Frequently Asked Questions 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
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What are the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels during pregnancy?
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What will happen if you do an abortion with pills after the first 12 weeks?
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What if you are not pregnant but take the medicines anyway?
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How many weeks into your pregnancy can you do an abortion with pills?
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How do you know if and how long have you been pregnant?
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What if you have a RH- bloodtype?
Precautions
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Why should you be within 60 minutes of a hospital or first aid center when you do the abortion?
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What is a contraindication, and how do you know if you have one?
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Why shouldn’t you be alone when you do an abortion with pills, and what if no one is available to be with you?
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What painkillers can you use?
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What is an IUD?
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What is an ectopic pregnancy and how do you know if you have one?
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When should you not use the medicines?
Medical abortion
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How to end a pregnancy with misoprostol alone?
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What happens if you do not use Misoprostol in time after mifepristone?
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Are there other ways to use Misoprostol?
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How to end a pregnancy with Mifepristone and Misoprostol pills?
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What if you take the Mifepristone and then decide not to take the Misoprostol?
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Can you use Mifepristone and/or Misoprostol if you are still breastfeeding?
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Why do you only need 4 tablets of Misoprostol after taking Mifepristone?
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Is it safe to have an abortion with pills if you've already had one in the past?
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Can you eat or drink while taking the medicines?
The abortion process
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What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction to the medication?
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After taking Mifepristone: When bleeding will start and how long it will last
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What is a successful abortion and how do you know if you’ve had one?
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What if you don’t bleed after taking Misoprostol?
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What are the side effects of the medicines?
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Can you see the “products” of the abortion (placenta, embryo, blood) and what should you do?
Complications of medical abortion
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How do you know if you have a continuing pregnancy?
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What are the chances that the fetus will be malformed if you have an ongoing pregnancy?
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What is a curettage/vacuum aspiration and is it necessary after an abortion with pills?
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How do you know if you have an incomplete abortion?
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How do you know if you have a post-abortion infection?
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How do you know if you have complications and what should you do?
Abortion After-Care
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Do you require psychological counselling before or after you have had an abortion?
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How can you prevent a future unwanted pregnancy?
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When can you get pregnant again after having an abortion with pills?
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Do you need to have an ultrasound after doing an abortion with pills?
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Will you be able to get pregnant and have children after an abortion with pills?
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When can you start having sexual relations again after having an abortion with pills?
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Does medical abortion increase the risk of breast cancer?
Reproductive Health for Trans* People
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General Sexual & Reproductive Health Advice for Trans* People
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Additional Resources
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How can you prevent infertility if you are trans* and opting for medical transition?
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How can you prevent an unwanted pregnancy if you are trans*?
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Can you do an abortion with pills when taking masculinizing hormones?
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