More than 50 million abortions occur worldwide every year.

"Misoprostol"

Increasingly, women are resorting to a method of terminating pregnancy, such as medical abortion. One of the drugs used for this is Misoprostol.

"Misoprostol" refers to prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that are involved in the suppression of inflammatory, autoimmune and atopic processes in the body. The drug was created for the treatment of erosions and peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum.

But its side effect, such as softening the cervix and stimulating its contractions, began to be used for the purpose of pharmacological abortions. According to the instructions, it should be taken in the first weeks of pregnancy, up to 42 days of missed menstruation.

How to take Misoprostol correctly

The instructions for use of the drug "Misopostol" indicate that for medical abortion it is used only in conjunction with the drug "Mifepristone".

On the domestic pharmacological market today there are a number of drugs with the same active ingredient, for example, Mifolian, Pencrofton, Mirolut, Ginestril, Mifeprex. You can replace one with the other, but you must first consult with your gynecologist. He will help you choose a medication.

Mifepristone is an antigestagenic drug that blocks the action of progesterone, the pregnancy hormone. The drugs enhance and complement each other’s abortifacient effect. The only thing you need to remember is that you can drink them only under the supervision of a doctor, who will select the appropriate dosage and regimen. If you have the idea of ​​using Misoprostol tablets and mifepristone medications yourself at home, it is better to abandon it.

Abortion

Before performing a medical abortion, the doctor prescribes a number of necessary examinations. In many clinics they can be completed within one day. You definitely need to do an ultrasound to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, and then:

• The doctor gives the woman a drug containing Mifepristone.
• The patient needs to stay in the clinic for at least two hours so that the doctor makes sure that the medication does not cause side effects.
• The patient goes home.

In some cases, this is enough to cause a miscarriage.

Many people are interested in how long it takes for Mifepristone to start working. Sometimes after a couple of hours. In some cases, women complain that only scanty discharge appears or nothing happens. There are reviews from women that a miscarriage occurred after the first dose of Mifepristone. But this is rather the exception than the rule.

Two days after taking the first drug, you need to see a doctor. If abortion does not occur, the woman takes Misoprostol and remains under the supervision of specialists for several hours. The gynecologist must make sure that she is feeling well and that there are no complications.

Women often wonder how long it takes for bleeding to start after taking Misoprostol. Reactions are very individual. For some, discharge appears a couple of hours after taking the drug, for others – after a day.

The instructions for use of Misoprostol indicate that the effect of the medication should appear 6-8 hours after taking the first tablet. But if two days after taking the medication the medication has not worked, you need to consult a doctor. Under no circumstances should you take an additional dose of the drug on your own.

According to statistics, when these two drugs are combined, pregnancy termination occurs in 95-98% of cases. Sometimes the process drags on for up to two weeks, but ends with the successful expulsion of the fertilized egg. This must be confirmed by a control ultrasound after 10-14 days.

Misoprostol price

Cost of the drug "Misoprostol"

The price of Misoprostol on the Russian pharmacological market is about 2,000 rubles. There are analogues of Misoprostol: Misoprostol-HPMC, Mirolut, Cytotec. Their price at the pharmacy varies from 400 to 3000 rubles. Therefore, you can replace Misoprostol with a cheaper analogue.

But such a decision should always be balanced so that you don’t have to pay with your health for saving on the cost of the medicine. It is advisable to discuss the issue of replacing the drug with an analogue with the gynecologist who will perform the abortion.

You can ask for reviews of medications on the forum and read the instructions for each medication.

Many people ask where they can buy Misoprostol tablets. Most often, the medicine can be found in specialized clinics. You can also have an abortion there.

Replacing Misoprostol with folk remedies

Sometimes women wonder whether it is possible to replace Misoprostol with herbs or other folk remedies. Indeed, there are herbs with abortifacient properties. For example, knotweed, ground grass, ginseng, lobelia, watercress, mandrake.

