Who Should NOT Have a Medication Abortion

For most people, medication abortion is a safe, effective way to end a pregnancy in the first 12 weeks. However, like most medications, the abortion pill isn't right for everyone. Certain situations make taking misoprostol, alone or with mifepristone, a bad idea. A person should not use the abortion pill if they have:

An IUD. A person with an IUD should have it removed before taking the abortion pill.

Inherited porphyria. Porphyrias are rare diseases that affect the blood's ability to carry oxygen to organs and tissues.

Chronic adrenal failure or liver failure.

A known or suspected ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that has implanted outside the uterus and therefore cannot be forced out when the uterus cramps. Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency and can only be treated by medical professionals.

A previous strong allergic reaction to mifepristone or misoprostol.

There are also medical conditions that require a person to take extra precautions to use the abortion pill safely

HIV. Having HIV can put a person at slightly higher risk of infection during the abortion process, so someone with HIV who wants to use the medication safely should use antibiotics at the same time.

A sexually transmitted infection. Someone who has or might have a sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia or gonorrhea should see a doctor for treatment and finish the prescribed antibiotics before using abortion pills.

Most people know whether or not any of these warnings apply to them, but anyone who's unsure should educate themselves to make sure they don't put themselves at unnecessary risk. To learn more about having a safe self-managed abortion, visit AbortionPillInfo.org to read all our frequently asked questions and contact one of our trained counselors.