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Common Name |
Morning-After Pill
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Abortion Pill |
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Your Doctor May Call It |
Emergency Contraception Pills (ECPs)
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Medical Abortion |
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Main Chemicals Used (also known as) |
High doses of estrogen/progestin pills
(oral contraceptives)
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Mifepristone (Mifeprex, RU486) and Misoprostol (prostaglandin) |
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When used |
Within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse |
5-7 weeks into pregnancy (counted from the first day of your last period)
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How it works |
ECPs work in the same way as other hormonal methods of birth control, by suppressing ovulation if it has not yet occurred. If fertilization has occurred, the drugs work by making the uterus inhospitable to the embryo, preventing implantation and causing the embryo to be aborted. The drug also interferes with the natural movement of the ovum.
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This chemical causes an abortion by interfering with the function of the placenta, starving the fetus to death. Prostaglandins, a chemical which causes uterine contractions, are then administered to expel the unborn child. This method of abortion takes place over the span of several days or sometimes weeks. |
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How effective is it |
Your risk of becoming pregnant during your most fertile days (halfway between two menstrual periods) is as high as 30%. Using ECPs decreases your chance of becoming pregnant by about 75%.
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A medical abortion is less effective than a surgical one. Up to 10% of women fail to abort and must have an additional surgical abortion to end the pregnancy or stop the bleeding. |
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What is involved |
Two doses of pills, taken 12 hours apart. |
This type of abortion requires three visits to the clinician, including two visits where pills are given and a follow-up visit two weeks later.
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Health risks & side effects |
Common side effects are nausea and vomiting. Health risks include increased risk of ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, which can be life threatening. |
Common side effects include abdominal pain, bleeding, and gastrointestinal distress. The average woman having this type of abortion bleeds heavily for 9-16 days, but some women bleed for up to 30 days. Because mifepristone is a new method, long term health risks are not yet known.
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