Often, mother (oregano) is used to terminate pregnancy. It can actually stimulate uterine contractions and cause miscarriage. But the risk is too great. Quite often, the use of motherwort or other abortifacient herbs leads to consequences such as severe bleeding and infection of the uterine mucosa. Sometimes a woman can be saved only by removing the reproductive organ.

Therefore, it is better to refuse unnecessary risks. Moreover, reviews of Misoprostol are mostly positive. A large number of women have successfully terminated their pregnancies using Misoprostol in combination with Mifepristone.

Contraindications to Misoprostol

The instructions for Misoprostol list a number of conditions for which the drug is contraindicated. First of all, this is increased sensitivity to the components of the drug.

As well as serious diseases of the liver and kidneys, glaucoma, diseases of the cardiovascular system, anemia, bronchial asthma, endocrine diseases, disorders of the adrenal glands, hormone-dependent tumors.

You should not take Misoprostol tablets while breastfeeding. If there is a need for a pharmacological abortion, you need to interrupt feeding for two weeks. In order to maintain lactation, milk must be expressed.

It is contraindicated to drink alcohol during a medical abortion and for 14 days after it. It may cause bleeding or affect the hormonal changes that occur after a pregnancy loss.

And most importantly, if you do not have a medical reason to terminate your pregnancy, think carefully about this step. After all, your child’s life hangs in the balance.

The tablets contain the active ingredient mifepristone , as well as a number of additional components: microcrystalline cellulose, potato starch, lactose, magnesium stearate, carboxymethyl starch.

Release form

Mifepristone is produced in tablets that are light yellow in color and may also have a greenish tint. The tablets are contained in packages or in polymer jars of 3 or 6 pcs.

pharmachologic effect

Mifepristone is a steroidal synthetic antigestagenic drug. Under its influence, the tone and contractile activity of the myometrium increases. Once in the body, the active substance blocks the effect at the receptor level. Does not demonstrate gestagenic activity; antagonism of the substance with GCS is noted due to competition at the level of communication with receptors.

The contractility of the myometrium under the influence of the drug increases due to stimulation of the release of interleukin-8 in choriodecidual cells, as well as an increase in the level of sensitivity of the myometrium to prostaglandins. As a result, under the influence of the drug, desquamation of the decidua occurs and the fertilized egg is expelled.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

After the drug has been taken orally at a dose of 600 mg, the maximum concentration of the active substance is observed after 1.3 hours, amounting to 1.98 mg/l. The level of absolute bioavailability is 69%.

Mifepristone is 98% bound to blood proteins.

The half-life is 18 hours. The substance is eliminated from the body in two phases: first, it is slowly eliminated over a period of 12 to 72 hours, after which the concentration of the component in the plasma is reduced by half. This is followed by the rapid elimination phase of mifepristone.

Indications for use

The product is used in the following cases:

• for the purpose of interrupting the uterine for a period of up to nine weeks (no menstruation for up to 63 days) using medication, combined with synthetic analogues of prostaglandins;
• for conservative cervical dilatation before surgical termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks;
• to potentiate the influence prostaglandins in the process of terminating a pregnancy, the duration of which is 13-22 weeks (carried out for social and medical reasons);
• For labor induction in case of fetal death in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Contraindications

There are a number of general contraindications for taking Mifepristone tablets:

• long-term treatment with GCS;
• adrenal insufficiency;
• renal or liver failure in acute or chronic form;
• porphyria ;
• anemia in severe form;
• inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs;
• hemostasis disorders (also during treatment anticoagulants , prior to taking the medication);
• heavy extragenital pathology (cannot be taken without prior consultation with a specialist);
• high sensitivity to the components of the drug;
• provided that the patient is over 35 years of age and regularly smokes.

Contraindications for medical abortion:

• presence of suspicion of ;
• in the absence of clinical confirmation of pregnancy;
• pregnancy period is more than 42 days amenorrhea ;
• during pregnancy that occurred during the use of intrauterine contraceptives or after discontinuation of hormonal contraceptives.

