About the Abortion Pill: Cytotec, Complications, & Confirmation

If you’re considering a medication abortion (commonly called the abortion pill), you need to understand three things:

• Cytotec (and how it works)
• The potential complications and risks
• The importance of pregnancy confirmation 

This information is crucial for making an informed decision about your health and future. Keep reading to learn more.

Understanding Cytotec (Misoprostol)

Cytotec is the brand name for misoprostol, the second pill in the abortion pill regimen. 

Cytotec causes uterine contractions which empty the uterus and end the pregnancy. It carries significant risks, especially when used without proper medical supervision.

Is Cytotec Legal in your state?

If you live in a state where abortion is illegal or restricted, you generally cannot take Cytotec for the purpose of ending a pregnancy. In states where abortion is legal, you can only take Cytotec a valid prescription from a certified provider.

Additionally, the abortion pill (Mifepristone and Misoprostol or Cytotec together) is only FDA-approved up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. That’s 70 days since the first day of your last menstrual period.[22] However, state laws may vary.

States Where Abortion is Illegal or Restricted

States Where Abortion is Legal

*Viability refers to the point in pregnancy when a fetus is developed enough to survive outside the womb with medical help. It occurs at approximately 24 weeks of pregnancy.[21]

Understanding the Complications 

Medication abortion carries potential risks and complications that every woman should understand before making a decision:

Common Side Effects[23]

• Bleeding that can last up to a month
• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea and digestive pain
• Chills
• Fever
• Abdominal cramping (caused by Cytotec)

Serious Complications

• Incomplete abortion. An incomplete abortion happens when pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus. Surgery may be required to complete the abortion.[24]
• Infection. Infections happen when pregnancy tissue remains in the body. They can be life-threatening if left untreated.[23]
• Hemorrhaging. The abortion pill can cause hemorrhaging, which may require blood transfusion or surgery to treat.[25]
• Undetected ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that implants outside of the uterus. It can cause the implantation site to rupture if not treated in time. This is a life-threatening medical emergency that cannot be treated by the abortion pill. 

When to Seek Emergency Medical Care

Seek emergency medical attention if you experience[23]:

• Bleeding that soaks through two or more pads per hour for two consecutive hours
• Fever above 100.4°F for more than fours hours
• Severe pelvic pain that doesn’t improve with pain medication
• Signs of infection (foul-smelling discharge, vaginal burning, or itching)

The Importance of Pregnancy Confirmation

Before considering any abortion procedure, confirming your pregnancy with proper medical testing is absolutely essential. Here’s why:

Accurate Dating 

As mentioned above, the abortion pill is only FDA-approved for use up to 10 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period.[1]

Taking the medication beyond this timeframe increases the risk of complications, and may require further medical intervention, including emergency surgery to address excessive bleeding or incomplete abortion.[26]

Viability Assessment

A viable pregnancy indicates that the pregnancy is progressing normally and has the potential to continue to term. During an ultrasound, technicians check for signs like a detectable heartbeat, which typically appears between 6.5 and 7 weeks of gestation.[27]

If a heartbeat cannot be detected, it may indicate that a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy has occurred. In these cases, alternative medical care is required, especially for ectopic pregnancies, which can be life-threatening if untreated.

Ectopic pregnancies occur when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tube. This condition:

• Cannot be detected by home pregnancy tests alone—an ultrasound is needed.
• Can cause a rupture and life-threatening internal bleeding if not treated in time.
• Is not treated by surgical or medical abortion.

ICU Mobile provides free ultrasounds in our mobile medical units, with locations all across the country. Give us a call at (877) 231-2005 to get started.

Please be aware that ICU Mobile does not provide or refer for abortion services.

Sources

1. Alabama Legislature. (2025, February 4). House Bill 50. https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/HB50-int.pdf  
2. Arkansas General Assembly. Arkansas Unborn Child Protection Act (SB6). Arkansas State Legislature. (2021, February 9, 2021). https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2021R%2FPublic%2FSB6.pdf  
3. The Florida Senate. (2023, April 14). SB 300: Pregnancy and Parenting Support. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/300  
4. Georgia General Assembly. (2019, May 7). House Bill 481. https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20192020/187013   
5.  Indiana State Medical Association. (2023, August 23). Abortion law in effect after IN Supreme Court denies rehearing. https://ismanet.org/ISMA/Resources/e-Reports/8-23-23/Abortion_law_in_effect.aspx  
6. Commonwealth of Kentucky Office of the Attorney General. (2022, June 24). Human Life Protection Act. Attorney General Daniel Cameron. https://www.ag.ky.gov/Press%20Release%20Attachments/Human%20Life%20Protection%20Act%20Advisory.pdf   
7. Michael Watson, Secretary of State. (2022, June 27). Mississippi Abortion Notice Published in Administrative Bulletin. https://www.sos.ms.gov/press/mississippi-abortion-notice-published-administrative-bulletin  
8. North Carolina General Assembly. (2023, May 4). SENATE BILL 20 RATIFIED BILL. https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2023/Bills/Senate/PDF/S20v5.pdf   
9. Oklahoma House of Representatives. (2022, March 21). HB4327 Floor Amendment 8 Bill Summary. https://www.oklegislature.gov/cf_pdf/2021-22%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/BILLSUM/House/HB4327%20FA8%20BILLSUM.PDF  
10. Tennessee General Assembly. (2022, June). Human Life Protection Act.  https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB1029&GA=111  
11. Texas Constitution and Statutes. (2022, August 25). Health and Safety Code Chapter 170A. Performance of Abortion.  https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.170A.htm 
12. Texas Constitution and Statutes. (2021, September 1). Health and Safety Code Chapter 171. Abortion. https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/pdf/HS.171.pdf 
13. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Arizona Abortion Laws. (2024, November 5). https://www.azag.gov/issues/reproductive-rights/laws     
14. Executive Department, State of California. (2019, May 31). Proclamation on Reproductive Freedom. https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Proclamation-on-Reproductive-Freedom.pdf   
15. Hawaii State Legislature. (2023). H.B. NO. 1491. https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/SB1491_.HTM     
16. Illinois General Assembly. (2023, February 15). HB2606. https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/103/HB/10300HB2606.htm  
17. Kansas State Legislature. (2022). Article 67. ABORTION. https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/statute/065_000_0000_chapter/065_067_0000_article/065_067_0003_section/065_067_0003_k/  
18. Michigan Legislature. (2023). House Bill 4949. https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2023-HB-4949  
19. Ohio Secretary of State. (2023, December 7). Article I, Section 22 — Ohio Constitution: The Right to Reproductive Freedom with Protections for Health and Safety. Ohio Laws & Administrative Code. https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-constitution/section-1.22 
20.  Pennsylvania General Assembly. (2025, January 8). House Bill 26. https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb26  
21. Breborowicz, G. (2001, January). Limits of fetal viability and its enhancement. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11753511/  
22. FDA. (2025, February 11). Questions and Answers on Mifeprex. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifeprex
23. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2024, November 15). Mifepristone (Mifeprex). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600042.html
24. Mayo Clinic. (2022, July 29). Medical Abortion. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
25. FDA. (2019, July). Prescribing Information for Mifeprex. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/022348s014lbl.pdf
26. Redinger, A., & Nguyen, H. (2022, June 27). Incomplete Abortions. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559071/
27. Cleveland Clinic. (2023, March 3). Fetal Development. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/7247-fetal-development-stages-of-growth