Am I Eligible for the Abortion Pill?

The abortion pill is used to end an early pregnancy (it is FDA-approved up to 70 days since the first day of your last menstrual period). If you are considering this option, there are important facts to consider when figuring out whether or not you’re eligible. 

Not only are there important health screenings to discuss with a health professional but, according to the Mayo Clinic, there are pre-existing health conditions that could disqualify you as well: 

• An intrauterine device (IUD)
• Allergies to the medications used in the medication abortion
• Heart, blood vessel, liver, kidney, or lung diseases
• Ectopic pregnancy (suspected pregnancy outside of your uterus)
• Use of blood thinners or steroid medications
• Are too far along in the pregnancy

In order to protect your reproductive health, read the rest of the article for important health screenings to schedule before an abortion procedure.

Schedule a Pregnancy Test

If you are just relying on common early signs of pregnancy such as sore breasts, frequent urination, or even a missed period, it’s still best to use a lab-quality pregnancy test to confirm.

At Liberty Women’s Clinic, we offer this testing at no cost. Once you have a positive pregnancy test verified by an RN, you are one step closer to answering potential “what ifs” and can move forward with making an informed decision.

Get An Ultrasound

One of the disqualifiers for a medical abortion is an ectopic pregnancy, which occurs 1 in every 50 pregnancies. A limited OB ultrasound can confirm that you are experiencing an intrauterine pregnancy, or if you need to seek immediate follow-up care from a healthcare provider.   Ectopic pregnancy can be a life-threatening situation. 

Another Important fact that limited ultrasound can confirm is whether or not the pregnancy is still developing. Twenty percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, and an ultrasound can help reveal whether you have naturally miscarried or not. After a nurse consultation, our facility can provide a limited OB ultrasound, which can confirm the viability as well as the gestational age of the pregnancy.

Schedule an STI Screening

Testing positive for an STI (a sexually-transmitted infection) can also complicate your eligibility for an elective abortion procedure. If you have an untreated STI and undergo an abortion, your chances for developing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) increase significantly. PID is the most common complication after an abortion.

An STI can also cause complications in your future reproductive health if left untreated; so it’s important to get tested before terminating your pregnancy.

Next Steps

If you’re debating your next steps, it’s best to get information as soon as possible before making your pregnancy decision. This includes having pregnancy testing verified by a health professional, and eliminating the possibility of an untreated STI or an ectopic pregnancy.

At Liberty Women’s Clinic, we may be able to provide these screenings for you, and we begin with a nurse consultation for you to ask questions about the pregnancy process in a pressure-free environment. All of our services are offered free of charge. Contact us today!

This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional counseling and/or medical advice.