Abortion Pill

Considering the Abortion Pill in City, State? Get the Facts First.

When facing an unplanned pregnancy, it’s crucial to have accurate education about all your options. If you are considering the abortion pill, it is important to know how it works. You should also understand its risks and what to expect. This knowledge can help you make the best decision for your future.

Woman drinking tea or coffee considering the abortion pill
A Ohio woman searching on her laptop "How Does the Abortion Pill Work?"

How Does the Abortion Pill Work?

The abortion pill consists of two different medications: mifepristone and misoprostol. This two-drug regimen works by breaking down the embryo’s connection to the uterus and causing the uterus to expel the developing embryo.

First Medication: Mifepristone

Mifepristone is taken first, usually in an abortion clinic. This medication blocks the hormone progesterone to the embryo.[1]

Progesterone is essential to keep the pregnancy going. It prepares and maintains the uterine lining that supports the developing embryo. Without a steady supply of progesterone, the embryo/fetus stops growing and eventually dies.[1]

Second Medication: Misoprostol 

Misoprostol is taken 24-48 hours after mifepristone, often at home. This medication causes the uterus to contract, expelling the fetus and pregnancy tissue, ending the pregnancy.[1]

What to Expect When You Take the Abortion Pill

Here’s a typical timeline for the abortion pill:

  1. Mifepristone is taken first, followed by misoprostol 24–48 hours later.
  2. Cramping and bleeding start within 2-24 hours of taking misoprostol.[2] For most women, this process finishes within a day, but it can take longer for some. Everybody is different, so the exact timing varies.[3]
  3. Heavy bleeding may last a few hours, with lighter bleeding or spotting for 9–16 days. In some cases, spotting can continue for up to a month.[2]

When to Seek Emergency Care

Contact emergency medical services immediately if you experience[4]:

  • Heavy bleeding
  • Ongoing sickness: Severe stomach pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for longer than 24 hours after taking misoprostol may indicate an infection or other complications
  • Persistent fever

These signs could mean complications like infection or incomplete abortion, which need immediate medical treatment.

Woman sitting in a room wondering what to expect if she takes the abortion pill
A woman in Ohio wondering "How Late Can You Take the Abortion Pill?"

How Late Can You Take the Abortion Pill?

The abortion pill is only FDA-approved for pregnancies up to 10 weeks gestation (or 70 days or less since the first day of your last menstrual period).[1]

If you take the abortion pill later in your pregnancy, the risk of serious complications increases significantly. This is why determining accurate gestational age and viability through ultrasound is so important before considering any abortion procedure.

How Effective is the Abortion Pill?

The abortion pill results in complete abortion in about 93% of pregnancies up to 10 weeks from the last menstrual period.[5] However, this means that it can fail in about 7% of pregnancies up to 10 weeks. 

Women may need additional treatment, which may include surgical intervention.

Woman thinking about the abortion pill effectiveness

Abortion Pill Risks and Side Effects

Common Side Effects

Most women experience some side effects after taking the abortion pill, including[2]:

  • Bleeding that can last up to a month
  • Headaches
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea and digestive pain
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Abdominal cramping

Serious Complications

While rare, serious complications can occur and may include:

  • Severe allergic reaction to the medication[6]
  • Hemorrhaging (excessive bleeding)[5]
  • Incomplete abortion (remaining pregnancy tissue)[4]
  • Infection[2]

Understanding these risks and having access to emergency medical care if complications arise is important.

Emotional & Psychological Risks

  • There is little information about how abortion affects women or the impact of seeing identifiable fetal parts expelled from your body
  • However, available research confirms an increased risk of clinical depression, substance abuse, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and behavior[7][8]

Long-Term Health Considerations

  • Carrying a first pregnancy to term before the age of 30 gives a measure of protection against future breast cancers[9]
  • Delivering before 32 weeks gestation is associated with an increased risk of future breast cancer, this includes induced abortion[10]

Impact on Future Pregnancies[11][12][13][14][15]:

  • Research indicates increased risk of preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies
  • Studies show potential link to low birth weight in future babies
  • Risk may be higher with multiple abortions
  • Discuss personal risk factors with healthcare provider

Can I Get Abortion Pills Over the Counter?

