Abortion, including use of abortion pills at home, is very safe.
Medication abortions involve either a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprostol alone.
Mifepristone has about a five-year shelf life, and misoprostol lasts about two years.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
Some people wonder if they should stock up on abortion pills before Trump takes office next year.
Heres what you gotta know.
Do You Need a Prescription for Abortion Pills?
Abortion pills are not the same as over-the-counter emergency contraceptives like the morning-after pill.
You will need a prescription to access abortion pills.
The non-profit organizationPlan Ccan help you find information about accessing medication abortions in your state.
How Safe and Effective Are Abortion Pills?
Both mifepristone and misoprostol are safe and effective.
Millions of people have used these medications for decades to end early pregnancies safely, Wallace said.
Most people use abortion pills without complications, and the medications generally do not affect future pregnancies.
However, they can cause allergic reactions, infections, blood clots in the uterus, or excessive bleeding.
In rare cases, the pregnancy may continue, or some tissue may remain in the uterus.
Should You Order Abortion Pills Online?
Its still uncertain how the Trump administration might handle access to medication abortion.
While having this medication on hand is important for some people, stockpiling the pills can lead to shortages.
Guttmacher Institute.Medication abortion accounted for 63% of all US abortions in 2023an increase from 53% in 2020.
Plan C.Abortion pills by mail in every state.
Planned Parenthood.The abortion pill.
Plan C.How people get abortion pills online in every state: frequently asked questions.
Planned Parenthood.Is there an over the counter abortion pill that I can take without a prescription?.
Yale Medicine.Medication abortion: your questions answered.
Planned Parenthood.How safe is the abortion pill?
KFF.The Comstock Act: implications for abortion care nationwide.
Guttmacher Institute.How Project 2025 seeks to obliterate sexual and reproductive health and rights.
AidAccess.Abortion pills for future use.