Contraindications in case of preparation and induction of labor:

• preeclampsia ;
• in severe form;
• eclampsia ;
• post-term or premature pregnancy;
• abnormal position of the fetus;
• discrepancy between the fetal head and the size of the mother’s pelvis;
• the presence of bloody discharge from the genitals during pregnancy, the origin of which has not been established.

Patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases should take Mifepristone with caution. , arrhythmia , arterial hypertension , heart failure in a chronic form.

Side effects

Side effects that occur when taking Mifepristone tablets:

• feeling of discomfort in the lower abdomen;
• feeling of general weakness;
• , headache ;
• vomit , nausea ;
• hyperthermia ;
• subinvolution of the uterus.

Side effects associated with medical abortion:

• bloody discharge from the genitals;
• feeling of pain in the lower abdomen;
• exacerbation of inflammation of the uterus and appendages.

When carrying out combination therapy, which includes , can develop, vaginitis , , feeling of anxiety, anemia , asthenia , state of fainting.

Mifepristone tablets, instructions for use (Method and dosage)

It should be borne in mind that the instructions for use of Mifepristone provide for the use of tablets only in medical institutions that have the necessary equipment and supervision of specialists.

In order to terminate pregnancy in the early stages, a single dose of 600 mg of the drug (three tablets) is prescribed. You should take the tablets in the presence of a doctor, this should be done 1-1.5 hours after a light meal. Take the tablets with half a glass of water.

The doctor must observe the patient for at least two hours. 36-48 hours after taking the pill, the woman needs to visit a medical facility and undergo ultrasound monitoring. If necessary, prescribe .

It is important to re-examine and monitor the ultrasound after 10-14 days. If necessary, the doctor prescribes the patient to determine the level of human chorionic gonadotropin to confirm the spontaneous abortion .

If the effect of using the medicine is absent on the 14th day (that is, an incomplete abortion has occurred or the pregnancy continues), the gynecologist performs vacuum aspiration and subsequent histological examination of the aspirate.

Mifepristone to induce labor during a full-term pregnancy must be taken at a dose of 200 mg, that is, one tablet once a day. After 24 hours, a similar dose is re-prescribed. After 48 to 72 hours, the condition of the birth canal is assessed. If necessary, the patient is given an appointment or prostaglandins .

When this treatment regimen begins to take effect depends on the woman’s condition. As a rule, expulsion of the fetus occurs within less than 10 hours after applying the treatment regimen.

Mifepristone IV is not used.

Misoprostol and Mifepristone

For the process of terminating pregnancy in the early stages, Mifepristone is often used together. The medicine Mifepristone promotes softening of the cervix and its contractions, Misoprostol induces uterine contractions.

Despite the fact that there are instructions on how to take Mifepristone and Misoprostol, the exact dosage regimen is determined by the doctor. Tablets can only be taken under the supervision of a specialist and in specialized institutions. You can buy these medications directly from medical institutions. The price of mifepristone and misoprostol depends on the brand name of these drugs. Reviews from women indicate that this combination of drugs is effective for terminating pregnancy in the early stages.

Mifepristone and Mirolut

When carrying out medical abortions, the drugs Mifepristone and , the active substance of which is misoprostol. These medications should also be used only under the supervision of a doctor, who will determine how to take the pills. This cannot be done at home. As a rule, Mirolut is prescribed at a dose of 400 mg 36-48 hours after taking Mifepristone at a dose of 600 mg.

Overdose

When using the drug in a dose of up to 2 g, negative manifestations do not develop. If an overdose of the drug occurs, the patient may experience adrenal insufficiency.

Interaction

When using Mifepristone and GCS simultaneously, the dose of the latter should be increased.

Terms of sale

Mifepristone is supplied to specialized medical institutions.

Storage conditions

The product belongs to list A. It should be stored in a dark and dry place, out of reach of children.

Best before date

Can be stored for 2 years. Cannot be used after the expiration date.

special instructions

It is imperative to inform women that if they do not notice the effect of using the medicine 10-14 days after taking it, it is imperative to terminate the pregnancy in another way, since there is a possibility of developing congenital defects in the fetus.

