Gynecology

Abortion - Medical

Overview
How It Works
Safety and Effectiveness

How It Works

A medical abortion involves at least two visits to a doctor's office or clinic. The treatment includes giving the medication and then confirming that the pregnancy has been terminated. Sometimes more than two visits are necessary.

• Day 1 -- Come to the office visit for exam and counseling. You will be given and instructed to take 200 milligrams, or 1 tablet, of mifepristone.

• Day 2, 3 or 4 -- At home, place four tablets, or 800 micrograms, of misoprostol in your vagina. You will be given instructions on how to do this.

• Day 7 to 14 -- At some point during this period you will return to the office so that we can make sure the abortion in complete. If the abortion is not complete, more follow-up visits may be scheduled.

Medical Abortion vs. Emergency Contraception

Medical abortion is not the same as emergency contraception, also referred to as the "morning-after pill." Emergency contraception prevents a pregnancy. Therefore, once pregnancy has occurred, this is no longer effective. Medical abortion, on the other hand, is used to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated February 28, 2008