Medical Abortion Pill

To make an appointment to have a Medical Abortion please fill out the following form

Medical Abortions (The Abortion Pill) – Mifegymiso

The Abortion Pill – Mifegymiso (Mifepristone/Misoprostol) was approved in Canada in July of 2015. The Abortion Pill has been successfully and safely used in Europe since 1988. Abortion with the Abortion Pill – Mifegymiso is an alternative method for ending an early pregnancy up to 63 days. Taking the Abortion Pill DOES NOT involve a surgical procedure or sedation. The pill also allows women to have the abortion in the comfort and privacy of their own home.

The way that Mifepristone works is by blocking the hormone progesterone, a hormone naturally needed by the body to maintain an early pregnancy. It causes an early pregnancy to stop growing and detach from the uterine wall. The Abortion Pill works naturally by ending an early pregnancy, similar to an early miscarriage. Another hormone – prostaglandin, has to be taken 2 days after Mifepristone to assure expulsion of the gestational sac.

95% of women choosing the pill require only one appointment in our clinic. A follow-up blood test to measure whether the pill was successful or not is done at a local lab. Once we have received your results and assess them, we will follow up with you over the phone.

You cannot buy the abortion pill online or through a pharmacy. Only specially trained doctors in abortion care can purchase and dispense Mifegymiso (The Abortion Pill).

Our clinic doctors and nurses are specially trained in abortion care and we have superior knowledge and many years of experience.

The Abortion Pill (Mifegymiso) is a three step process:

Step 1:

On the first day, you will take the first medication Mifepristone. Mifepristone will destabilize the lining of your uterus and end the pregnancy. You cannot reverse the effects of the medication once you take it.

Step 2:

The second day of 4 pills, Misoprostol, are taken at home, 24-48 hours later. Misoprostol tablets cause the uterus to contract and evacuate the pregnancy naturally.

Step 3:

The follow up is blood work that is done at a local lab (ex: Dynacare or Lifelabs) to measure whether the pill was successful or not.

The Abortion Pill (Mifegymiso) is up to 95-98% effective. If the Abortion Pill is not successful, an aspiration procedure (D&C) will be necessary to evacuate the pregnancy.

To make an appointment to have a Medical Abortion please fill out the following form

Medical Abortion Booking Form

Medical Abortion (The Abortion Pill) – FAQ

Q: How long does it take for the process to be completed?

You will need at least 1 visit. Some women may require 2-3 visits. 95% of patients doing a medical abortion using Mifepristone will be completed in the first week. Bleeding usually starts within 30 minutes to 3-4 hours after using the Misoprostol and may be heavy for 4-8 hours. You may continue to have some bleeding or spotting for a few weeks. There is a 5% chance of a delayed reaction. This does not mean you need surgery but does make the process take longer as you may require more medication and time to pass the tissue.

Q: Can the abortion pill fail?

There is a 3-5% failure rate with this medication and if they have failed to induce an abortion it is recommended that you return to the clinic for uterine aspiration to complete the procedure as the medication is known to cause fetal demise.

First week:
95% are completed

1% will fail after 1 week and need aspiration abortion

2% will require aspiration because of heavy bleeding

2% will wait longer for the bleeding; could be up to 4 weeks

Q: Do I Qualify for Medical Abortion with the Abortion Pill (Mifegymiso)?

In order to have medical abortion by using Abortion Pill – Mifegymiso you must be no more than 63 days from the first day of your last menstrual period. We will do an ultrasound in our clinic to confirm that you are early enough into pregnancy to take the Abortion Pill. We also will review your medical history to be sure you medically qualify for an abortion with the Abortion Pill, Mifegymiso. You must speak and read English well.

Advantages of the Abortion Pill (Mifegymiso)

Your significant other or family member can be with you during the entire process. Many women appreciate having loved ones when the miscarriage occurs. It can be performed up to 63 days of the first day of the last menstrual cycle. It does not require surgical procedure.

Common Side effect of the Mifepristone

*Side effects may include: mild gastrointestinal (stomach) upset nausea; diarrhea; headache; fever and chills or occasional spotting or bleeding.

Common Side effect of Misoprostol

*Abdominal cramping, mild fevers, and mild gastrointestinal (stomach) upset.

*Bleeding usually follows the cramping, and can be heavier than usual for several hours. The bleeding then tapers off to light bleeding like a period.

Side effects are typically mild and tolerable, usually lasting a couple of hours but in some cases may last up to few days. You will be prescribed pain medication and anti-nausea medications to be taken as needed to minimize discomfort.

Q: What I should expect to see after taking the Abortion Pill (Mifepristone and Misoprostol)?

Usually when early in the pregnancy there is no visible embryo. You may experience a heavier period, with some tiny cells that you cannot see, and some tissue lining (like normal shedding as experienced with heavier period).

Q: Do I need to miss work/school?

One of the advantages is that you can plan when taking the Abortion Pill is convenient. Once you take the second set of pills, the miscarriage usually happens within 45 min. In this case you don’t have to miss work or school. However, there are some uncommon instances where the miscarriage is delayed and it does not begin for several hours after taking the second set of pills. In this case where the bleeding is delayed we recommend that you stay home until the miscarriage takes place.

Q: Do you have translators?

No. Unfortunately, we receive no government funding for counselling, medication or translation. The patient should be fluent in English in order to receive the pill.