Can Abortion Pills Affect Future Fertility or Pregnancies?

If you’re considering taking the abortion pill, it’s natural to wonder what the long-term effects might be. For many women, one of the biggest concerns is whether using the abortion pill could affect their ability to get pregnant again in the future. This is an important and personal question - so let’s walk through what is currently known from medical research.

What the Science Says

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the abortion pill (a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol) is approved to end early pregnancy, and the agency has not found direct evidence that it causes infertility when used under medical supervision for a single pregnancy. However, the risks may increase when the pills are taken without proper oversight.

The Mayo Clinic notes that complications—such as incomplete abortion, infection, or heavy bleeding—can occur, especially when the abortion pill is used outside of a clinical setting or without medical guidance. In rare cases, these complications can require surgery or, if untreated, may affect future reproductive health.

Risks When Taken Without Supervision

Without a healthcare provider’s involvement, it may be difficult to confirm how far along a pregnancy is, rule out serious conditions like ectopic pregnancy, or monitor for signs of complications. An ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus (often in a fallopian tube), will still result in a positive pregnancy test but cannot be treated with the abortion pill. Without an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy’s location, this condition can go undetected, posing life-threatening risks if left untreated. These factors increase the risk of requiring emergency medical care and may heighten the likelihood of long-term complications if treatment is delayed.

In addition, the FDA has flagged risks associated with the growing availability of abortion pills through unregulated online or mail-order sources. Because these pills may come from outside the United States, they are not always subject to the same safety, quality control, or storage standards as medications dispensed through licensed providers. The Centers for Disease Control has warned that drugs obtained from foreign or unverified online sellers may be counterfeit, contaminated, expired, or incorrectly labeled, posing serious health risks.

Self-managing a medication abortion without medical guidance may also leave women unsure whether the abortion was complete, which can lead to retained tissue, infection, or internal complications that - if left untreated - could pose a threat to future fertility.

Your Future Matters

If you’re thinking about your health or planning for children in the future, you deserve accurate information and support. Your body, your future, and your peace of mind all matter. Take the time to get the full picture. And if you need someone to talk to, we have nurses available in the chat who can listen, answer questions, and help you understand what’s medically accurate—without pressure or judgment.