Taking the abortion pill under medical supervision comes with health risks to consider. However, ordering online introduces additional potential dangers that didn’t exist before.
Here are four risks of ordering the abortion pill online.
1. Receiving the Wrong Medication
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates pharmacies and prescription drugs within the U.S. drug supply chain.
When a drug is ordered online through an overseas or unregulated pharmacy, there’s no way for the FDA to guarantee its quality, dosage, or effectiveness. Therefore, you can’t be sure what drug you’re taking or if it meets the FDA’s standards.
Ordering drugs online comes with greater risks to your safety as you can’t trust they will work as intended or if they contain something other than what you ordered.
2. Taking the Abortion Pill Too Late
Without an ultrasound, you can’t verify your pregnancy’s gestational age or how long you have been pregnant. The FDA has only approved the abortion pill for use in the first ten weeks of pregnancy. After that, another abortion method might be deemed safer for your situation.
3. Failing to Detect an Ectopic Pregnancy
Additionally, without an ultrasound before the abortion pill, you will not know if you have an ectopic pregnancy. While only an estimated 1 in 50 pregnancies are ectopic, if you fall into the 2% category, you certainly do not want to miss early detection.
An ectopic pregnancy happens when an embryo implants outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. This type of pregnancy can be life-threatening if left untreated.
4. Lacking Medical Supervision
When taking the abortion pill, having a physician or medical professional to call in case of complications is vital to your health and safety.
If you are receiving drugs online without proper oversight, you might have to visit an emergency room if issues arise. This can be expensive—especially if you do not have health insurance.
How We Can Help
Navigating unplanned pregnancy can be a nerve-racking experience, but we can help.
At The Open Door, we offer various free and confidential pregnancy services to ensure you feel cared for and supported, including pregnancy testing, STD/STI testing, ultrasounds, and more. Schedule a free appointment today!