FAQs

Also known as medical abortion, the abortion pill is only FDA-approved up to ten weeks of pregnancy.

It uses a combination of two powerful drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, to end an early pregnancy and expel it from the body.

A woman takes mifepristone first, which blocks the hormone progesterone. This hormone sustains a growing pregnancy by maintaining the uterine lining. Without it, the uterine lining will thin, and the embryo or fetus will no longer remain implanted. As a result, this drug will terminate the pregnancy.

A woman would then take misoprostol next. It causes the uterus to extract and expel the pregnancy and related tissue out of the body through your vagina. Due to how the drug functions, women can expect abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding.

Abortion is currently banned in Texas under Chapter 170A of the Texas Health & Safety Code. However, a woman who seeks an abortion illegally will not be held criminally or civilly liable.

There are exceptions to this ban if the woman’s life is in danger, but the licensed physician performing the abortion must make every attempt to save the fetus’s life.

No, you cannot legally receive the abortion pill in Texas.

The abortion pill is only FDA-approved up to 10 weeks or 70 days of gestation.
You should not attempt to take the abortion pill if your pregnancy is beyond 10 weeks of pregnancy, as this puts you at a greater risk of experiencing physical risks. Before seeking abortion drugs, it’s essential to determine the gestational age of your pregnancy to protect your health.

An ultrasound scan is the only reliable way to know the age of your pregnancy. During this simple scan, the nurse will take measurements of the pregnancy and screen for certain complications. These details are critical to know for your health and well-being.

After taking the abortion pill, there’s a chance you might experience the following risks:

• Incomplete abortion
• An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive system discomfort
  
  

The abortion drugs are only FDA-approved up to ten weeks (70 days) of gestation. If you attempt to take these pills and your pregnancy is beyond this timeframe, you’re more likely to experience these risks. 

Abortion is a decision that affects each woman differently. While some women might feel immediate relief, others could experience complicated feelings weeks, months, or even years later.

Many factors go into how a woman will feel after abortion, but according to a report looking at the link between abortion and traumatic stress, if you feel pressured into having an abortion, you’re more likely to experience mental health risks.

The study found that roughly 64% of women who had an abortion felt at least subtly pressured into having one—and many of these women reported adverse mental outcomes afterward, including¹: 

• Guilt
• Shame
• Regret
• Self-hatred
• Drug or alcohol addiction
• Low self-esteem
• Anxiety
• Thoughts or attempts of suicide
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The abortion pill isn’t an option for everyone. If any of the following situations apply to you, attempting to take the abortion pill puts you at greater risk for severe complications:

• Your pregnancy is too far along (older than 10 weeks gestation).
• You have an intrauterine device (IUD) currently in place.
• You have a suspected ectopic pregnancy (which is a life-threatening situation in which the pregnancy is growing outside the uterus). 
• You have certain medical conditions, including bleeding disorders, heart or blood vessel diseases, severe liver, kidney or lung disease, or an uncontrolled seizure disorder.
• You take a blood thinner or certain steroid medicines.
• You can’t make follow-up visits to your provider or don’t have access to emergency care.
• You have an allergy to the medicine used.
  
  

This list isn’t exhaustive, so  it’s essential to see a medical provider in person before taking the abortion pill to assess your health history.

Since abortion is illegal in Texas, you might attempt to purchase the abortion drugs online. While you won’t be held criminally or civilly liable if you pursue the drugs illegally, this can be a dangerous option. Read more about the risks of ordering the abortion pill online here.