Hi, and welcome to Telefem! It’s so nice to meet you! If this is your first time here, we want to tell you that you’re in a safe space, full of trust. We are here to answer all your questions and provide you with trustworthy information regarding safe abortion in Mexico. Let me introduce you to one of our articles, and if you still have questions, feel free to contact us through WhatsApp!
In this post, we’ll address 10 frequently asked questions about an at-home abortion: Is it safe? What do you need? Who can support you? Stick around, because all your questions will be answered here. Let’s begin!
1. What is an at-home abortion like?
An at-home abortion is carried out without direct medical supervision and at home. It’s done using medication and is considered safe up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. This method is also called abortion with pills, self-managed abortion, or medical abortion.1
2. How is an at-home abortion?
With accurate information, people can safely end a pregnancy at home using pills and know what to expect throughout the process, including when to seek medical help. This method is effective up to 12 weeks and suitable for people of any age or body size, including teens, and it does not affect future fertility.1
The WHO and theFederation International of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) both endorse the combined regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol as safe, effective, and non-invasive.
Compared to using misoprostol alone, combining it with mifepristone is more effective. Completed abortions without complications occur over 90% of the time. If taken before 9 weeks, effectiveness ranges from 96.6% to 98%. Between weeks 10 and 13, it remains around 95.8%. The earlier the process, the safer and more effective it is.1
The procedure is recommended to be unsupervised until week 10 of pregnancy. Remember that a healthcare professional can assist you, guide you, and advise you if you have any questions during the procedure. This participation, even remotely, allows a physician to assess whether your symptoms during the procedure are typical, whether your uterus is completely evacuated, whether more than one dose of misoprostol is necessary, and so on.
At Telefem, we connect you with professionals who can support your process from home. Get to know us!
3. How can I find out how many weeks pregnant I am if I want to have an abortion at home?
Pregnancy weeks can be determined in two ways:2
1. By the date of your last menstrual period (LMP). The calculation is obtained by using the first day of the last menstrual period and counting the weeks until the current day. For people with menstrual cycles that occur every month, this is a reliable way to make this estimate.
2. By ultrasound. This can be performed in a laboratory or radiology suite. It is not necessary to inform the laboratory staff that an abortion is being considered, as each person is free to choose according to their conditions and life circumstances.
If you’re unsure how to calculate your gestational age, try Telefem’s pregnancy week calculator by entering your last menstrual period date. With the support of our organization, a safe abortion is possible up to the 10th week of pregnancy.
4. What risks should I consider when using abortion pills at home?
Before using the pills, make sure none of these apply:1
1. Severe health issues like heart disease, serious anemia, clotting disorders, or adrenal failure.
2. Have a copper intrauterine device (IUD) in the shape of a T or spiral inserted. (If you have an IUD inserted, it is recommended that it be removed before you can use abortion pills).
3. Pain or bleeding for another reason on the day of the abortion.
4. Allergies to mifepristone or misoprostol.
Even if one applies, you may still qualify but should consult a health professional first.
5. What’s the safest medication for an at-home and safe abortion?
According to the WHO, there are two options:
1.- Mifepristone + misoprostol. This method is more effective and less painful, but it doesn’t last as long as misoprostol alone.
2. Misoprostol alone is less effective than the previous combination, as it tends to be a longer process and causes more intense cramps.
As you can see, the combined regimen is the most effective and appropriate method for abortion at home, which is why it is the method most recommended by the WHO.
We can advise you on how to obtain this plan at Telefem. Write to us!
6. Where can I get a safe abortion kit?
Misoprostol is available over the counter in Mexico because it’s not registered as an abortion medication but rather as a gastric ulcer preventer. However, you may require different doses; its effectiveness is less than when combined with mifepristone.
Mifepristone is registered as an abortion drug and therefore, has restrictions on its sale. But don’t worry; there are safe and reliable specialized organizations that can help you with your needs. The Telefem service is discreet and dependable, and includes a Telefem Kit + counseling + medical guidance + support before, during, and until your discharge.
7. What should I have ready for an at-home abortion?
As a suggestion, we recommend the following elements:3
Pain relief medication. The pain during the process may be slightly more intense than a regular period, so it’s recommended to have ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen on hand.
You will need access to a nearby bathroom and maxi or overnight pads. Bleeding will likely be heavier than during a normal menstrual cycle.
Light meals and plenty of fluids are important for staying hydrated. Eat fruits and vegetables, avoid spicy or greasy foods, and drink lots of water.