When using the medicine you need to warn Rh alloimmunization and carry out other general activities that are practiced during abortion.

Application is carried out exclusively in a hospital setting. It should be taken into account that if heavy bleeding develops, immediate surgery may be required.

Women who have an artificial heart valve or patients with infective endocarditis should undergo preventive treatment while taking Mifepristone.

Natural feeding must be stopped for two weeks after taking the pills.

Mifepristone analogs

Analogs of this remedy are drugs , , Pencrofton , Mifegin etc. The selection of medicine is carried out by a doctor.

Mifepristone or Mifegin?

is an analogue medicine that contains the active component mifepristone. This drug has a similar effect and is used in a similar way. Which medicine to choose depends on the doctor's recommendations. Both medications have an extensive list of contraindications and can only be used in a hospital under the supervision of a specialist.

For children

Not applicable.

During pregnancy and lactation

The use of tablets involves stopping natural feeding for three days after taking the tablet in case of medical termination of pregnancy.

If Mifepristone is prescribed to prepare for cervical labor, future breastfeeding is not affected by its use.

Misoprostol– a drug used to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. It stimulates the process of uterine contraction, which facilitates the opening of the cervix and promotes the removal of contents from its cavity.

The medicine is produced in round tablets and packaged in aluminum blisters of 3 pieces, which are placed together with instructions in cardboard boxes.

Composition and storage of the drug

Each tablet contains 0.2 mg of Misoprostol, an artificially synthesized substance produced by the human body, and 19.8 mg of hypromellose, which is the active ingredient of the drug. The auxiliary components are:

• Colloidal silicon dioxide;
• Microcrystalline cellulose;
• Castor oil;
• Sodium carboxymethyl starch.

Misoprostol must be stored in isolated places from light and children at a temperature not exceeding 25 C. It is prohibited to use the medicine after its expiration date, which is 2 years.

Indications for medical abortion

An abortion can be performed using Misoprostol at 8 weeks of pregnancy, that is, 56 days of amenorrhea. If you adhere to this deadline, 100% results from the procedure are guaranteed. In addition, intrauterine pregnancy must be confirmed. For this purpose, an ultrasound examination is prescribed.

How to use the drug to terminate a pregnancy?

Instructions for use of Misoprostol:"Misoprostol" for termination of pregnancy is used in combination with "".

First, take 1 tablet of Mifepristone, a day later take 2 tablets of Misoprostol and wait 2 hours, after which they take 2 more tablets of Misoprostol.

In the process of taking medications, bleeding should appear and as a result a lump resembling a clump of cotton wool should come out - the fertilized egg. 3 or 5 days after the procedure, an ultrasound examination is performed, with the help of which the effectiveness of termination of pregnancy is assessed.

Medical abortion should be performed in a clinical setting under the supervision of a specialist , since unforeseen circumstances may arise in the form of complications, in which case emergency specialized care will be required.

Possible complications and side effects

Complications from taking Misoprostol are rare, but there is a risk. These include:

• Vaginal bleeding – this may be excessive and require vacuum aspiration and sometimes a blood transfusion;
• Continuation of pregnancy - in this case, a surgical abortion is necessary, since there is a high probability of serious pathologies in the fetus.

In some cases, side effects may occur, which include the following:

1. Vomiting and nausea are regarded as adverse reactions as a result of taking medications. In this case, it is necessary to stop the nausea by taking the appropriate medicine, for example “Cerucal”;
2. Dizziness – it is not necessary to treat, this is a consequence of the medications taken;
3. Diarrhea - manifests itself as a response to taking Misoprostol and goes away on its own without treatment;
4. Elevated temperature is due to the effect of this drug on the thermoregulatory center. The fever lasts 2 hours, then the temperature returns to normal. To reduce it, antipyretics are used. If she hasn’t fallen after 4 hours, you need to see a doctor.
5. Feelings of pain are associated with increased tone of the uterus. In this case, thermal procedures, taking anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, ibuprofen), and paracetamol are indicated.

