Managing Pain from Abortion Pills

Lots of people wonder about abortion pill pain. We get questions like, how long does the pain last? And how painful is the abortion pill? The truth is that everyone experiences cramping and pain differently, so we can't tell you exactly how it will feel for you.

Some people say it feels like mild to strong period cramps. Others say it feels more painful, like contractions during labor. Some people experience shooting pains, feeling pressure in their lower belly or butt, or even feel like they need to poop.

It can vary for a few reasons. First, some people feel pain more and others less. What feels painful for one person may not for another. Abortion pill pain level can also vary depending on how many weeks pregnant you are. People who are further along in their pregnancy tend to have more intense or painful cramping than people earlier in pregnancy.

Keep in mind that cramping actually means the medicine is working. And there are things you can do to manage the pain.

Cramping and pain usually start about 2-4 hours after taking misoprostol. It can start even sooner, or take up to about 6 hours to start. For very early pregnancies, it can take 24 hours or more to start.

How long the cramping lasts after the abortion pill is different for everyone. It's usually the most intense right before your bleeding is the heaviest. This is because your uterus is working to push out the pregnancy. Cramps are what you feel when that's happening.

Once most of the pregnancy tissue comes out, cramping should start to get better. It could be as quick as an hour, or could last up to 12-24 hours after taking the misoprostol. The more weeks pregnant you are, the longer the cramping and pain will probably last. You may still have cramps on and off for several weeks after using the pills. It's fine to continue to take pain medicine as needed.

There is pain relief for abortion pills. How to manage abortion pain is up to you, with options like medicine and common home remedies. Here are your choices for abortion pill pain management.

There are no specific abortion pain relief pills you need to take. You can take over the counter pain medicine to help with cramping, which you may already have at home.

You can take ibuprofen (like Advil or Motrin), acetaminophen (like Tylenol), or naproxen (like Aleve). Here's how much medicine to take:

• 800mg of ibuprofen (4 of the 200mg over the counter pills) every 6 hours as needed. Studies show ibuprofen works the best.

• 1000mg acetaminophen (2 of the 500mg over the counter pills) every 6 hours as needed. This is less effective than ibuprofen, but if you can't take ibuprofen for any reason, acetaminophen can still help.

• 440mg of naproxen (2 of the 220mg over the counter pills) every 12 hours as needed.

You can take ibuprofen or naproxen along with acetaminophen if you need to. You should start taking pain medicine before you take your misoprostol so it starts working before the cramps start.

Using a heating pad for cramps can also be helpful to manage pain during your abortion. If you don't have a heating pad you can also use a hot water bottle or warm compress. You can make a heating pad with a sock filled with uncooked rice. You microwave it to make it warm. Put it on your lower belly or lower back, wherever it feels good. You can also soak in a warm tub or take a hot shower. Whatever works for you!

Heat can help relax the muscles in your uterus, lessening the pain of cramps. You can use heat to help as often as you want throughout the process.

Staying hydrated can help manage abortion side effects like headaches, nausea, or feeling dizzy or lightheaded. This means drinking plenty of water or other drinks like herbal tea, or drinks with electrolytes (i.e., coconut water or sports drinks).

It's best to avoid drinks that will dehydrate you, like coffee or teas with caffeine in them. It's also best to avoid alcohol, as it can also be dehydrating.

Nausea is a common side effect of abortion pills. We'll give you anti-nausea medicine in your package (called ondansetron) to take before both your mifepristone and misoprostol. This should make the nausea much easier to manage during your abortion.

There are also other things you can do to help with nausea during your abortion. You can eat light snacks that are bland. Things like crackers, toast, or broth are good options. Avoid eating foods that may upset your stomach, like greasy or spicy foods.

You can also drink ginger or mint tea, or other home remedies you've found helpful in the past to settle your stomach.

Another way to manage the pain and other side effects of your abortion is to make things as comfortable as possible. Here are some suggestions to help figure out what you'd like to do:

• Wear comfortable clothes that are loose or stretchy.

• Choose a comfortable, private place where you can rest, whether it's at home or at a friend or family member's house.

• Keep supplies nearby, like pads, a heating pad, water, snacks, and medicine.

• Choose a comfortable place that's near a bathroom to spend the time, like a bed or couch.

• Have entertainment ready to keep you distracted. This could be movies, music, books, or something else you like.

You get to decide what feels best for you when it comes to comfort. But thinking it through before your abortion can help you be more prepared and manage the symptoms better when they're happening.

If you can, it can help to plan to take a day or two to rest after your abortion. But we know not everyone has that option. Listen to your body and rest when you need to, as you're able.

Most people can go back to their normal activities, like work or school, within 1-2 days after their medication abortion.

It's a good idea to keep track of your pain and other symptoms. You can write down things like when you took medicines, how often you're filling and changing pads, and any symptoms you're worried about.

It can be helpful to have this information written down in case you need to contact us or another doctor or nurse with questions or concerns. It can also help you remember when it's time to take pain medicine again.