[stana (OP)]

Ive seen on the tv when a girl goe in for an abortion, the girl is given tablets to take. what do thse tablets do

Also, what happens to the feotus?

[neilep]

This is a very delicate subject.

but here is a fair bit of information I have obtained for you.
I got it from this website http://www.fwhc.org/abortion/medical-ab.htm [Links inactive - To make links active and clickable, login or click here to register]  and there may well be other types

More info here http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/abortion.htm [Links inactive - To make links active and clickable, login or click here to register]


In ALL cases you must seek medical advice !!


The Abortion Pill
Mifepristone and Misoprostol (Medical Abortion) for Early Abortion

What is the Abortion Pill?

The Abortion Pill  is a form of early abortion caused by the combination of two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol. Also known as RU486, medical abortion, or medication abortion, mifepristone was first used safely in Europe.The Abortion Pill is an early abortion option for women who are 8 weeks pregnant or less.

During the first appointment at the clinic you receive the mifepristone pill to take orally. Then 24 to 72 hours later, in the privacy of your own home, you take the misoprostol medication as directed by your clinic (vaginally or buccally). Misoprostol causes contractions resulting in a miscarriage. When used in combination, mifepristone and misoprostol are 95-97% effective within two weeks. Mifepristone and misoprostol are FDA approved.

How Does It Work?

Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy. Because this hormone is blocked, the uterine lining begins to shed, the cervix begins to soften and bleeding may occur. With the later addition of the second medication, misoprostol, the uterus contracts and the pregnancy is usually expelled within 6 to 8 hours.

Because the woman decides when to take the second medication within the time frame of 24 to 72 hours after the first medication, she has some control over when she experiences the miscarriage and its side effects. Some women choose the Abortion Pill because of the privacy it offers. Some women feel empowered by taking an active role in the process.

Use

At your first appointment at the clinic, an ultrasound is performed to confirm you are less than 8 weeks pregnant. You then speak with an experienced counselor who explains how mifepristone and misoprostol work and makes sure you get answers to all of your questions. Your health history is carefully reviewed and if you meet the criteria, the doctor will give you the mifepristone to take orally. You are also given one bottle containing four tablets of misoprostol to be used 24 to 72 hours after taking mifepristone. If this first dosage fails to induce a miscarriage, please call the clinic to receive instructions on using your back-up misoprostol tablets.

What To Expect

Upon taking mifepristone at the clinic you may begin to bleed. As each woman's body is different, bleeding varies from woman to woman. Some may experience light bleeding much like spotting towards the end of a menstrual period. Others have heavier bleeding like their regular menstrual period, or like a heavy period. Some women do not experience any bleeding until taking the misoprostol.

Upon taking the second medication misoprostol tablet, cramping, bleeding, and clotting may begin as soon as 20 minutes. Within the next 6 to 8 hours, most women will miscarry. Cramping may come in waves with increasing and decreasing intensity. You can expect bleeding heavier than a menstrual period with large clots. During this time, you will pass the embryo although you may not see it since it is very small. The amount of bleeding when using the Abortion Pill is greater than with surgical abortion.

Aftercare

A follow-up exam is scheduled for two weeks later to make sure the process is complete. If you have not yet miscarried, we will perform a surgical abortion. A very small percentage (5%) of women do not pass the pregnancy tissue and need a suction procedure to complete the process.

Side Effects

Most of the side effects when using this early abortion option are caused by the second medication, misoprostol. Side-effects may include heavy bleeding, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and heavy cramping.

Risks

Vaginal bleeding during the induced miscarriage could be extremely heavy. In rare situations it could require a surgical abortion and very rarely, a blood transfusion. You will be given our 24-hour hotline number to call if you have any problems. Medical staff are on call at all times to answer your medical questions and concerns.

If pregnancy is continued after taking these medications, there is a high risk of fetal deformities.

[another_someone]

In very crude terms, all the abortion pill does is induce a miscarriage - with all that that entails.  Miscarriages can occur naturally, but in this case it is merely induced.

There has always been medication used by all sorts of witch doctors, midwives, and other folk healers, that have one way or another been used to induce abortions when there was an unwanted pregnancy (RU486 is merely a modern, and more controlled, way of doing what all these folk remedies of the past anyway did).  Miscarriages always run the risk of having additional complications, particularly when later in pregnancy (which is why RU486 is only recommended very early in pregnancy) - and in fact, miscarriages within the first 4 weeks of pregnancy are extremely common, and often go unnoticed (appearing to be no more than a particularly heavy period).