Contraindications for medical abortion

Contraindications are determined by existing restrictions in relation to Misoprostol and Mifepristone. Taking the second one is prohibited if:

• There is a spiral inside the uterus (it must be removed before the procedure);
• Porphyria (hereditary blood disease);
• Allergy to the drug (its constituent components);
• Blood clotting disorders, taking drugs that increase the duration of bleeding (dipyridamole, pentillin, aspirin);
• Long-term treatment with glucocorticosteroids (dexamethasone, prednisolone);
• Kidney failure;
• Suspicion of pregnancy outside the uterus.

The only contraindication for Misoprostol is an allergic reaction that can be caused by the components of the drug. It is worth noting that the presence of bronchial asthma is not a contraindication for the use of the drug, since it does not cause spasms of the bronchial muscles.

Medical abortion using Misoprostol opens up new birth control options for women. This procedure reduces the risks of surgical termination of pregnancy to zero and is easier for a woman to tolerate psychologically.

Mifepristone is a synthetic steroidal antigestagenic agent that increases the tone and contractile activity of the myometrium.

Release form and composition

Dosage form of Mifepristone:

• Tablets 200 mg: flat-cylindrical, pale yellow or pale yellow with a greenish tint, scored and chamfered (3 or 6 pieces each in a strip pack or in a polymer jar, in a cardboard pack: 1 jar; 1 or 2 packages );
• Tablets 50 mg: round, biconvex, pale yellow or pale yellow with a greenish tint, possible marbling (10 pcs. in a strip pack or in an orange glass jar, in a cardboard pack: 1 jar; 1, 2 or 5 packs).

Active substance: mifepristone – 50 or 200 mg per tablet.

Additional components:

• Tablets 200 mg: carboxymethyl starch, potato starch, milk sugar (lactose), microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, polyvinylpyrrolidone;
• Tablets 50 mg: calcium stearate (octadecanoate), corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, milk sugar (lactose), aerosil (colloidal silicon dioxide).

Indications for use

The use of Mifepristone tablets at a dosage of 200 mg is recommended for the following conditions:

• Termination of intrauterine pregnancy in the early stages (up to 42 days of amenorrhea);
• Preparation and induction of labor during full-term pregnancy.

Mifepristone tablets at a dosage of 50 mg are indicated for the treatment of uterine leiomyomas (up to 12 weeks of pregnancy).

Contraindications

General contraindications:

• Acute or chronic form of renal and/or liver failure;
• Severe anemia;
• Long-term treatment with glucocorticosteroids;
• Adrenal insufficiency;
• Inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs;
• Porphyria;
• Hemostasis disorders (including previous anticoagulant therapy);
• The presence of severe extragenital pathology (without consulting a therapist);
• Uterine fibroids (for tablets 200 mg);
• Smoking in patients over 35 years of age (for tablets 200 mg);
• Hypersensitivity to the components of the drug (history).

For medical abortion:

• Pregnancy for more than 42 days of amenorrhea;
• Suspicion of ectopic pregnancy;
• Pregnancy not confirmed by clinical studies;
• Pregnancy that occurs after discontinuation of hormonal contraception or during the use of intrauterine contraception.

To prepare and induce labor:

• Abnormal fetal position;
• Discrepancy between the sizes of the mother's pelvis and the fetal head;
• Premature or post-term pregnancy;
• Preeclampsia;
• Severe gestosis;
• Eclampsia;
• Bloody discharge from the genital tract of unspecified etiology.

For the treatment of uterine leiomyomas:

• The size of uterine leiomyoma exceeding 12 weeks of pregnancy;
• Submucosal location of myomatous nodes;
• Ovarian tumors and/or endometrial hyperplasia;
• Breastfeeding period, pregnancy.

The drug is used with extreme caution for arterial hypertension, chronic heart failure, heart rhythm disturbances, bronchial asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

When performing a medical abortion during lactation, after taking the drug, you must stop breastfeeding for 3 days.

