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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffPotential risks of medical abortion include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- Infection
- Heavy bleeding
- Damage to the uterus
If you decide to continue the pregnancy after beginning to take the medications used in medical abortion, your baby may be at risk of birth defects.
Medical abortion hasn't been shown to affect future pregnancies unless complications develop.
Medical abortion may not be an option if you:
- Are too far along in the pregnancy — typically seven to nine weeks after the start of your last period
- Have a high risk of uterine rupture or have an intrauterine device (IUD) in place
- Have certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, certain heart or blood vessel diseases, severe liver, kidney or lung disease, or an uncontrolled seizure disorder
- Take a blood thinner or certain steroid medications
- Can't attend follow-up visits with your health care provider or don't have access to emergency care
- Have an allergy to the medications used
- Smoke heavily
Women who want to end a pregnancy but can't have a medical abortion may want to consider surgical abortion instead.
- Fjerstad M, et al. Rates of serious infection after changes in regimens for medical abortion. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;361:145.
- Pregnancy choices: Raising the baby, adoption, and abortion. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp168.cfm. Accessed Aug. 12, 2009.
- Induced abortion. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp043.cfm. Accessed Aug. 12, 2009.
- Clark W, et al. Misoprostol as a single agent for medical termination of pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2009.
- Spitz IM. Mifepristone for the medical termination of pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 12, 2009.
- Kulier R, et al. Medical methods for first trimester abortion. (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2004:CD002855.
- Shulman LP, et al. Overview of pregnancy termination. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 13, 2009.
- Cytotec misoprostol tablets. Pfizer. http://media.pfizer.com/files/products/uspi_cytotec.pdf. Accessed Aug. 17, 2009.
- Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 27, 2009.
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