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Medical Abortion – Abortion Pill – Information

Your Pregnancy Situation – Considering Abortion?

Are you considering a medical abortion (the abortion pill) in Pasadena, California?

An unplanned or unexpected pregnancy can include many emotions like surprise, anxiety, confusion, fear, and others. Helping you through your emotions and understanding the facts is important.

Obria Medical Clinics at Whittier, Pasadena, and Compton are where you can get a possibly FREE pregnancy assessment including pregnancy testing plus ultrasound plus options counseling, medically accurate facts, answers to your questions, and respectful compassionate help that you want and need. We are here to walk with you through your pregnancy options for you to make the best decision for your situation.

We can help address your questions – for example, some of the questions you may be wondering about:

  • Am I pregnant?
  • How do I know if I’m pregnant?
  • I don’t have health insurance. How can I get medical care?
  • What about my future?
  • What do other pregnant women do?
  • What options do I have?
  • Are there pros and cons of abortion?
  • What are the details, risks, side effects, and costs of abortion?
  • What if I’m not sure about my pregnancy decision? Or I change my mind?
  • What will my parents say?
  • Should I tell the father? How do I tell him?
  • How will I finish school?
  • What will my classmates/professors/teachers think?
  • How can I provide for a child?
  • Where can I get parenting education?

Often when women and men in this local area are dealing with an unplanned or unexpected pregnancy, they tend to search for an abortion clinic in Pasadena to get abortion procedure information and any other abortion info they can.

It is important to understand that both types of abortion are medical procedures:

  • Medication abortion (abortion pill)
  • Surgical abortion

Like any medical procedure, it is important that you fully understand what you will experience before, during, and after the abortion procedure. You have the right to know everything about abortion before making such a serious decision.

Miscarriage. Approximately, 10 – 20% of pregnancies end in a miscarriage, which is a spontaneous loss of a pregnancy.1 If there is no heartbeat you may not need to make the difficult choice to abort. We can explain details about this during your visit.

The Abortion Pill (Medical Abortion) – Summary

The Abortion Pill is considered a medical abortion, medication abortion, chemical abortion, or non-surgical abortion. It can be called an in-home abortion since it occurs in the patient’s home, not in a medical facility. It is also called “Plan C”. Some people may describe it as self-induced abortion, self-managed abortion, or online abortion, although these latter terms are not the best description.

The Abortion Pill is a combination of two prescription drugs, in two separate pills – Mifepristone (Mifeprex brand name) (RU-486) and Misoprostol (Cytotec brand name) – designed to induce an abortion or terminate a pregnancy. It should not be used if it has been more than 70 days since your last period, should only be used under careful medical supervision, and after confirming you are a candidate.1

Pregnancy Assessments

Pregnancy Assessment is to confirm you are pregnant and help you examine your pregnancy options. We will give you compassionate confidential care, evidence-based medical information about all your options, and non-judgmental support no matter what you decide to do about your pregnancy.

Our Pregnancy Assessment services – might be FREE depending on patient insurance / income. However, no patient is ever turned away due to inability to pay!

  • FREE Lab-grade urine pregnancy test, confirmed by a nurse.
  • FREE Ultrasound exam if you have a positive pregnancy test – this will help define realistic options. This is a way to see inside you– it is a very useful diagnostic tool.
  • FREE Discussion of all your pregnancy options, so you can make an informed decision.

Our professional medical staff are available to discuss any questions you may have regarding an abortion, barriers to continuing a pregnancy, as well as abortion procedures, costs, and risks associated with abortion near you. The types of abortion near you that may be available depend on factors such as how far along you are in your pregnancy.

While Obria does not perform abortions or refer to abortion clinics, we are here to help you examine all your pregnancy options (abortion, parenting, adoption) including the details about each option (procedures, risks, side effects, and more), so you can make the best choice for your situation.

No matter what choice you make, we respect you and will be there for you.

SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT – 30 second online form or Call (626) 440-9400

 

Other Testing

STI/STD test. We also highly recommend that you be tested for STDs/STIs. If you have an infection, it should be treated before an abortion, so the infection does not spread during the procedure. Obria provides low to no cost (Free) STD/STI testing. No one is turned away due to inability to pay.

Blood test. It is recommended to get your blood type and Rh factor tested. If you are Rh-negative, you will need a RhoGAM injection to protect future pregnancies. We can provide referrals for this.

