Fact Check Friday- “Abortion Pills are a safe alternative to an unplanned pregnancy.”

This is hard to talk about

Abortion pills or "medical abortions" are now the most common abortion procedure in Pennsylvania. Over 20,000 women will begin a medical abortion this year (or roughly 60% of the total abortions in PA). We expect that nearly 5,000 of those women will live in or near Allegheny County. That means that every day, 14 of our friends and neighbors will experience a self managed abortion and will witness the death and disposal of their child while at home alone.

This is hard to talk about.

"Brandy" visited us recently and learned she was pregnant...again. When our staff talked with her about the previous pregnancy, she opened up about her "medical abortion" experience. Like so many young women seeking abortion, Brandy never actually saw a medical professional. The pills were sent to her home. She carefully followed the directions and a few days later the abortion was complete. The bleeding and cramping were uncomfortable and excessive. But she never expected to actually see her child. Not knowing what to do with the tiny baby, she held onto the remains for more than a month. It was difficult for her to stop crying.

This is really hard to talk about... but she needs us to start talking.

Period Pills.

Planned Parenthood's website continues to tout claims about how safe abortion pills are: “Safe and effective,” “Safe and simple,” “Safe and super common,” are phrases repeated throughout their website. PeriodPills.org advertises abortion as "period pills" -- a "safe and effective way to end your pregnancy" with or without a positive pregnancy test! Here's the claim:

If your period is late, you can take missed period pills to make sure you aren't pregnant. Period pills end your early pregnancy. You do not have to take a test before using pills.

The FDA, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) all have signed on and agree, it’s really really safe…really. The studies cited however are from 2012. And remember that these groups all have something to gain from the growing abortion industry.

But the real-life stories like Brandy's and most current 2023 PA statistics don’t support the claims of this “safe and simple” procedure. 

According to the FDA's own label, roughly one in 25 of the women who use these drugs may end up in the Emergency Department because of

complications related to their abortion. Hemorrhage, infection, retained fetal product, and sepsis will be the reasons for her visit.

Am I okay?

Women who've been told that the abortion pill is safe and simple frequently call pregnancy centers when they experience severe symptoms and outcomes. We refer to this as the "Am I okay?" call. The caller has no where to turn. Abortion providers have dismissed her call and simply say to go to the ER. This frightened young woman needs a caring person to talk with and hear her concerns. These women will often ask about the fetal remains. "What do I do?" one person asked, "The website said to flush it down the toilet... but it's not a goldfish, it's my baby."

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  While medical abortions are increasing in Pennsylvania, the number of reported complications from abortions are increasing alarmingly. The number of complications has tripled in the last 5 years. There were over 469 reported complications from abortion in 2022, a 43% increase from the previous year. In 2023, that number rose to 524--the highest reported in decades. In the absence of a doctor’s care, abortion pills are simply not safe. Nationally, Mifepristone has been associated with dozens of deaths and hundreds of life-threatening complications that we know of. Access to so called “abortion care” has been preferred over women’s health. 

  
  

  Read more from the original post discussing abortion pills in PA: Click Here.

Self Managed Health Care

The abortion pill procedure is essentially a DIY abortion using two chemicals. The abortion is completed at home leaving a woman alone and with little access to pre and post abortion care. Mifepristone’s packaging instructions clearly advises women to consult an ultrasound to determine the gestational age of the baby before administering the drug, yet clinics, pharmacies, and online sales websites fail to provide this vital service.

By promoting medical abortion, big pharmaceutical companies are now cashing in while women are further separated from genuine health care. Promotion of these “self-managed” abortions and “pills by mail” ignore widely acknowledged health protections like medical screening, informed consent, and parental involvement for minors. Without an ultrasound, many women cannot confidently determine if they are within the number of weeks gestation to safely use these pills. The baby is expelled, usually in the toilet. Cramping, pain, and excessive bleeding are common and to be expected. The details for determining if the “contents of the uterus” have passed are spelled out (in very graphic detail) here.



This is very hard to talk about. Women are being harmed. You can make a difference. Get involved and make a difference!

Key Take Aways

The abortion pill is a series of chemicals administered early in a pregnancy and can be dispensed by non-physician personnel and via tele-health.

1. Abortion Pills can be ordered online and sent discreetly to any mailbox or dorm room without the recipient ever seeing a doctor. Women complete the abortion at home, alone.

2. The abortion pill, or medical abortion, now accounts for over 55% of the abortions in the State and is growing as the preferred abortion method.

3. The number of abortion pill complications has tripled in the past 5 years. 

4. This is hard to talk about but you can become better equipped. Register for the Contenders Conference today.