How soon can you take the abortion pill?

If you’re wondering how soon can you take the abortion pill, the second thing you need to know before having an abortion is how far you are in your pregnancy. We measure this by weeks. If you have not had an ultrasound, this is calculated by your LMP (last menstrual period). It is not at all uncommon for women to have no idea when they had their last period. Even for women who track their LMP, it’s not unusual for the ultrasound to show something much different than expected; this is why an ultrasound is so important.

In the first trimester, up to 14 weeks, measurements are taken of the baby to determine how far you are. These are called crown to rump lengths, which is from head to bottom. These measurements give us the estimated gestational age (EGA) and the estimated due date (EDD) of the pregnancy. So, if you have an ultrasound and you are told you are 6.0 weeks, that is your estimated gestational age (EGA). This is very important information if you want to use the abortion pills.

The FDA has only approved the use of the pills up to 10 weeks after your LMP. The effectiveness of the abortion pills goes down the closer you get to 10 weeks, which means they are even less effective after 10 weeks. If the abortion pills do not work, the abortion provider will either give you more pills or schedule you for a surgical abortion.

That doesn’t mean you should hurry and take the pill. That means you should hurry and get an abortion consultation and ultrasound at Alcove Health Women’s Clinic, so you can find out if the abortion pill is even an option for you.

The third thing you need to know is if there is cardiac activity.  Is there a heartbeat? According to the Mayo Clinic, “10-20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage”.  It goes on to say that the number is likely much higher because miscarriages often happen before the woman knows about the pregnancy.  

If there is no heartbeat there is no reason to have an abortion and pay for something you do not need. If you are experiencing a miscarriage, that typically requires medical intervention which is covered by most medical insurance; abortion is an elective procedure and is not covered by most medical insurance providers.

If you want to know how soon can you take the abortion pill, the quick, dangerous, and possibly more expensive answer is as soon as you find out you are pregnant. However, if you just read all of the information above, you now know that is not the safe answer.

Don’t let women’s health care go backward; be informed. Make your pregnancy decision knowing you have all of the necessary pieces of information. Here at Alcove Health, we provide free pregnancy tests and free ultrasounds so that you don’t have to go backward.  Your health matters.

You can get the necessary information with no financial investment, in a safe, judgement-free, confidential appointment. And we can help with that. Call or click here to schedule your free and confidential appointment with Alcove Health today.