How do I know if the abortion pills worked?

You should have cramping and bleeding after taking the second medicine (misoprostol), usually as heavy or heavier than your period.  

Your pregnancy symptoms (nausea, breast soreness) should start to go away and disappear within about 1 week after using the pills. This is a good sign that you are no longer pregnant.‍

A pregnancy test will stay positive for about 4 weeks after the treatment (even if you are no longer pregnant), so it’s important not to take one sooner. 

In the rare event that the treatment does not work, the abortion must be completed, since misoprostol has a small risk of birth defects. Additionally, if you have not passed the pregnancy after taking the medications, you may need to be evaluated at a healthcare facility to make sure you do not have an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus).

If the medications don't work, you may be able to take another round of medicines or you will need to get an in-clinic procedural abortion. At Hey Jane we will be with you every step of the way to make sure you get the care you need. To find abortion clinics near you, go to ineedana.com or visit our Resources page.