Abortion Pill Myths and Facts

Yes. The abortion pill is safe, with over 25 years of use and research behind it. Serious problems happen in less than 1% of cases, and the FDA, ACOG, and WHO all confirm its safety.

More than 5 million patients in the United States have used the abortion pill since the FDA approved it in 2000. Studies show it is safer than many common medicines, including penicillin and Viagra. Your risk of a serious problem is lower than with a wisdom tooth removal.

At The Center for Women, an onsite provider reviews your health history, does an ultrasound, and gives you both medicines. Seeing a doctor in person adds one more layer of safety to the process.

No. The abortion pill does not change your ability to get pregnant in the future. ACOG, the WHO, and decades of research confirm this. Studies of thousands of patients show the same fertility rates in people who have had an abortion and people who have not.

The abortion pill works with medicines alone, and nothing enters the uterus. That means there is no risk of scarring or damage to your reproductive organs. You can ovulate again as soon as 2 weeks after the abortion, so you could get pregnant before your next period.

Having more than one abortion does not change this. Research shows that repeat medication abortions do not add up to any harm to your fertility.

No. The abortion pill does not cause breast cancer. This claim has been studied closely and rejected. The National Cancer Institute, ACOG, and the American Cancer Society all confirm there is no link between abortion and breast cancer.

In 2003, the National Cancer Institute brought together more than 100 experts to review all the evidence. They found that neither medication abortion nor surgical abortion raises the risk of breast cancer, and later research keeps confirming that finding.

The myth still appears in some anti-abortion materials, but it has no basis in medical evidence. If you worry about breast cancer risk, ask your doctor about the risk factors that science does support.

There is no proven way to reverse the abortion pill. Claims about "abortion pill reversal" are not backed by reliable medical research. ACOG has said the so-called reversal protocol is not based on science and has not been shown to be safe or to work.

The claim rests on the idea that large doses of progesterone taken after mifepristone can block its effects. The only study that tried to test this was stopped early over safety concerns, because some participants had severe bleeding.

It is true that mifepristone alone does not always end a pregnancy, and in some cases a pregnancy can continue without any added treatment. That happens with or without extra progesterone, and taking an unproven treatment carries its own risks.

If you have taken mifepristone and are having second thoughts, call your doctor or the clinic so you can talk through your situation and your options.

The most common feeling after an abortion is relief. Research shows that abortion does not cause long-term mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD.

The largest study on this topic, the Turnaway Study from the University of California San Francisco, followed nearly 1,000 patients for 5 years. Patients who got an abortion did not have worse mental health than patients who were denied one. In fact, being denied an abortion was tied to more anxiety and lower life satisfaction in the short term.

Some people feel sadness, relief, or a mix of feelings after an abortion. Those feelings are normal and do not mean you have a mental health disorder. If you had a mental health condition before your abortion, you may still need support, just as you would with any other life event.

If you are struggling before or after an abortion, it is okay to lean on a counselor, a therapist, or someone you trust.

No. The abortion pill and emergency contraception, such as Plan B, are different medicines that work in different ways.

Emergency contraception prevents a pregnancy from starting. It works by delaying or blocking ovulation, and it does not end a pregnancy that has already begun. You can take it up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, or up to 120 hours in some cases.

The abortion pill ends an early pregnancy that has already started. It uses two medicines, mifepristone and misoprostol, taken over 2 to 3 days. It is FDA-approved for up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, and you need a prescription from a licensed provider.

Call The Center for Women at (708) 450-4545 to schedule your appointment. Same-day, evening, and weekend appointments are available.

The clinic is at 10215 W. Roosevelt Rd. #101, Westchester, IL 60154. The abortion pill costs $380, which covers your provider appointment, ultrasound, both medicines, and your follow-up visit. The provider will answer your questions and concerns during your visit.