If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering the abortion pill, you deserve clear, honest information before you make a decision.
At Bakersfield Pregnancy Center, we believe every woman deserves accurate medical information, compassionate support, and time to consider her options without pressure. This guide walks through expected abortion pill side effects, how long they typically last, and what emotional side effects women sometimes experience. Keep reading to learn more.
Physical Side Effects of the Abortion Pill
Yes. Side effects are expected, and most women will experience at least some of them. The intensity and duration vary from person to person, depending on factors like gestational age, individual health history, and how the body responds to the medications.
Common Side Effects
The following are considered typical abortion pill side effects that most women can expect to experience to some degree[1]:
- Cramping — Often described as intense, these cramps can be significantly stronger than a typical period.
- Vaginal bleeding — Bleeding is usually heavier than a regular period and may include blood clots.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea and digestive pain
- Fever or chills
- Headaches
- Fatigue or weakness
These symptoms are the body’s expected response to the medication and the process of passing pregnancy tissue.
How Long Do Abortion Pill Side Effects Last?
This is one of the most common questions women ask, and the honest answer is: it depends.
Cramping and heavier bleeding typically begin within a few hours of taking misoprostol and are most intense during the first few hours to the first day or two. However, bleeding and spotting can continue for several weeks — sometimes up to three or four weeks[1] — as the body completes the process and returns to its normal cycle.
Go to the nearest emergency room if you experience[1]:
- A fever greater than 100.4 °F that lasts for more than 4 hours
- Weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or feeling sick for more than 24 hours after taking mifepristone (with or without a fever)
Serious Risks and Complications
While many women only experience the expected side effects listed above, the abortion pill does carry the possibility of more serious complications. These are less common, but it’s important to know the warning signs:
- Hemorrhaging: Prolonged, heavy bleeding that requires blood transfusions or emergency surgery to treat.[2]
- Incomplete Abortion: The body does not release all pregnancy tissue in the uterus. This can lead to infection if left untreated.[3]
- Sepsis: Sepsis, a severe infection, can be caused by an incomplete abortion. Sepsis can cause organ failure, tissue damage, and even death if untreated.[4]
- Emergency Interventions: Frequent ER visits, hospitalizations, and surgical procedures to treat hemorrhaging and sepsis.
Any of these symptoms warrant prompt medical attention. Women considering the abortion pill should always have a clear plan for follow-up care and know when and where to seek help if something feels wrong.
Emotional Side Effects of the Abortion Pill
Physical symptoms are only part of the picture. The emotional side effects of abortion pill use are just as real, even though they’re talked about far less often. Every woman’s emotional response is different, and there is no “right” way to feel. That said, many women report a wide range of mental health struggles after abortion, including[5][6]:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Low self-esteem
- Substance abuse
- Suicidal behaviors
For some women, these feelings are temporary and fade with time and support. For others, the mental side effects of abortion pill use can feel heavier or more persistent, particularly if the decision was made under pressure, in a difficult relationship, due to financial stress, or without full information about the pregnancy options available.
What You Should Do Before Taking the Abortion Pill
Before taking the abortion pill, it’s crucial to receive an ultrasound to determine how far along you are and whether your pregnancy is viable.
What is Gestational Age?
Gestational age refers to how far along you are in your pregnancy. Doctors measure it from the first day of your last period.
In California, knowing your gestational age is crucial because state law prohibits abortions after viability (approximately 24 weeks) weeks in most cases.[7] Additionally, the abortion pill (mifepristone) is only FDA-approved for use up to 10 weeks gestation (or 70 days or less since the first day of your last menstrual period).[8]
What is Viability in Pregnancy?
A viable pregnancy indicates that the pregnancy is progressing normally and has the potential to continue to term. During an ultrasound, technicians look for signs like a fetal heartbeat. This usually appears between 5 and 6 weeks of pregnancy.[9]
Getting an ultrasound before an abortion helps check for nonviable pregnancies. This includes miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies, where the embryo grows outside the uterus. These conditions need alternative medical care.
At Bakersfield Pregnancy Center, we offer free, confidential ultrasounds to women who receive positive pregnancy tests at our center. Schedule your appointment today.
*Important note: Please be aware that this article is not meant to substitute for medical advice or treatment. The purpose of our limited ultrasound exams is to identify a pregnancy inside the uterus, detect the fetal heartbeat, and estimate how far along you are. If there is no detectable heartbeat, it may indicate a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy is occurring. If we cannot detect a fetal heartbeat during your appointment, we will provide appropriate referrals for follow-up care and treatment.
You Don’t Have to Face This Decision Alone
Understanding abortion pill side effects — physical and emotional — is an important part of making a decision that’s right for you and your health. Whatever you’re feeling right now, you deserve support, honest medical information, and time to think it through.
If you’d like to schedule a free, confidential ultrasound or talk with someone about your pregnancy options, Bakersfield Pregnancy Center is here for you, every step of the way.
Give us a call at (661) 326-1907 or schedule your appointment today.
Please be aware that Bakersfield Pregnancy Center does not provide or refer for abortion services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are abortion pill side effects?
The most common abortion pill side effects include:
- Cramping
- Vaginal bleeding
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea and digestive pain
- Fever or chills
- Headaches
- Fatigue or weakness
How long do abortion pill side effects last?
After taking the abortion pill, bleeding and spotting can continue up to three or four weeks..
Go to the nearest emergency room if you experience:
- A fever greater than 100.4 °F that lasts for more than 4 hours
- Weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or feeling sick for more than 24 hours after taking mifepristone (with or without a fever)
Are there mental side effects of the abortion pill that last long term?
Some women are able to process their emotions quickly. Others experience heavier or more persistent feelings over time, particularly if the decision involved pressure, stress, or limited information.
Why do I need an ultrasound before taking the abortion pill?
An ultrasound confirms your exact gestational age (the abortion pill is only approved up to 10 weeks) and verifies the pregnancy is viable.
If a fetal heartbeat cannot be detected, it may indicate a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy is occurring—both of which require alternative medical care. Ectopic pregnancies in particular can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
Sources
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2026, February 15). Mifepristone (Mifeprex). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600042.html
- Cleveland Clinic. (2024, April 24). Hemorrhage: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Types. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hemorrhage
- Mayo Clinic. (2022, July 29). Medical Abortion. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
- Cleveland Clinic. (2024, April 24). Sepsis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12361-sepsis
- Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Ridder, E. M. (2005, September 22). Abortion in young women and subsequent mental health. Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01538.x
- Coleman, PK. Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2011;199(3):180-186. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21881096/
- Executive Department, State of California. (2019, May 31). Proclamation on Reproductive Freedom. https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Proclamation-on-Reproductive-Freedom.pdf
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. (2025, January 17). Mifeprex (Mifepristone). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/mifeprex-mifepristone-information
- Cleveland Clinic. (2023, March 3). Fetal Development. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/7247-fetal-development-stages-of-growth