and misoprostol are the two drugs used in the most frequent medication abortion protocol. Under the brand name Mifeprex, mifepristone, which is also referred to as the abortion pill or RU-486, is marketed.
By blocking progesterone, a hormone necessary for the growth of a fetus, Mifepristone 200mg stops an already existing pregnancy from advancing.
When taken 24 to 48 hours after mifepristone, misoprostol causes cramps and bleeding that resemble an early miscarriage, which helps to empty the uterus. A week or two later, a follow-up appointment might be arranged to verify the pregnancy was ended by a blood test or ultrasound.
The FDA has determined that pharmaceutical abortion is a very safe and successful way to end a pregnancy. With an associated mortality rate of less than 0.001 percent (0.00064%) and a 0.4% chance of serious complications, pharmaceutical abortion effectively ends the pregnancy 99.6% of the time when it is performed.
How to Use abortion pills?
A nurse or doctor must meet with you in person at the health center, over the phone, or by video to explain how to take the abortion pills before you take them. You will receive comprehensive instructions on how to use the MTP Kit properly from your physician or nurse.
Mifepristone 200mg and misoprostol 200mcg are the two medications your doctor or nurse will prescribe to you to terminate your pregnancy. You can have an abortion at home or any other comfortable location after you receive your medication.
Mifepristone 200mg is the first drug you will take. Progesterone is a hormone that is necessary for optimal growth during pregnancy. Mifepristone prevents the growth of the pregnancy by blocking your body’s production of progesterone.
The second medication, misoprostol 200mcg, will then be taken either immediately or up to 48 hours later.
How to use the MTP Kit?
Deciding to end a pregnancy medically can be challenging. You need to know about safe abortion using pills if you have decided to use them. By giving you detailed instructions, this article will help you to know MTP kit instructions and prevent errors.
Understanding the Components: Mifepristone and misoprostol are the two pill kinds included in the MTP kit. Progesterone is the hormone that mifepristone blocks. The uterine lining will weaken, and the pregnancy will separate from it if progesterone is not present. After that, misoprostol 200mcg makes your uterus contract, bleed, and release the pregnancy.
Taking Mifepristone 200mg: The mifepristone tablet should be your first course of action. Take a glass of water while swallowing the tablet. To monitor any adverse effects throughout the day, it is best to take it in the morning.
Interim Phase: Wait 24 to 48 hours after taking mifepristone before moving on to the next phase. This gives the medicine time to take effect.
Taking Misoprostol 200mcg: Take misoprostol 24 to 48 hours after waiting. Your doctor may advise you to take the tablets vaginally or orally.
Observation Phase: Cramps and bleeding should begin a few hours after taking misoprostol 200mcg, signifying that the procedure is starting. Different people vary in the impact of these symptoms.
Duration: After taking the second medicine, a medical abortion occurs 2 to 6 hours later.
Follow-up: Consult your physician for a follow-up examination around two weeks after starting the drug. This is necessary to verify that the termination was successful. So, this was the information on how the MTP Kit works.
Is it safe to take an MTP Kit?
Abortions performed by doctors are regarded as safe and successful. There are rarely any complications. Nonetheless, it is critical to take all prescription drugs as directed. Health concerns can be associated with missing a dose or not following directions.
Risks of a medical abortion include:
- Either keeping the pregnancy tissue or failing to terminate the pregnancy.
- Heavy, unstoppable bleeding. (This might necessitate a D&C.)
- Gastrointestinal distress and diarrhea.
- Allergic response to the drugs.
- Infection (fever lasting longer than 24 to 48 hours and a foul vaginal odor are warning symptoms).
- Medical abortion does not pose any long-term health hazards.
How effective is the abortion pill?
The abortion medication works incredibly well. Depending on how far along your pregnancy is and how many doses of medication you take, you may need to take both misoprostol 200 mcg and Mifepristone 200mg:
- It is effective 94–98% of the time at 8 weeks or less of pregnancy.
- It works 94–96% of the time at 8–9 weeks of pregnancy.
- It works 91–93% of the time during 9–10 weeks of pregnancy.
- Misoprostol 200mcg is effective in approximately 99 percent of cases when taken in excess.
- It works about 87% of the time when you are 10–11 weeks pregnant.
- Misoprostol is effective in approximately 98% of cases when taken in excess.
- Generally speaking, combining misoprostol and mifepristone is slightly more effective than taking misoprostol alone.
Note: Depending on how you take the medication and how far along the pregnancy is, misoprostol 200mcg alone can terminate the pregnancy 85–95% of the time. Abortion using pills typically works, but if not, you can take additional medication or undergo an abortion in the clinic.
FAQs on Safe Abortion Using Pills
When can you use an abortion pill?
Generally speaking, medical abortion is permitted up to 77 days (11 weeks) following the start of your most recent menstrual cycle. You can terminate your pregnancy with an in-clinic abortion if it has been 78 days or longer from the start of your most recent menstruation.
How do MTP pills work?
A medical abortion, sometimes referred to as the “abortion pill,” consists of taking two pills over two to three days. Mifepristone, the first pill, terminates the pregnancy. Misoprostol 200mcg, the second pill, aids in its removal from the uterus. Misoprostol alone can be used to end a pregnancy if Mifepristone 200mg is not available.
How long does MTP abortion take?
Over two to three weeks, there are at least three steps in the medical abortion procedure. An ultrasound scan must be performed to confirm the pregnancy during the first clinic visit, and the first medicine is administered to stop the pregnancy’s growth and force it to separate from the uterine wall.
