Health education Abortion information
This page provides factual information about the abortion methods available in Massachusetts, what each involves medically, and why an ultrasound is recommended before starting any abortion.
Your Options Medical does not perform or refer for abortions. We provide free pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and information.
Medication abortion (the abortion pill)
A medication abortion uses two prescription medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, taken in sequence. In Massachusetts, this method is generally available up to 10 to 11 weeks of pregnancy, measured from the start of the last menstrual period.
How it works: mifepristone is taken first to stop the pregnancy from growing. Misoprostol is taken 24 to 48 hours later to cause the uterus to empty, similar to a miscarriage. The process typically completes at home over several hours to a few days.
In-clinic (procedural) abortion
An in-clinic abortion is performed by a clinician in a medical office or clinic. The most common methods are:
- Aspiration (vacuum): typically used in the first trimester. The procedure itself usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.
- Dilation and evacuation (D&E): used later in pregnancy. Often involves a multi-day process.
Sedation options vary by clinic. Recovery time after the appointment is usually a few hours.
Common side effects and what to expect
All abortion methods carry side effects. Commonly reported ones include:
- Cramping, sometimes intense, especially during medication abortion
- Heavy bleeding and passing of clots
- Nausea, fever, chills, or fatigue lasting a day or two
- Lighter bleeding or spotting that can continue for several weeks
Less common but more serious risks include incomplete abortion requiring follow-up care, infection, and heavy bleeding requiring medical attention. Contact a clinician right away if you soak through more than two pads per hour for two consecutive hours, develop a fever above 100.4 °F, or have severe abdominal pain that does not improve.
Caution: ordering abortion pills online without medical care
- Ectopic pregnancy: a pregnancy growing outside the uterus is a medical emergency. Abortion pills do not treat it and can mask its symptoms.
- Gestational age: medication abortion is only approved up to a specific number of weeks. Inaccurate dating increases the chance of incomplete abortion or other complications.
- Drug interactions and contraindications: some medical conditions and medications make these drugs unsafe. A clinician can identify them in a short visit.
- No clinical follow-up: when something goes wrong, there is no clinician familiar with your case to guide care.
A free ultrasound at our clinic answers the medical questions above so that any decision you make is based on accurate information about your pregnancy.
Why an ultrasound is recommended first
Before starting any abortion, physicians recommend confirming three things by ultrasound: that the pregnancy is in the uterus, how far along it is, and whether it is viable. About one in four early pregnancies ends in miscarriage on its own. An ultrasound takes about 15 to 20 minutes and is free at our clinics.
Schedule a free ultrasound
No insurance, no charge, and no recommendation about what you do next. Just clear medical information.