In Canada, the medication used to terminate a pregnancy is called Mifegymiso which is a combination of two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol. Both medications come packaged together and the boxes are colour coded and labeled.

These medications are approved for use by Health Canada. Research studies have shown this treatment to be a safe and effective method of ending a pregnancy. If you have an Ontario Healthcard, these medications are available at no cost to you at our clinic.

The success rate of medical abortions using Mifegymiso depends on how far along you are in pregnancy:
7 weeks/49 days: 92% to 99% effective
8 weeks/56 days:  91% to 98% effective
9 weeks, or 63 days: 87% to 98% effective

Medication abortion is very safe. Serious problems are rare, but like all medical procedures, there can be some risks.

• the abortion pills don’t work and the pregnancy doesn’t end
• some of the pregnancy tissue is left in your uterus
• blood clots in your uterus
• bleeding too much or too long
• infection
• allergic reaction to one of the medicines

These problems aren’t common. And if they do happen, they’re usually easy to take care of with medication or other treatments.

In extremely rare cases, some complications can be very serious or even life threatening. Call your doctor or health center right away if you:

• have no bleeding within 24 hours after taking the second medicine (misoprostol)
• have heavy bleeding from your vagina that soaks through more than 2 maxi pads in an hour, for 2 or more hours in a row
• pass large clots (bigger than a lemon) for more than 2 hours
• have belly pain or cramps that don’t get better with pain medication
• have a fever of 100.4 or higher more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol
• have weakness, nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol

The abortion pill is really safe and effective. It’s a super common way to have an abortion, and millions of people have used it safely.

Unless there’s a rare and serious complication that’s not treated, there’s no risk to your future pregnancies or to your overall health. Having an abortion doesn’t increase your risk for breast cancer or affect your fertility. It doesn’t cause problems for future pregnancies like birth defects, premature birth or low birth weight, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or infant death.

Serious, long-term emotional problems after an abortion are rare, and about as uncommon as they are after giving birth. They are more likely to happen in people who have to end a pregnancy because of health reasons, people who do not have support around their decision to have an abortion, or people who have a history of mental health problems. Most people feel relief after an abortion.

There are many myths out there about the effects of abortion. Our clinic staff can give you accurate information about abortion pill side effects or any other concerns you may have.

No. After you take the first pill (mifepristone), the process of the abortion is not reversible.

No, the medication leaves your body within a couple of days and does not affect future pregnancies.

Ovulation can occur within 8 days of taking mifepristone, so you could get pregnant right away. When to start your birth control depends on the type of birth control you have chosen:

• The birth control pill and the patch can be started on the day you take misoprostol.
• The vaginal ring can be inserted one week after taking misoprostol.
• The depo shot can be given at the follow-up appointment at Women’s Health Clinic, approximately one week after taking misoprostol.
• An IUD/IUS can be inserted during the follow-up appointment at Women’s Health Clinic, approximately one week after taking misoprostol.
• Condoms can help prevent pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections.
• We recommend people avoid insertive sex (or inserting anything into their vagina) for a week after taking misoprostol.

There will be time during your appointment to discuss birth control options with the counsellor.