Are the morning after pill and the abortion pill the same thing?

What is the “Abortion Pill?” Is the Abortion Pill and the “Morning After Pill” the same? The Morning After Pill and the Abortion Pill are not the same drug and each one works very differently. In order for you to distinguish between the Morning After Pill and the Abortion Pill, this article is meant for informational purposes.

The name “The Morning After Pill,” also referred to as “Plan B,” is used to refer to a variety of brands of birth control pills that contain the hormone levonorgestrel. When taken as prescribed, these pills can be used to delay ovulation without endangering an ongoing pregnancy. Birth control pills are available without a prescription in California.

Mifepristone, also known as Mifeprex or RU486, is the medication that is commonly referred to as the “abortion pill” and is only available with a prescription. When combined with misoprostol, mifepristone can end an ongoing pregnancy (though not an ectopic pregnancy, in which case a different procedure or medication will be required). A woman may now use this procedure to end an early pregnancy up to 70 days (10 weeks) after her last period. Only with a doctor’s prescription can you buy mifepristone from your neighborhood pharmacy, like Walgreen’s or CVS.

Using these pills to end a pregnancy requires a two-step process. By blocking the progesterone receptors on the uterine wall, the anti-progesterone drug mifepristone, also known as Mifeprex, terminates pregnancies. This results in the uterine walls’ lining shedding like it does during a menstrual cycle. Additionally, it widens and softens the cervix, making abortion easier.

To aid in the pregnancy’s termination, misoprostol is used. A prostaglandin known as misoprostol softens and dilates the cervix while also inducing uterine contractions. To complete the abortion procedure, it is used about two days after taking Mifepristone. Approximately 97% of the time, an abortion is finished when combined with mifepristone.

Following the Mifepristone and Misoprostol regimen, pelvic cramping, vaginal bleeding, and spotting are frequent side effects, which typically last for 9 to 16 days on average. Additionally typical symptoms include diarrhea, weakness, fever, chills, dizziness, headaches, and nausea.

It’s crucial to go for a checkup 7–14 days after taking the abortion pill regimen to make sure no tissue was left behind and the abortion was successful. A woman will go over her options with her provider if Mifepristone does not work, as revealed by an ultrasound at the follow-up visit.