
I sat alone in the bathroom with hot tears streaming down my face, and a positive pregnancy test in my hand. Yes, I love Jason, but I’m not ready to be a mom. Things just all happened so fast and felt so right, but now I had big regrets.
“It’s okay, Kelsey,” my friend Tiff tried to comfort me from the other side of the door. “You have options. I’m sure you’re going to be fine. It’s going to be okay.”
Okay? I am seventeen years old. This will not be okay.
The idea of going to a clinic and waiting anxiously for an abortion sounded just as horrible as finding out I was pregnant. I thought I remembered hearing that women could purchase abortion pills over the internet. I pushed past Tiff and grabbed my laptop off my desk.
She Was About To Make A Big Mistake
Kelsey was about to make a big mistake. While she likely would find a website to purchase the abortion pill online, there are reasons certain drugs should be discussed with a doctor before use.
The Abortion Pill vs. Plan B—What’s The Difference?
Before we dive into the risks associated with ordering abortion pills online, let’s talk about what it is and what it isn’t. You may hear abortion pills and think of the morning-after pill. The morning after pill, most commonly known as Plan B, is not the same as the abortion pill.
What Is Plan B?
Plan B comes in the form of levonorgestrel pills. It’s a synthetic hormone that is taken by mouth after unprotected sex. While it can be purchased through a pharmacist at a drugstore, it is considered emergency contraception and is not meant for routine use. Because time is of the essence when it comes to taking Plan B, it requires you to act quickly. Unfortunately, quick decisions often put fear in charge of your choices.
Every decision you make is either led by fear or a desire to grow. A fear-based decision often turns into regret.
What Is The Abortion Pill?
The abortion pill is the common name for two different medicines used to terminate a viable pregnancy: mifepristone and misoprostol. The combination is called “the abortion pill” because it is considered a medication abortion. A woman would use the two medications to terminate her pregnancy once it has been confirmed that she is pregnant.
Mifepristone is taken first to block your body’s own progesterone, a hormone that the baby needs to keep growing. Misoprostol is either taken right after or up to 48 hours later. This medicine causes cramping and bleeding to empty your uterus.
The abortion pill is prescribed by a physician. The oversight of a medical professional is essential to confirm there is a viable pregnancy in the uterus and to provide detailed directions about where, when, and how to take the medicines. They may also prescribe some antibiotics to prevent infection.
However, you can still purchase the abortion pill online. The FDA has approved the distribution of the abortion pill through telemedicine, meaning you would still meet with a physician over a video call instead of an in-person meeting. While this option is available, it may fail to address your needs in the same way.
Telemedicine appointments have their limitations, and a doctor may not be able to determine viable pregnancy or confirm your health over a video call the same way they would in person. This could lead to an incorrect diagnosis, or misprescription of the abortion pill.
Ordering Online – Time is not on Your Side
Because the medication will not work effectively to terminate a pregnancy that is in later stages of development, the abortion pill is only given to women who are less than 10 weeks pregnant. Many women discover they are pregnant around week seven. At that point, there are less than three weeks to set a virtual appointment, confirm a viable pregnancy, order mifepristone/misoprostol, and take the medications.
If this 10-week window is missed, the remaining options are to carry the pregnancy to term, or undergo a surgical abortion, which many women have found to be physically and emotionally damaging.
In-person appointments remain the best and fastest way to confirm your pregnancy and determine how far along you are. You can schedule an appointment with us for free pregnancy testing and an ultrasound. The ultrasound will also confirm whether or not the pregnancy is viable and located in the uterus.
What Should You Do About An Unwanted Pregnancy?
Schedule an appointment at A Woman’s Place Medical Clinic and talk with us about your fears and options. Knowledge is empowering, and we can calm many of the thoughts that scare you about an unplanned pregnancy.
A Woman’s Place Medical Clinic is a safe place where you can confidentially discuss sexual health, pregnancy, women’s health, STIs, and relationship issues with one of our client advocates. We are a pro-woman, non-profit, holistic health clinic. We strive to offer clarity in your decisions while caring for your body, mind, and spirit. Feel free to contact us today to take advantage of our free services. We are here for you and ready to listen!
Resources:
What is Plan B: USFDA: Decisions Regarding Plan B
Recent FDA/REM Study
American Pregnancy Association