- Heavy bleeding that fills more than 2 regular pads per hour for 2 hours or more in a row. If this is happening, take 4 extra misoprostol pills (200mcg each) under the tongue.
- Fever of 38°C (100.4°F) lasting more than 24 hours after taking the pills.
- Foul (rotten) smelling vaginal discharge.
- Severe, persistent, or increasing pain in the lower belly that does not get better with painkillers and does not go away after the abortion.
- Prolonged bleeding that does not decrease in the weeks after the abortion.
If you need to visit a health worker for any reason, it is not necessary to tell them that you used abortion pills. You can say that you think you had a miscarriage. The health worker cannot see the difference, and the treatment is the same. There are no tests that can show you have used abortion pills.
In case you used the pills vaginally, you should be aware that pill remains may be found in the vagina up to 4 days after insertion. Before seeking medical care, we recommend gently removing them with your finger after washing your hands.
Sources
- World Health Organization. 2023. Clinical Practice Handbook for Quality Abortion Care. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240075207
- Kapp, Nathalie, and Patricia A. Lohr. 2020. ‘Modern Methods to Induce Abortion: Safety, Efficacy and Choice’. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology 63:37–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2019.11.008
- erguson, Ian, and Heather Scott. 2020. ‘Systematic Review of the Effectiveness, Safety, and Acceptability of Mifepristone and Misoprostol for Medical Abortion in Low- and Middle-Income Countries’. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada 42 (12): 1532-1542.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JOGC.2020.04.006
