For a lot of women out there, pregnancy may be a tough decision, and abortion even tougher. Situations in some countries do not even offer safe abortion alternatives; hence, many of these women’s lives go to waste by resorting to unsafe abortion practices. It is a good thing then that there are helpful sites like Women on Web that can help women in dealing with abortion.
It is considered that the best and safest way for a woman to perform abortion upon herself is until her 12th week of pregnancy. She can then use pills or medicines like Mifepristone, a popular abortion pill, RU 486; or Misoprostol which is also known as Cytotec, Cyprostol, Arthrotec, Mibetec, Misotrol, Oxaprost or Prostokos.
Now, if you’re a woman living in a country where you don’t have safe abortion services and you would like to take medical abortion using Mifepristone or Misoprostol, you can visit Women on Web site.
Meanwhile, here are some tips in how a woman should take Misoprostol or Cytotec:
- First: Make sure that you are 100% pregnant through pregnancy test or ultrasound.
The ultrasound should also show whether the pregnancy is in the womb (not ectopic) and—of course—the number of weeks of pregnancy which should be 12 weeks or an equivalent of 84 days. Otherwise, even as the medicine works, the woman will be prone to heavy bleeding and severe pain. If her pregnancy is longer than 12 weeks, then complications may increase as well.
- Second: A woman must ask for help from a partner, close friend or relative.
These people should know about the abortion and should be able to help in case of complications. Moreover, remember that misoprostol can only be used without medical guidance if the woman has no serious illness or health problem such as anemia. She also must not take drugs or alcohol during the treatment.
Women with ectopic pregnancy, IUD contraceptive and allergy in misoprostol or any prostaglandin should never use misoprotol abortion method as it would endanger her health.
- Third: Remember that there’s a possibility of abortion failure by 10% through Misoprostol intake.
There only 90% chance that this method will be successful. In this case, the woman can try again after a few days but if the span of 14 days has lapsed and the pregnancy is still ongoing, then the woman must consider other plans such as going to another country where abortion is legal, contact women on web or keep the pregnancy.
- Fourth: Carefully follow the steps in how to take misoprostol.
No. of tablets : 12 tablets of misoprostol
- Put 4 pills of 200 micrograms (total of 800mcg) of misoprostol under the tongue and do not swallow immediately. Wait for at least half an hour (equivalent of 30 minutes), letting the tablets dissolve eventually under her tongue. She should then spit out the inner hard tablet sine it is a painkiller called diclofenac.
- After 3 hours, she should do the same procedure with 4 pills again this time.
- After 3 hours, do the same procedure with the remaining 4 pills and remember… no swallowing!
With the first dose, the woman should expect bleeding and cramps which can occur within 4 hours after using the pills. If bleeding did not happen after the three-set takes, then she should try again after a couple of days or opt to travel abroad wherein abortion is legal.
As heavy bleeding and cramps are expected, it is just natural that the woman takes painkillers like naproxen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, paracetamol, acetaminophen or Aspirin. The aid must also prepare hot water bottle for the belly for further relief.
- Fifth: Making sure that the abortion really took place.
Some women tend to bleed without having the actual abortion; hence, to make sure that the abortion took place, the woman should wait for 2-3 weeks and test herself again through PT or pregnancy test.
Side Effects of taking Misoprostol
Known side effects include but are not limited to; vomiting, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea and sometimes, fever. It is important then that help should always be around and if heavy bleeding still occurs for a long duration, don’t hesitate to go to the hospital for medical attention.