A heating pad or hot water bottle. To ease the pain, you can use a heating pad, a warm compress (like a seed-filled pouch), or a reusable heat pack placed on your abdomen.
Listen to relaxing music. Listening to calming music can help soothe you during the process and may even reduce the sensation of pain.
8. What to expect during a medical abortion?
Here’s what you can expect to happen in your body when using abortion pills:3
- Between 30 minutes and 4 hours after taking the pills, even if you have taken pain medication, you will experience pain, cramps, and vaginal bleeding. The pain is likely to be more intense, and the bleeding heavier than during a regular period.
- During the 24 hours following the dose, clots of varying sizes (usually between 2 and 7 cm), uterine contents, and the gestational sac will be expelled along with the bleeding. It is imperative to remember that with the use of mifepristone, the expulsion of the pregnancy product occurs on average within the first 6 hours after the first dose of misoprostol.
- You may also experience fever, chills, nausea, abdominal pain, or diarrhea.
You should know that symptoms are usually sent on their own within 24 hours. So, even if the symptoms sound uncomfortable or bothersome, they will only be for a short time. If you have any questions, remember that at Telefem, healthcare professionals and specialists in legal abortions will be with you throughout your procedure and until you are discharged.
9. How do I know when the abortion is complete?
You can confirm that the abortion is complete once you’ve taken the full doses of misoprostol and mifepristone and have experienced bleeding, along with the expulsion of clots and uterine tissue.
Depending on how far along the pregnancy was, you may be able to identify the gestational sac or embryonic tissue among the clots. The gestational sac is a small, gel-like pouch where the pregnancy develops. It may appear gray, pink or brown and can vary in size:3
- Up to 6 weeks: smaller than 1 cm, about the size of an apple seed.
- Between 7 and 8 weeks: 1–2 cm, about the size of an orange seed.
- Between 9 and 10 weeks: 4–5 cm, about the size of a small grape.
Other signs that the abortion is completed:3
- Cramping and bleeding significantly decrease. It is normal to bleed and spot for several more days (up to 2 weeks), but the amount gradually decreases daily.
- In most cases, all side effects of the medication (e.g., chills, diarrhea, and fever) should disappear within the first 12 hours.
- The rapid disappearance of pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, breast tenderness, or sensitivity. Other symptoms (if present), such as sleepiness, frequent urination, and changes in taste and smell, should also disappear.
10. What’s not normal during an at-home abortion?
It is crucial that you identify what is not normal in an abortion, and you should consider it so that, if you detect any of these symptoms, you seek medical attention.3
- Excessive bleeding. Filling two or more maxi or nighttime sanitary pads per hour for two consecutive hours. Remember that the bleeding may be heavier than a period, but it should gradually decrease.
- If you have a fever (greater than 38°C) for more than four consecutive hours or if the fever persists for more than 24 hours after taking the last dose of misoprostol.
- If you continue to experience discomfort such as pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, among others, 24 hours after taking the last dose of medication.
- If you have a vaginal discharge with a foul odor.
- If you experience a severe drop in blood pressure with paleness, rapid pulse or heartbeat, and fast breathing, feeling of weakness, loss of consciousness, or fainting.
These complications require medical attention, so you should seek a professional evaluation if you experience any of them.
We hope these answers to your questions about medical abortion at home help you. The decision to terminate your pregnancy should NOT be questioned or judged, which is why at Telefem we strive to provide you with a place of trust so that the specialists we connect you with can support you through any circumstance.
Found this helpful? For more on reproductive health and safe abortion, visit our blog—get all your questions answered. See you there!
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* This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice and applies only to Mexico’s law and context.
References:
- IPAS. Aborto con pastillas. [Internet]. USA; 2023. [Visit October 2024]. Available at: https://www.ipas.org/our-work/self-managed-abortion/aborto-con-pastillas/como-encontrar-pastillas-abortivas/
- IPAS Latinoamérica y el Caribe. Material de apoyo para el acompañamiento del aborto. 1. Antes de un aborto. 1era ed. 2022. [Visit October 2024]. Available at: https://www.ipas.org/our-work/self-managed-abortion/aborto-con-pastillas/
- IPAS Latinoamérica y el Caribe. Material de apoyo para el acompañamiento del aborto. 2. Durante un aborto inducido con medicamentos. 1era ed. 2022. [Visit October 2024]. Available at: https://ipaslac.org/documents/IpasLAC2022-AcompanamientoAborto2.pdf