Common Abortion Methods
Learn more about abortion pills and procedures and all your options.
The Abortion Pill
The abortion pill is two different drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, taken in one or two doses. The number of pills ordered can be determined by how far along you are. A medication abortion is FDA-approved up through 10 weeks after a woman's last menstrual period. The abortion pill is not an option for people with certain medical conditions, if the pregnancy is not viable, or if the pregnancy occurs outside of the uterus.
It's important to rule out an ectopic pregnancy or a natural miscarriage and find out how far along you are via ultrasound. Conception calculators can only estimate a potential due date. Contact us for a free limited ultrasound and to learn more about abortion pills and your options.
Note: The abortion pill goes by many names including missed period pills, at-home abortion, self-managed abortion, 10-week-after pills, medication, medical, or chemical abortion. It is not the same as emergency contraceptives. The FDA issued a warning about abortion by mail and new safety regulations. Your health and safety come first here. Contact us to learn more.
Dangers of the Abotion Pill
Easy access to abortion drugs and a lack of medical oversight comes with increased risks. Not every woman is a viable candidate for mifepristone abortion due to contraindications, which are medical conditions that make a particular medication or procedure unsafe for a patient. Despite the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ advocacy for mail-order abortion, its 2020 practice bulletin on drug-induced abortion (which was reaffirmed in 2023) acknowledges: “Medication abortion is not recommended for patients with any of the following: confirmed or suspected ectopic pregnancy, intrauterine device (IUD) in place (the IUD can be removed before medication abortion), current long-term systemic corticosteroid therapy, chronic adrenal failure, known coagulopathy or anticoagulant therapy, inherited porphyria, or intolerance or allergy to mifepristone or misoprostol.”
The published rates of specific complications vary depending on the study type, data sources, and details of the abortion drug regimen. What is clear is that there can be significant risks for some women associated with abortion drugs. Some studies that looked at a wide variety of complications and outcomes have found the complication rate for drug-induced abortion to be two to four times that of surgical abortion
Many women are unprepared for the amount of bleeding and pain they experience, and some women bleed more than they expect. An analysis of women’s experiences with abortion in the first trimester found that, of women who underwent drug-induced abortions, 35% suffered more pain than they expected, and 37% experienced more bleeding than they anticipated. Another study found that nearly half of women undergoing drug-induced abortions experienced more pain than expected, with over 41% reporting severe pain.
Incomplete abortion is one of the most common complications associated with drug-induced abortion, though reported rates vary by study. Some studies exclude incomplete abortion from their definitions of “complication,” focusing on more severe adverse events, but rarely, sepsis, shock, and hemorrhage may result if left untreated. The Patient Agreement Form required by the FDA states that abortion drugs do not work in 2% to 7% of cases and may result in the need for a surgical procedure
From: Charlotte Lozier Institute - Primer: Risks and Complications of Drug-Induced (The Abortion Pill) Abortion, April 2026
Aspiration Abortion
Aspiration abortion procedures can be performed up to 13 weeks after a woman's last menstrual period (LMP). It is the most common early surgical abortion method and it is an outpatient procedure. Aspiration abortion is sometimes performed in the event of a medication abortion failure.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
A D&E abortion is typically performed 13 weeks or more after a woman's last known period (LMP). It is the most common second-trimester surgical abortion method. Local anesthesia or sedation is commonly utilized. If you think you may be in your second trimester and are looking for options, contact us for a no-cost consultation. While we do not refer for or provide abortion services, we can give you the answers you need to make an informed choice. Call us today to get started.