At LRFPS we offer medication abortion commonly known as the Abortion Pill up to 10 weeks LMP.

You must call (501) 225-3836 for an appointment – State of Arkansas 72 Hour Waiting Period requires (2) visits.

Abortion Pill Facts

What is the abortion pill?

It is a medication that blocks the action of the hormone progesterone. Progesterone is needed to sustain a pregnancy. It has been used, in combination with other medications called prostaglandins, for medical abortion since 1988 in France and China, and since the early 1990’s in the United Kingdom and Sweden. It has been more recently licensed in nine other European countries and Israel. Millions of women worldwide have safely used this regimen to end their pregnancies.

How the Abortion Pill works to end pregnancy

It blocks the action of progesterone, which is needed to sustain a pregnancy.

This results in:

• Changes in the uterine lining and detachment of the pregnancy
• Softening and opening of the cervix
• Increased uterine sensitivity to prostaglandin
• The pill is used in combination with another medication, a prostaglandin that causes the uterus to contract, and helps the pregnancy tissue to pass.

How effective is it in terminating an early pregnancy?

The original FDA approved regimen was approximately 95% effective in achieving a complete abortion when using both up to 49 days after the first day of the last menstrual period. Newer evidenced based regimens are more effective and allow you to administer the second medication at home. The new research has also demonstrated the safe and effective use of this combination of medication later in the pregnancy than the original 49 days.

Follow-up to ensure the abortion was successful is needed. Some women will need an aspiration abortion.

Possible side effects

Side effects, such as pain, cramping and vaginal bleeding, result from the abortion process itself, and are therefore expected with a medication abortion.

Other side effects of the medications themselves may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, or fever. Complications are rare, but may include excessive vaginal bleeding requiring transfusion (occurs in approximately 1 in 1,000 cases), incomplete abortion or infection.

If the medications fail to end the pregnancy, a suction abortion must be performed.

Reasons you may not qualify to have the abortion pill

• It has been more than 70 days (ten weeks) since your last menstrual period began as determined by ultrasound
• If you have an IUD, it must be taken out before you take the Abortion Pill
• You have problems with your adrenal glands (chronic adrenal failure) or severe heart, liver, or kidney problems
• Take a medication to thin your blood
• Have a certain bleeding problems
• Take certain steroid medications
• Cannot return for the follow-up visit(s)
• Cannot easily get emergency medical help should a problem occur
• Are allergic to either medicines
• Are not sure that you want to end your pregnancy and you would be unwilling to have a surgical abortion if the medication abortion fails

We are a proud member of the National Abortion Federation ("NAF") — an organization that sets national standards for abortion care and Abortion Care Network ("ACN") — provides independent providers with tools and resources to keep exceptional, patient-centered abortion care available.