No, you cannot get abortion pills over the counter at any pharmacy or retail location. A provider or physician certified to prescribe abortion pills must give a prescription. This requirement exists because medical abortion requires proper medical supervision and follow-up care.[16]

The FDA allows some pharmacies to dispense the abortion pill. This is only with a prescription from a certified provider.[16] The prescription requirement ensures that:

  • Your pregnancy is confirmed and properly dated
  • You don’t have medical conditions that make the abortion pill unsafe for you to take
  • You receive proper instructions for taking the medications
  • Follow-up care is available to ensure the procedure is complete
A woman wondering "In Ohio, Can I Get Abortion Pills Over the Counter?"
A woman thinking to herself "Can I Order the Abortion Pill Online?"

Can I Order the Abortion Pill Online?

The FDA strongly advises against ordering abortion pills online from uncertified sources.[17] Many online abortion pill providers operate overseas, so the pills they offer may not meet FDA safety standards.

Risks of Online Abortion Pills

Online abortion pills from uncertified sources could be:

  • Counterfeit medications with unknown ingredients
  • Expired or improperly stored 
  • Tampered with
  • Incorrect dosages 
  • Completely fake with no active ingredients

These risks can lead to serious health complications, including incomplete abortion, undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy (which can be life-threatening), severe bleeding, infection, or continued pregnancy. 

Is the Abortion Pill Legal in My State?

Currently, abortion is legal up until viability in Ohio, up to about 21 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. However, exceptions can be made after viability if a healthcare professional deems it necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman.[18]

Viability refers to the point in pregnancy when a fetus is developed enough to survive outside the womb with medical help. This is determined on a case-by-case basis.[18]

We recommend receiving an ultrasound before taking the abortion pill. Keep reading to learn why.

A woman wondering "Is Abortion Legal in Ohio?"

Sources

  1. FDA. (2025, February 11). Questions and Answers on Mifeprex. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifeprex
  2. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2024, November 15). Mifepristone (Mifeprex). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600042.html
  3. Mayo Clinic. (2025, February 1). Mifepristone (oral route). https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/mifepristone-oral-route/description/drg-20067123
  4. Mayo Clinic. (2022, July 29). Medical Abortion. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
  5. Food & Drug Administration. (2016, March). Mifiprex Clinical Studies. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/020687s020lbl.pdf 
  6. Shin, Hyun Joo, et al. “Anaphylactic Shock to Vaginal Misoprostol: A Rare Adverse Reaction to a Frequently Used Drug.” PubMed Central (PMC), 9 Aug. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6137020
  7. Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Ridder, E. M. (2005, September 22). Abortion in young women and subsequent mental health. Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01538.x
  8. Coleman, PK. Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2011;199(3):180-186. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21881096/ 
  9. Evans, D., Harkness, E., Howel, S., Woodward, E., Howell, A., & Lalloo, F. (2017, November 7). Young age at first pregnancy does protect against early onset breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5807493/  
  10. Razavi, M., Sepidarkish, M., Maleki-Hajiagha, A., Vesali, S., Almasi-Hashiani, A., Najdi, N., & Esmailzadeh, A. (2023, January 1). Preterm Birth and Breast Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention: APJCP. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10152877/ 
  11. American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. (2019). Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/pelvic-inflammatory-disease 
  12. Swingle, H. M., Colaizy, T. T., Zimmerman, M. B., Morriss, F. H. (2009). Abortion and the risk of subsequent preterm birth: A systematic review with meta-analyses. The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 54(2), 95–108. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19301572/  
  13. Shah, P. S., Zao, J. (2009). Induced termination of pregnancy and low birthweight and preterm birth: A systematic review and meta-analyses. British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 116(11), 1425–42. doi: 10.1111/j.1471- 0528.2009.02278.x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19769749/ 
  14. Moreau, C., Kaminski, M., Ancel, P.Y., Bouyer, J., et al (2005). Previous induced abortions and the risk of very preterm delivery: Results of the EPIPAGE study. Br J Obstet Gynaecol,5,112(4):430–37. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15777440/  
  15. Ancel, P.Y., Lelong, N., Papiernik, E., Saurel-Cubizolles, M.J., Kaminski, M (2004). History of induced abortion as a risk factor for preterm birth in European countries: Results. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14998979/  
  16. FDA. (2019, July). Prescribing Information for Mifeprex. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/022348s014lbl.pdf
  17. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. (2025, January 17). Mifeprex (Mifepristone). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/mifeprex-mifepristone-information
  18. Ohio Secretary of State. (2023, December 7). Article I, Section 22 — Ohio Constitution: The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety. Ohio Laws & Administrative Code. https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-constitution/section-1.22
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