What is an abortion with pills and how do they work?
What is an abortion with pills and how do they work?
Abortion with pills is also commonly known as medical abortion, and it is a private and safe way to end an early pregnancy using just two medicines: mifepristone and misoprostol.
Here’s how they work:
- Step 1: Mifepristone
This pill works to stop the production of the progesterone hormone, which keeps the pregnancy going. Without it, the uterine lining breaks down, and the pregnancy ends.
- Step 2: Misoprostol (taken after 24-48 hours)
This medicine triggers uterine contractions, which cause bleeding and cramping when emptying the uterus, similar to a period or early miscarriage.
Most people complete the process at home in a few days. Symptoms such as bleeding, cramps, nausea, and exhaustion are normal. According to global health agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the pills are more than 95% effective when used within the first 10-12 weeks of pregnancy, and research in journals like BMJ Global Health and The Lancet supports this.
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