The abortion pill and the morning-after pill are sometimes confused, but they are not the same. The morning-after pill is intended to reduce the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex. The abortion pill involves drugs that end a pregnancy that has already begun.
A home pregnancy test may be where you begin, but it can leave you interpreting the result and deciding what comes next on your own. At Reach Out Pregnancy Center, you can receive no-cost pregnancy testing, review your result with a client advocate, and learn whether a limited ultrasound may be appropriate. Your appointment is completely confidential.
What Does the Morning-After Pill Do?
The morning-after pill is a form of emergency contraception. Plan B One-Step and similar products contain levonorgestrel, a synthetic hormone that delays or prevents ovulation. When taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure, it can reduce the chance of pregnancy.
In December 2022, the FDA updated the Plan B label to reflect its review of the available scientific evidence. The agency concluded that Plan B works before ovulation and that the evidence does not support a direct effect on fertilization or implantation.
If pregnancy has already been established, Plan B will not end or affect the pregnancy.
Plan B is available over the counter without a prescription. Possible side effects include nausea, headache, fatigue, dizziness, breast tenderness, and changes in menstrual bleeding.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
The abortion pill is a medical abortion involving two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol.
The process typically begins with mifepristone, which interferes with progesterone and prevents the pregnancy from continuing to develop. Misoprostol is generally taken 24 to 48 hours later to trigger uterine contractions. This leads to abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding as the pregnancy is expelled from the uterus.
Although bleeding and cramping are part of the process, not every symptom should be assumed to be normal. Heavy or prolonged bleeding, infection, an incomplete abortion, and an ongoing pregnancy are possible complications that may require further medical treatment. Additionally, these drugs cannot be used for an ectopic pregnancy, which develops outside the uterus and requires prompt medical care.
Why Pregnancy Testing May Be Necessary
If you took the morning-after pill and your period is more than a week late, consider taking a pregnancy test. Menstrual changes can occur after taking emergency contraception, but a late period may also indicate pregnancy.
A positive pregnancy test shows the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG. It does not tell you how far along you are, where the pregnancy is, or if the pregnancy is developing. A limited ultrasound can give you this information, including whether there is a heartbeat.
Following a positive result, a limited ultrasound may provide more information about the pregnancy. Some restrictions may apply.
Find Out Where Things Stand
Reach Out Pregnancy Center offers no-cost urine pregnancy testing in a private setting. Our team can review your result with you and discuss whether a limited ultrasound may be appropriate.
Contact us today to schedule a no-cost, confidential appointment. You may also call or text 513-367-7710.
Reach Out Pregnancy Center does not provide or refer for abortions.