Telehealth Abortion Pills: What are the Risks?

Thanks to technology, connecting with healthcare providers has never been easier. Getting treatments for certain conditions and even getting medications-including abortion pills (mifepristone and misoprostol)- can now often be done through Telehealth. But is there a potential danger to telehealth abortion pills? 

Telehealth, online, and even in office abortion pill distribution often is described as “safer than Tylenol”, “A safe space from the comfort and convenience of your home”, “accessible and high-quality”, and more. But as this article describes, there may be more potential dangers to getting medication abortion both in clinic and via online methods.

What should I know if I am considering abortion pills?

The abortion pills work with two medications: Mifepristone and Misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks and stops the hormone progesterone from supporting pregnancy, which caused the uterine lining to break down and bleed. Misoprostol works to soften the cervix and caused uterine contractions to empty the uterus, causing the pregnancy to end.

Though presented as a convenient, safe and private at-home option, women are often not prepared for the painful process of abortion, how much bleeding to expect, the process of abortion, and the emotional toll it can take. According to a study of women who choose medical abortion up to 10 weeks gestation, many felt unprepared for the level of pain they experienced and the lack of detailed and realistic pain information they were given. 

The limited information provided by many providers who distribute abortion pills may contribute also to the number of emergency room visits made after taking mifepristone and/or misoprostol. 10.93% of women experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or other serious adverse effects within 45 days following a mifepristone abortion. While not every ER visit indicated a serious complication from abortion pills, using data and reasoning, the rate of significant adverse events still appears to be much higher than the FDA reports. 

Some advice given to women encourages them to withhold the truth from doctors about the cause of their abortion-related pain, bleeding, or other complications when they visit the ER or providers office. The increase in miscoding patients as having a miscarriage when they have taken abortion pills or had a surgical abortion has worsened symptoms in women, and put barriers in place to them not receiving the care they need.

When taking misoprostol, it affects women’s immune systems-making it harder to fight off bacterial infections. This is one example of how if a health care provider is unawayre a women took the abortion medications and thinks she is undergoing a miscarriage-she may not receive the proper testing and possible medication she needs to fight off a possible infection.

So what can I do?

Taking abortion pills, specifically via telehealth and ordering online comes with an increased risk. It may mean that very little medical oversight of the abortion and your care are possible. You deserve more than an online order or a video call. Time to get all the information you need to be prepared, make informed decisions and know your health risks. At Anchor of Hope, you can receive time to talk to licensed medical professionals about all your options at no cost to you.

While Telehealth and online orders may seem safe, quick and convenient-your health and your safety are vital.