In a season where many things have gone virtual, you may be finding yourself with questions about telemedicine, TelAbortion, and access to the abortion pill without having to see a doctor. You may have heard of Plan C, as a prescription to “get your period back” or “pause your pregnancy”.
Plan C is a campaign to ensure everyone knows about abortion pills, what they are, how they’re used, and how people are accessing them in the US for self-managed abortions.
TelAbortion is a relatively new term. Getting an abortion used to always require a visit to a clinic or doctor, but in the age of telemedicine, abortion access has been extended to online ordering as well.
While you can get abortion pills online, if you don’t meet the criteria of the FDA’s clearance of a medication abortion, there are inherent risks involved.
That’s why no matter how convenient zoom meetings and online ordering are, we recommend an in-person medical consultation and an ultrasound before you decide. Your health and safety are our priority. You will also be better prepared and informed on what can happen and who to contact if an emergency arises.
What do I need to know about the abortion pill? How much does it cost?
- Officially named RU-486, the pill is actually two drugs and it’s taken in two separate doses. Mifepristone, the first dose, is taken at the clinic and Misoprostol, is usually taken at home.
- It is available for most people who are 4-7 weeks pregnant, but in some circumstances can be taken up to 70 days after your last menstrual period. Because the drug Misoprostol is what begins the process of expelling the pregnancy, reversal is possible if action is taken after the first dose. The abortion pill can cost anywhere between $400-$800.
How does the abortion pill work? What else do I need to know?
- It works by inducing contractions to expel the contents of your uterus, putting your body into early labor. Some side effects include heavy bleeding, cramps, contractions, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fever, and infections.
- In some cases, abortion pills, even if taken correctly, may not work. If you have recently taken the abortion pill and are still pregnant, come see us.
Check back for our nest blog post which will cover why Plan C might not be for you, in what situations you would need an ultrasound first, and additional considerations. In the mean time, if you have any questions about Plan C reach out to us by text or phone at 336-629-9988.
References:
https://americanpregnancy.org/unplanned-pregnancy/abortion-pill/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3766037/
https://www.theolympian.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article263089668.html
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/-daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=211436