The Abortion Pill Procedure Details

The FDA-approved regimen for the Abortion Pill (RU-486) is a multi-step process including supervision by a medical healthcare provider or pharmacy, possibly using ultrasounds or other testing, and using two different medication pills.1

Two in-person ultrasound and exam visits for medication abortion are useful. In some states within the United States, most women undergo ultrasound for 1) pregnancy dating and 2) confirmation of complete abortion. In most states, one visit to a medical provider or a telehealth visit are still required to obtain the prescription.2

  1. A medical appointment or telehealth appointment is had with a medical provider.
  2. The two medications are prescribed by a licensed or certified medical provider and purchased by the patient.
  3. Mifepristone (Mifeprex brand) – The patient takes this first medication Mifepristone which blocks the placenta from working properly. Once the placenta ceases to work properly, the pregnancy will lose the blood supply. Mifepristone should be given to you by a healthcare provider in a clinic, medical office, or hospital.
  4. Misoprostol (Cytotec brand) – After 24 to 48 hours after the patient takes the first medication (Mifepristone), the patient then takes the second medication Misoprostol, which contracts the uterus and expels the pregnancy and any other tissue inside.
  5. Two weeks (14 days) later, another visit to the clinic is recommended for an ultrasound to be sure all the contents of the uterus are expelled and assessed for any complications or issues.

Telehealth

Some advertisements make medical abortion sound quick and simple with an abortion through telemedicine (virtual / remote / video) medical care, which prevents travel to an abortion clinic. In this scenario, an abortion clinic or provider conducts virtual treatment primarily through the internet and prescribes the medications to the patient.3

The Facts

It is important to have all the facts, so you understand how this will affect you.

The medication. The U.S. FDA warns that you should not buy Mifeprex or its approved generic over the Internet because you will bypass important safeguards designed to protect your health. Also, drugs purchased from foreign Internet sources are not the FDA-approved versions of the drugs, and they are not subject to FDA-regulated manufacturing controls or FDA inspection of manufacturing facilities.1

Ultrasounds. This is a way to see inside you – it is a very useful diagnostic tool. The ultrasounds should be done by a trained sonographer.

Medical Provider Care. There are multiple issues for you to address during the preliminary pre-abortion screening and the abortion procedure. This can be challenging to address through a brief telehealth interview and/or telehealth follow-ups. It is important to confirm what type and level of care you will receive during the procedure.

  • The licensed medical provider needs to be aware of your medical history. Some circumstances would make a medical abortion unsafe. Before prescribing the two types of medical abortion pills a licensed medical provider needs to determine if medical abortion is the appropriate course of action for you.
  • You should clearly understand the following:
    • The potential costs including financial, physical, mental health, and others.
    • The risks and side effects.
    • Your legal rights.
  • Your questions and concerns should be addressed completely, so you feel comfortable with your choice and knowledgeable about the procedure and details. NOTE – Depending on the clinic / provider, you may not be under constant close medical supervision during some of the abortion process that occurs at your home. Therefore, you or someone with you (family, friend, significant other) will need to be responsible for your care, to assess if your symptoms require urgent medical attention and/or mental health care.
  • Complications. There may be problems that occur along the way. If there are any occurrences, for example, unusual health symptoms, excessive bleeding, or flu-like / fever symptoms that indicate a possible infection, you need to be able to quickly contact your medical provider or a hospital for help. They need to be immediately available.

In-Person Comfort. For many people, when there is a health risk involved, there is something that feels safer and more comforting about being in person, in the room with a doctor and/or a nurse, and having easy, quick access to them. Many people want someone who takes the time to carefully listen, be supportive and help, and explain the specific details – in person. Telehealth has some notable limits.

Cautions About the Abortion Pill

We can discuss the details of these issues during your visit to Obria Medical Clinics Whittier, Pasadena, Compton.

There are potential costs to medical abortion, including financial, physical, mental health, family, and others.

If this abortion method fails, a surgical abortion may be required for the successful abortion of the fetus. 4, 5

If complications or issues exist, then additional medical care may be required.

Mifepristone may cause serious side effects and should not be used if the patient has certain medical conditions. It should not be used under certain pregnancy conditions – for example, if implantation in the uterus has not occurred, which means the pregnancy is ectopic.6  The abortion pill will not abort an ectopic pregnancy nor should be used if you have ever had an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening.

NOTE – The U.S. FDA has enough of a safety concern that they have the medical abortion drug Mifepristone under their Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program. This program is for certain medications with serious safety concerns to help ensure the benefits of the medication outweigh its risks. While all medications have labeling that informs health care stakeholders about medication risks, only a few medications require a REMS.7

It is not recommended to take the abortion pill after the 9-week pregnancy mark.6

The FDA mandates that abortion pills must be prescribed under a medical health provider. However, since certain abortion pills are allowed to be purchased online, many patients take the abortion pill without the in-person supervision of a medical health provider. This is risky, since without the proper guidance and information, abortion pills can be hazardous.