The use of a product to prepare the cervix for childbirth does not affect subsequent lactation.

Directions for use and dosage

Mifepristone tablets are taken orally. The drug should be used only in specialized medical institutions with appropriate equipment available.

To terminate pregnancy in the early stages, a single dose of the drug is indicated at a dose of 600 mg (3 tablets of 200 mg each). The product should be taken in the presence of a doctor 1-1.5 hours after a light breakfast, washed down with ½ glass of boiled water. After taking the tablets, the patient must be under medical supervision for at least 2 hours.

36-48 hours after using the product, a control ultrasound examination is recommended; if necessary, misoprostol can be prescribed.

After 10-14 days, the patient should undergo a clinical examination again and another control ultrasound procedure. To confirm that a miscarriage has occurred, it is also possible to prescribe tests to determine the level of beta-hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). If there is no expected effect from Mifepristone on the 14th day (in the case of incomplete abortion or ongoing pregnancy), vacuum aspiration is performed, followed by histological examination of the aspirate.

To induce labor during a full-term pregnancy in a hospital setting, in the presence of a doctor, take 200 mg (1 tablet) of the drug. After 24 hours, the drug is taken again at the same dose (200 mg), after 48-72 hours the readiness of the birth canal is assessed and, if necessary, prostaglandins or oxytocin are prescribed.

For the treatment of uterine leiomyomas, the drug is taken in a dose of 50 mg (1 tablet) once a day, the course is 3 months.

Side effects

Undesirable effects observed while taking Mifepristone include: general weakness, nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, discomfort in the lower abdomen, lochiometer, hyperthermia, uterine subinvolution; additionally in the treatment of uterine leiomyoma – amenorrhea, menstrual irregularities;

Adverse reactions associated with the medical abortion procedure include: pain in the lower abdomen, bleeding from the genital tract, exacerbation of inflammatory processes of the uterus and appendages.

Using the drug in doses not exceeding 2 g does not lead to the development of undesirable effects. In case of an overdose of the drug, adrenal insufficiency may occur.

special instructions

When using Mifepristone for the purpose of terminating pregnancy in the early stages, if the expected effect of the drug does not occur on days 10-14, termination of pregnancy by any other method is mandatory. This is caused by an increased risk of congenital malformations in the fetus caused by taking the drug.

Patients with infective endocarditis or artificial heart valves treated with mifepristone are prescribed prophylactic antibiotics.

The use of the drug requires general measures accompanying abortion (including the prevention of Rh alloimmunization).

Drug interactions

When using Mifepristone and glucocorticosteroids simultaneously, it is necessary to increase the dose of the latter.

Terms and conditions of storage

Store in a place protected from moisture and light, out of reach of children, at a temperature not exceeding 25 °C.

Shelf life: tablets 200 mg – 2 years; tablets 50 mg – 3 years.

There are several different options for ending a pregnancy, but medical abortion is the safest and, in many developed countries, one of the most common options for this in the early stages. It is a preferable choice over surgical procedures such as dilatation and curettage (curettage), which has a greater risk of complications.

Misoprostol, also known by the brand name Cytotec, is a prostaglandin analogue (hormone-like substances produced by the body) and is used primarily to prevent the development of stomach ulcers when taking NSAIDs. But misoprostol is also used to terminate pregnancy, although usually not on its own, but in combination with other drugs (mifepristone or methotrexate).

Although this drug must be used in combination with others to achieve a medical abortion, many women, especially in countries where abortion is restricted by law, use misoprostol alone. . If it is used alone, its effectiveness is lower, the abortion process is longer and more painful, which is associated with an increased incidence of gastrointestinal side effects. However, misoprostol used alone is still effective in 75-90% of cases. It is therefore widely used in this manner when mifepristone is not available.

In many countries, misoprostol is illegal as an abortion drug, and in others it is illegal to use it outside of combination with other drugs. Although it is generally safe for these purposes, it should still be carefully monitored by a physician at the time of prescription. In most cases, it is used in hospitals or maternity hospitals in an inpatient setting.

