Frequently Asked Question about Abortion Pills
Whether you are a person in need of an abortion, a journalist or just curious about our service, here are some frequently asked questions.
Everything you need to know about how to use abortion pills
Every question has a simple answer and a more in-depth answer which refers to scientific articles. The information given here is regularly updated with the latest scientific research.
We’re working on refreshing our FAQS: Thank you for your patience as we make these improvements.
General information about the Abortion Service
Pregnancy
What are the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels during pregnancy?
What will happen if you do an abortion with pills after the first 12 weeks?
What if you are not pregnant but take the medicines anyway?
How many weeks into your pregnancy can you do an abortion with pills?
How do you know if and how long have you been pregnant?
What if you have a RH- bloodtype?
Precautions
Why should you be within 60 minutes of a hospital or first aid center when you do the abortion?
What is a contraindication, and how do you know if you have one?
Why shouldn’t you be alone when you do an abortion with pills, and what if no one is available to be with you?
What painkillers can you use?
What is an IUD?
What is an ectopic pregnancy and how do you know if you have one?
When should you not use the medicines?
Medical abortion
How to do end a pregnancy with misoprostol alone?
What happens if you do not use Misoprostol in time after mifepristone?
Are there other ways to use Misoprostol?
How to end a pregnancy with Mifepristone and Misoprostol pills?
What if you take the Mifepristone and then decide not to take the Misoprostol?
Can you use Mifepristone and/or Misoprostol if you are still breastfeeding?
Why do you only need 4 tablets of Misoprostol after taking Mifepristone?
Is it safe to have an abortion with pills if you've already had one in the past?
Can you eat or drink while taking the medicines?
The abortion process
What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to the medication?
After taking Mifepristone: When bleeding will start and how long it will last
What is a successful abortion and how do you know if you’ve had one?
What if you don’t bleed after taking Misoprostol?
What are the side effects of the medicines?
Can you see the “products” of the abortion (placenta, embryo, blood) and what should you do?
Complications of medical abortion
How do you know if you have a continuing pregnancy?
What are the chances that the fetus will be malformed if you have an ongoing pregnancy?
What is a curettage/vacuum aspiration and is it necessary after an abortion with pills?
How do you know if you have an incomplete abortion?
How do you know if you have a post-abortion infection?
How do you know if you have complications and what should you do?
Abortion After-Care
Do you require psychological counselling before or after you have had an abortion?
How can you prevent a future unwanted pregnancy?
When can you get pregnant again after having an abortion with pills?
Do you need to have an ultrasound after doing an abortion with pills?
Will you be able to get pregnant and have children after an abortion with pills?
When can you start having sexual relations again after having an abortion with pills?
Does medical abortion increase the risk of breast cancer?
Reproductive Health for Trans* People
General Sexual & Reproductive Health Advice for Trans* People
Additional Resources
How can you prevent infertility if you are trans* and opting for medical transition?
How can you prevent an unwanted pregnancy if you are trans*?
Can you do an abortion with pills when taking masculinizing hormones?
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