It’s not uncommon for a woman faced with an unplanned pregnancy to experience a range of emotions. It may bring strong feelings of fear or confusion and lead to the decision of having a medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill.
So, what happens if you take the abortion pill (RU-486) and then change your mind? Suddenly you wish you hadn’t done it and no longer want an abortion. What can you do? Can you change your mind at this point, or is it too late?
The answer is NO, it’s not too late. Successful methods have been developed to reverse the effects of the first abortion pill and prevent it from causing the death of the unborn child.
To understand how this can be done it is important to first know the process that occurs in a medical (RU-486) abortion. In this type of non-surgical abortion, the first pill called mifepristone is given up until 9 weeks of pregnancy. Mifepristone counteracts the natural pregnancy hormone progesterone, which is critical to maintaining a pregnancy. Without progesterone the placenta fails, cutting off oxygen and nutrition to the baby. The patient leaves the clinic after the first pill and is instructed to take the second pill, misoprostol, 36 to 72 hours later.
FAQ:
What is the treatment to reverse the abortion pill?
An ultrasound will be done as soon as possible to confirm that you are still pregnant. The doctor or other medical provider will prescribe progesterone, which will be given by injection in the gluteus muscle, by mouth or by vagina. The treatment will continue through your 1st trimester of pregnancy.
What is progesterone, and why is it important?
Progesterone is the natural hormone in a woman’s body that is necessary to nurture and sustain a pregnancy. Mifepristone blocks progesterone’s actions by binding to progesterone receptors in the uterus and the placenta. By giving extra progesterone, the hope is to outnumber and outcompete the mifepristone in order to reverse the effects of mifepristone.
What is the success rate of Abortion Pill Reversal?
The success rate is about 55%. This means 55% of women who choose reversal continue the pregnancy and deliver their baby while about 45% lose their baby. If a loss occurs, it is usually within the first two weeks of treatment.
The abortion pill and the morning after pill are the same thing, right?
No, they are different. The “morning after pill” is marketed as an emergency contraception method. The most commonly used preparation contains a high level of a progestin and can be taken up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse. New insights into how it works make it clear that it can prevent implantation of the young human embryo into the lining of the uterus.
The abortion pill, mifepristone, is taken up to seven to nine weeks into a pregnancy with the intention of causing an abortion. It works by blocking progesterone receptors. Progesterone is the necessary hormone that nurtures and supports a pregnancy.
The newest morning after pill, Ella, is very similar to mifepristone in its action in that it blocks progesterone receptors. It is approved by the FDA for use up to five days after intercourse and has abortifacient effects as well.
Where do I go for help if I’ve changed my mind?
Anyone who has taken the first pill and then changed her mind can go online to www.abortionpillreversal.com or call their toll-free hotline at 877-558-0333 to find out where to go for abortion pill reversal.
If you decide you want to continue with your pregnancy we are here to help. Options Health can equip and prepare you to become a parent through our free parenting classes. We can also help connect you to valuable resources such as housing, health insurance, and financial assistance.
You are not alone.
Options Health is a safe place where you can confidentially come and discuss sexual health, pregnancy, and relationship issues with one of our client advocates. Feel free to contact us today to take advantage of our free services, including pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, abortion consultation, options counseling, and even after abortion counseling. We are here for you and ready to listen!
Source: abortionpillreversal.com
