Is the Abortion Pill Safe?

Yes. The abortion pill has been FDA-approved since 2000 and has been used safely by millions of patients in the United States for over 20 years. It is one of the most studied medications in reproductive healthcare.

Serious complications from the abortion pill occur in less than 1% of cases. The risk of a major complication requiring hospitalization is less than 0.4%. To put this in perspective, the abortion pill is statistically safer than a colonoscopy, a tonsillectomy, and carrying a pregnancy to full term and giving birth.

The safety of the abortion pill is supported by decades of research and endorsed by major medical organizations including the FDA, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Large-scale studies involving hundreds of thousands of patients consistently confirm the safety of the abortion pill. A landmark study published in 2022, which analyzed over 50,000 medication abortions, found a serious adverse event rate of less than 0.4%.

The FDA conducted its own safety review in 2016 and again in 2023, both times concluding that mifepristone (the first medication) has a strong safety record. The 2023 review examined data spanning more than two decades of use in the United States.

Research also shows that the abortion pill does not affect future fertility. Studies have found no increased risk of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or complications in future pregnancies among patients who have used the abortion pill.

Like any medical treatment, the abortion pill carries some risks, though serious complications are uncommon. Here are the known risks and how often they occur:

• Incomplete abortion (2 to 7% of cases): The medication does not fully end the pregnancy. This is detected at the follow-up visit and can be treated with additional medication or a procedure.
• Heavy bleeding requiring treatment (less than 1%): Bleeding that is heavy enough to need medical intervention. This is why the clinic gives you clear guidelines about when to seek emergency care.
• Infection (less than 0.5%): A bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics. Signs include fever lasting more than 24 hours and foul-smelling discharge.
• Allergic reaction (very rare): An allergic reaction to one of the medications. The provider screens for known allergies at your appointment.

The most common outcomes, bleeding and cramping, are expected effects of the medication and are not complications. They are how the medication works.

No. Research consistently shows that the abortion pill does not affect your ability to get pregnant in the future. There is no increased risk of infertility, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, premature birth, or low birth weight in future pregnancies.

You can become pregnant again as soon as 2 weeks after taking the abortion pill, even before your next period returns. If you want to prevent pregnancy, talk to the provider about contraception options at your appointment or follow-up visit.

No. Over 20 years of research and clinical use have shown no link between the abortion pill and long-term health problems. The abortion pill does not increase the risk of cancer, depression, or any other chronic health condition.

Some sources claim that abortion causes mental health problems. Major medical studies, including a comprehensive review by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in 2018, found no evidence that abortion causes depression, anxiety, or other psychological disorders. The most common emotion reported after an abortion is relief.

At The Center for Women, you see a licensed provider in person. This matters for several reasons:

• Accurate dating: The provider performs an ultrasound to confirm your gestational age. This ensures the abortion pill is appropriate for your pregnancy.
• Health screening: The provider reviews your medical history and checks for conditions that could affect your care, such as an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus), which the abortion pill cannot treat.
• Direct communication: You can ask questions, get clear answers, and receive written instructions from a provider who has examined you.
• Follow-up care: Your follow-up visit is with the same clinic, ensuring continuity of care.

An in-person visit with a provider provides a level of personalized medical attention that ensures the safest possible outcome.

Call The Center for Women at (708) 450-4545 to schedule your appointment. The cost is $380 and includes your provider visit, ultrasound, both medications, and follow-up appointment.

Same-day, evening, and weekend appointments are available. The clinic is located at 10215 W. Roosevelt Rd. #101, Westchester, IL 60154.