The Abortion Pill – What it is Not: Morning After Pill / Plan B

The abortion pill (“Plan C”) is not the same as the “morning after pill,” also called the “Plan B pill” or an “emergency contraceptive.” The abortion pill is intended for women who have a verified pregnancy and is used to terminate an existing pregnancy.

The “morning after pill” is intended to prevent a pregnancy from occurring – it is used shortly after sexual intercourse. The newest morning after pill, Ella, works on a similar fashion as the first pill in the RU-486 protocol, in that its action blocks progesterone receptors. It is approved by the FDA for use up to five days after intercourse and has abortifacient effects.8

For either pill it is advisable to speak with a medical professional before considering them, due to health considerations.

The Abortion Pill – Risks

American Psychological Association (APA) research states, “It is important that women’s varied experiences of abortion be recognized, validated, and understood.”9

If you’re considering this procedure, make sure you understand what it entails, side effects, possible risks, complications, and alternatives. Therefore, an abortion decision should not be made without careful thought and understanding all the details. It’s important to know the potential impact it could have on your body and future health.

Abortion health risks, danger of abortion, and abortion side effects vary by the type of abortion procedure, your specific physical and mental health conditions, and how far along in the pregnancy you are.

Medical Abortion Side Effects

Most women experience some of the following during and/or after a medication abortion.10, 11

  • Abdominal pain
  • Cramping
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Spotting/bleeding

Medical Abortion Complications (Potential)4, 6

These are some possible complications that may occur:

  • Heavy or persistent bleeding that is heavier than a normal menstrual period
  • Infection or sepsis
  • Incomplete Abortion
  • Allergic Reaction
  • Fever

Long-Term Abortion-Related Health Risks

There is literature to support the possibility of these future abortion-related health care risks:

  • Future Pre-term Deliveries 12
  • Mental Health Impacts 13
  • Infertility & Future Childbearing (if complications occur) 12, 14

Get Help

No matter what choice you make, Obria respects you and will be there for you.

Pregnancy Assessment services – might be FREE depending on patient insurance / income, including: FREE medical grade urine pregnancy verification testing verified by a nurse, FREE pregnancy confirmation via Ultrasound, and FREE pregnancy options education. However, no patient is ever turned away due to inability to pay!

SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT – 30 second online form or Call (626) 440-9400

 

Citations

1 Mayo Clinic. (n.d.) Miscarriage. Retrieved August 9, 2022 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/symptoms-causes/syc-20354298

2Kaiser Family Foundation (2022). The Intersection of State and Federal Policies on Access to Medical Abortion Via Telehealth. Retrieved August, 9 2022 from https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/the-intersection-of-state-and-federal-policies-on-access-to-medication-abortion-via-telehealth/

3Choix (n.d). Abortion pills mailed to you. Retrieved July 11, 2022 from Choix website.

4Mayo Clinic. (n.d). Medical Abortion. Retrieved August 5, 2022 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687

5Medline Plus – National Library of Medicine / National Institute of Health. (n.d). Mifepristone. Retrieved August 5, 2022 from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600042.html

6Cleveland Clinic. (2021). Medical Abortion. Retrieved August 5, 2022 from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21899-medical-abortion

7U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2021). Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS). Retrieved July 11, 2022 from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/risk-evaluation-and-mitigation-strategies-rems

8FDA. (2021). Highlights of prescribing medication ELLA. Retrieved August 12, 2022 from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/022474s011lbl.pdf

9American Psychological Association (APA), Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion. (2008 / 2009). Report of the Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved July 11, 2022 from https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/amp-64-9-863.pdf

10U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2016). Mifeprex Medication Guide. U.S. Department of Health. Retrieved July 11, 2022 from https://www.fda.gov/media/72923/download

11U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2015). Misoprostol (Cytotec) Information – FDA Alert. Retrieved July 11, 2022 from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/misoprostol-marketed-cytotec-information

12Mayo Clinic. (n.d.) Could and elective abortion increase the risk of problems in a subsequent pregnancy? Retrieved August 12, 2022 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/expert-answers/abortion/faq-20058551#:~:text=While%20many%20studies%20have%20shown,birth%20and%20low%20birth%20weight

13Zareba et al. (2020) Psychological effects of abortion: An updated narrative. Eastern Journal of Medicine. Retrieved August 10, 2022 from https://jag.journalagent.com/ejm/pdfs/EJM_25_3_477_483.pdf.

14Mayo Clinic. (2021). Incompetent Cervix. Retrieved August 8, 2022 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/incompetent-cervix/symptoms-causes/syc-20373836