How does misoprostol work for abortion?

By interacting with prostaglandin receptors, misoprostol causes the cervix to soften and the uterus itself to contract. As a result, the contents of the uterus are displaced. Misoprostol is relatively metabolically stable and thus has a long-lasting effect. It is absorbed by mucosal surfaces and can therefore be administered in several different ways.

When can misoprostol be used for abortion?

It is better not to use it for abortions in the following cases:

• After the first trimester of pregnancy (after 12 weeks, and it is most effective before 9 weeks)
• If possible
• If you have an intrauterine device (IUD)

Misoprostol may be used in other cases, such as:

How to use misoprostol to terminate a pregnancy?

As mentioned above, misoprostol is usually used in combination with other drugs that help ease the passage of products of conception, but it can work on its own. If the pregnancy is still in the first trimester, then misoprostol can be used either orally or vaginally.

It is more effective when inserted into the vagina, but doctors now only allow it to be taken orally due to the increased risk of infection, which can be fatal if used vaginally. The drug is slightly more effective if taken buccally or sublingually, that is, placing the tablet between the gums and cheek or under the tongue.

It is important to remember that improper use can be harmful to your body!

To induce an abortion:

If the abortion is successful, you should gradually experience cramping and bleeding. If no bleeding occurs and the test shows a positive result, you may have an ectopic pregnancy and an ultrasound examination is required. This condition is a medical emergency and is very dangerous. Contact your doctor if you experience side effects such as: severe cramps, dizziness, weakness, fever. If it is confirmed that you are still pregnant, you may need a larger dose of the abortion drug.

Precautionary measures

When you decide to have this type of abortion, you will need to discuss the following with your doctor:

• Previous medical history (intestinal, stomach diseases)
• Gestational age
• Any legal problems with abortion
• Your personal wishes
• Have you had uterine surgery or more than five pregnancies?
• Have you had a caesarean section in the past?

You cannot use misoprostol if you are allergic to prostaglandin medications. Also, if this drug does not cause a miscarriage and the pregnancy continues, it may cause birth defects in the baby. If you still want to end the pregnancy, you may need a surgical procedure to complete the abortion.

You should be careful with misoprostol if you smoke or drink alcohol as it increases the risk of bleeding in the stomach.

What to expect after your appointment?

Consequences

Abdominal cramps and bleeding are signs of the abortion process itself. Many women report abdominal cramps and pain similar to those associated with heavy periods. Vaginal bleeding can vary greatly in both duration and severity, and many women report that it feels like a very heavy period or an early miscarriage. Most studies examining the use of misoprostol without other drugs have reported an average bleeding time of approximately two weeks. Many women report blood clots, which can be large, and some report gray or brown tissue (products of conception) coming out. This fabric usually has a length of up to 3-5 cm.

Side effects

The drug can also cause many side effects, some of which can be serious. Here are a few of them:

• Passage of blood clots
• Severe cramps
• Vomit
• Nausea
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Weakness or dizziness
• Fatigue
• Chills, hot flashes, sweating, or shaking

In most cases, these side effects are temporary and go away within 24 hours of taking misoprostol. Among women who report pelvic pain after using misoprostol, approximately 25% say the pain was much worse than menstrual pain. In most cases, side effects and pelvic pain can be controlled with pain relievers (such as ibuprofen).

When to see a doctor?

It is very important to consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms after using misoprostol to terminate a pregnancy:

• heavy bleeding (using more than two pads per hour for two hours or more);
• heavy bleeding for more than 12 hours;
• fever, headache, feeling weak, or “flu” symptoms;
• passage of too large blood clots;
• pain, redness and inflammation in the vaginal area;
• vomit;
• severe cramps that are not relieved by painkillers or sedatives;
• fever over 38 °C;
• discharge with an unpleasant odor;
• rapid pulse.

You should also seek medical advice if you experience any of the following symptoms after using misoprostol for medical abortion.