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What to Expect When You Take the Abortion Pill

Facing an unplanned pregnancy can feel like a lot to handle. You might be considering the abortion pill as an option, but it’s important to know what’s involved. This medical process has risks and side effects you should understand before deciding.

This guide explains how the abortion pill works, what to expect during and after, and when to call a doctor. Knowing the facts helps you make a choice that’s right for you. Keep reading to learn more.

How Does the Abortion Pill Work?

The abortion pill, also called medication abortion, involves two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. Here’s how they work[1]:

  • Mifepristone: Taken first, this drug blocks progesterone, a hormone needed to keep a pregnancy going. Without it, the pregnancy cannot continue.
  • Misoprostol: Taken 24–48 hours later, this drug causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue.

The FDA approves the abortion pill for pregnancies up to 10 weeks (about 70 days from your last period).[1] Florida law typically allows abortions up to 6 weeks LMP.[2]

Do I Need an Ultrasound Before Taking the Abortion Pill?

Yes. Before taking the abortion pill, you must receive an ultrasound to check how far along you are and to rule out issues like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy (when the embryo is outside the uterus)—neither of which are treated by abortion.

Florida law also requires you to receive an ultrasound first. The provider must offer the woman an opportunity to view the ultrasound images and hear an explanation of them. However, the woman can refuse to view the images.

Additionally, there is a mandatory 24-hour waiting period, which requires two separate in-person visits to the clinic. 

How Long Does the Abortion Pill Take to Work?

Here’s a typical timeline for the abortion pill:

  1. You take mifepristone, usually at a clinic or doctor’s office. You take misoprostol at home, 24–48 hours after mifepristone.[1]
  2. Cramping and bleeding start within 2-24 hours of taking misoprostol.[3] For most women, this process finishes within a day, but it can take longer for some. Everybody is different, so the exact timing varies.[4]

How Much Bleeding Is Normal After an Abortion?

The further along in the pregnancy, the heavier the bleeding might be. Here’s what to expect:

  • When it starts: Bleeding usually begins 2–6 hours after taking misoprostol.[3]
  • How long it lasts: Heavy bleeding may last a few hours, with lighter bleeding or spotting for 9–16 days. In some cases, spotting can continue for up to a month.[3]
  • When to call a doctor: If you’re soaking through two full-size pads per hour for two hours or more, call your doctor right away. This could signal a problem like hemorrhaging.

The abortion pill generally causes heavier bleeding than a surgical abortion.[5] While some bleeding is expected, excessive amounts signal a need for medical attention.

Abortion Pill Side Effects

Like any medical procedure, the abortion pill has side effects. Common side effects include[3]:

  • Cramping
  • Bleeding or spotting, which can last up to a month
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea 
  • Headaches
  • Chills or low fever

Serious risks of the abortion pill include:

  • Allergic reaction: If you’re allergic to misoprostol ingredients, you could experience anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening condition.[6]
  • Hemorrhaging: Soaking two full-size sanitary pads per hour for two or more hours indicates excessive bleeding requiring urgent care.[7]
  • Incomplete abortion: If pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus, emergency surgery might be necessary to prevent infection.[8]
  • Infection: Persistent nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever lasting over 24 hours after misoprostol could signal an infection needing antibiotics or surgery.[3]

When to Call Your Doctor

Pay attention to your body during and after the process. Call your doctor immediately if you notice[7]:

  • Heavy bleeding: Soaking through two pads hourly for two hours or more.
  • Persistent sickness: Severe abdominal pain, weakness, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (with or without fever) lasting over 24 hours after taking misoprostol, potentially indicating infection or ectopic pregnancy.
  • Fever: A temperature of 100.4°F or higher for more than 4 hours after taking misoprostol.

These signs could mean complications like infection or incomplete abortion, which need immediate medical treatment.

Can the Abortion Pill be Reversed?

If you decide that you want to continue your pregnancy after taking mifepristone (the first abortion pill), abortion pill reversal may be right for you.

Abortion pill reversal aims to counteract the effects of mifepristone. Treatment involves prescribing natural progesterone supplements to restore hormone levels, potentially allowing the pregnancy to continue. Natural progesterone competes with mifepristone for receptor sites. This helps the embryo stay attached to the uterus and continue to grow.[9] 

After you start the treatment, your healthcare professional will schedule an ultrasound to see if the pregnancy is progressing. You will continue to take the progesterone until you start prenatal care.

For 24/7 support, contact the Abortion Pill Reversal Network’s helpline at (877) 558-0333 or email [email protected]. 

Make an Appointment

Considering the Abortion Pill in Vero Beach, Florida? Contact Care Net Pregnancy Center of IRC.

An unplanned pregnancy can stir up fear, but you don’t have to let it control your decisions. At Care Net Pregnancy Center of IRC, we’re here to provide answers and resources for an informed, confident choice. 

Call us at (772) 569-7939 or book an appointment online today. 

Contact Us

Please be aware that Care Net Pregnancy Center of IRC does not provide or refer for abortion services.

Sources

  1. FDA. (2025, February 11). Questions and Answers on Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation?sm_guid=NTU1NzgyfDYzMDE1OTM2fC0xfGppbUBha2ZhbWlseS5vcmd8NTY4OTI4MXx8MHwwfDE5OTYwMDk4OHwxMDg2fDB8MHx8NTQ3NzI2fDA1
  2. The Florida Senate. (2023, April 14). SB 300: Pregnancy and Parenting Support. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/300  
  3. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2024, November 15). Mifepristone (Mifeprex). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600042.html
  4. Mayo Clinic. (2025, February 1). Mifepristone (oral route). https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/mifepristone-oral-route/description/drg-20067123
  5. Bridwell, R. E., Long, B., Montrief, T., & Gottlieb, M. (2022, October 23). Post-abortion Complications: A Narrative Review for Emergency Clinicians. The Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9683756/
  6. Shin, Hyun Joo, et al. “Anaphylactic Shock to Vaginal Misoprostol: A Rare Adverse Reaction to a Frequently Used Drug.” PubMed Central (PMC), 9 Aug. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6137020
  7. Danco Laboratories, LLC & FDA. (2016, March). Mifeprex Label. FDA. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/020687s020lbl.pdf
  8. Mayo Clinic. (2022, July 29). Medical Abortion. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
  9. Delgado G, Davenport ML. Progesterone use to reverse the effects of mifepristone. Ann Pharmacother. 2012;46(12):e-pub ahead of print. https://stenoinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Article-Annals-of-Pharmacotherapy-APR.pdf