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Thinking About a DIY Abortion? Read This First. - Alcove Health Women's Clinic Newport News, VA

Thinking About a DIY Abortion? Read This First

Before using abortion pills at home, learn the serious risks of DIY abortions and why an ultrasound could protect your life.

A positive pregnancy test for an unwanted pregnancy can prompt women to seek private solutions, including DIY abortions. This raises an important question: are DIY abortions safe?

What is a DIY abortion?

A DIY abortion is a self-managed termination of pregnancy without going through the formal medical system.

This can look like:

  • Medication abortion (mifepristone and misoprostol)
  • Herbs
  • Chemicals
  • Inserting foreign object(s) vaginally

Is a DIY abortion safe?

Short answer: No, a DIY abortion is not safe.

Because you are going outside the realm of medical care without an exam and ultrasound being performed, an at-home abortion is not considered safe.

What makes a DIY abortion dangerous?

  1. With ordering abortion pills online, there is a risk of receiving abortion pills that are: the incorrect dosage, placebo (“fake”), expired, or contaminated; there’s also the risk of receiving the wrong medication.
  2. A concoction of multiple medications may not only end the pregnancy but could harm you.
  3. Medication can vary in effectiveness from person to person. You may be more at risk for bleeding or infection or metabolize a drug differently from the average person. For example, Plan B has been proven to be less efficient for certain women with a higher BMI.
  4. No ultrasound means no way to rule out ectopic pregnancy and, according to the FDA, the abortion pill is not to be used on an ectopic pregnancy.
  5. Having an abortion at home comes with the risk of not being treated on site if complications arise. A study in 2025 estimated that up to 10% of women experience complications from chemical abortions.
  6. Inserting anything foreign into the vagina can cause serious complications, including puncture of cervix, severe bleeding or infection, damage needing emergency surgery, incomplete abortion, infertility, or even death.
  7. Without a medical exam with ultrasound, there is no confirmation of gestational age. The abortion pill is only FDA approved through ten weeks gestation and, per ACOG, as many as half of women inaccurately recall their LMP and up to 40% of gestational dates are changed after a first trimester ultrasound.

What are conditions I might have that would not make me a good candidate for an “at home” abortion?

The FDA states you should not take the abortion pill if you:

  1. have an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside of the uterus)
  2. have problems with the adrenal glands (the glands near the kidneys)
  3. are currently being treated with long-term corticosteroid therapy
  4. have had an allergic reaction to mifepristone, misoprostol or similar drugs
  5. have bleeding problems/disorders or are taking anticoagulant (blood thinning) drug products
  6. have inherited porphyria (a rare disorder that can affect the liver and other organs)
  7. have an intrauterine device (IUD) in place (it must be removed before taking mifepristone)

Additionally, you should be evaluated by your provider before taking the abortion pill if you have certain conditions, like uncontrolled asthma or inflammatory bowel disease. You should not take the abortion pill if you do not have access to a health provider or an emergency department of a local hospital.

🧠 Key Point: Ending a pregnancy without appropriate medical guidance or evaluation can involve serious health risks.

For information regarding drug interactions and other concerning medical conditions that may affect your use of the abortion pill, please read here.

What do I do if I’ve already tried a DIY abortion?

Know the signs of an emergency. Because abortion pills via mail don’t typically offer follow-ups, it’s important to know the signs of an incomplete abortion, which can result in severe infection.

Cleveland Clinic advises you to contact your healthcare provider if:

  • You bleed through two or more pads an hour for 2 hours
  • You have signs of infection (a fever that lasts more than 24 hours and/or foul-smelling vaginal discharge)
  • You have severe abdominal pain or back pain

Additionally, the pharmaceutical distributor of the abortion pill advises:

“If you have abdominal pain or discomfort, or you are “feeling sick,” including weakness, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, with or without fever, more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol, you should contact your healthcare provider without delay.”

The distributor of the abortion pill also notes that:

“In the days after treatment, if you have a fever of 100.4°F or higher that lasts for more than 4 hours, you should contact your healthcare provider right away. Fever may be a symptom of a serious infection or another problem.”

If you are experiencing these symptoms and you cannot reach your abortion provider, go to the closest hospital emergency department.

If you go to the emergency department for any of these symptoms from a DIY abortion, be honest with your doctor about the abortion so they can diagnose and treat you faster and effectively.

If you’ve taken the first pill in abortion pill regimen, and now you’re not sure you want to abort the pregnancy, please click here for abortion pill reversal information.

What’s the next step if I want an abortion?

📞Call us! Alcove Health Women’s Clinic offers FREE, confidential medical appointments for women who are considering abortion.

During your appointment, you will:

  • Take a lab-grade pregnancy test and receive confirmation of pregnancy
  • Talk with a trained client advocate; she’ll help you discuss your three legal options here in Virginia.
  • See a registered nurse to go over any medical questions you have regarding your health history and abortion options.
  • Be evaluated for a same-day ultrasound to assess viability, confirm the location of the pregnancy, and determine gestational age. Ultrasounds are performed right here in our clinic by one of our registered nurses.
  • Have access to limited STI testing.
Request a Free & Confidential Appointment

Candra, Alcove Health Staff

January 18, 2026

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