Abortion pill experiences?

[sunriseship]

I found out last week that I am pregnant and I am roughly around 5-6 weeks. I have thought this through and it is completely the wrong time for both me and my partner and we have both came to the agreement that we would like to terminate the pregnancy. I have contacted my local NHS clinic and the soonest appointment they have for a phone consultation is this Thursday. I also contacted BPAS who offered me a telephone consultation for Tuesday. I have booked both appointments just incase however will probably cancel my nhs once I have spoken to BPAS. Both have suggested the pill and am just wondering what peoples experiences are of this? I have terrible emetaphobia and have seen a lot of people that have vomited from the pill and am so worried about this. I suffer from horrendously painful periods so am used to the pain but am just wondering what the pain will be like? I am so anxious about the whole thing as I have never been through anything like this before. I’m just hoping someone can put my mind at ease 😊

I’m so sorry OP, it’s not an easy thing to go through.

My experience with the pill was OK. I also used to have very painful periods, but I would say the termination was more painful. Very strong cramps. If I remember rightly the cramps lasted for around 6 hours. It was nice to be at home and be able to have a bath and be in my own comfortable surroundings. The first day of bleeding was of course the heaviest, and then it slowed a lot. I wasn’t sick and didn’t feel sick.

That was my experience. Hopefully others will be along to tell you theirs.

Take care of yourself

@preggo39 Thank you so much for your reply 😊 did they provide you with any anti sickness medication with your pills? As I am thinking of asking for this on my phone consultation however unsure if they will provide them. I’m also really worried as I go on holiday on the 5th March so am hoping I will be sorted by then😭

I’m so sorry but I really can’t remember! I was given painkillers and an antibiotic but I don’t remember anti sickness meds. Definitely ask if you think you might need it.

It’s great that you have a lovely holiday to look forward to. Have a fab time.

Hi
I'm not in the UK, I'm in Ireland. But I was given abortion pills a number of years ago.

I suffer horrendous periods, I vomit regularly the 1st day so that may have impacted my experience. The cramps didn't kick in for a few hours, they tell you to take pain killers in advance though.

The cramps are heightened (worse than period cramps) for I'd say 6-8 hours (for me anyway) until the larger clots and contraction style cramping died down.

I bled for maybe 5 days but from day 3 it started tapering off like a normal period.

I did vomit on day one at the worst of the pain. I also passed the clot on that first day maybe an hour or so after vomiting.

I honestly stayed in bed for 2 days more or less and went about as normal after that (still bleeding but manageable).

I also have severe emetophobia and have had an abortion.

Just to give you an alternative experience, because of my phobia, I requested a surgical abortion from BPAS. They did it at 6 weeks (I think that was the earliest they’ll do it surgically because they need to be able to see on the ultrasound), I was in the room for literally (and I do mean literally) under 10 mins, actual procedure was under 3. Just local anaesthetic into my cervix, I didn’t feel the injection, no sedation or drugs etc needed due to how early it was. Minimal pain, just some strong cramps right at the end, and then it was done and I could go home basically right away and it was over.

@CloakedInGuccithanks so much for your reply! I honestly didn’t know that you could just have local anaesthetic for the surgical route. The only reason I was opting for the medication was due to me choosing not to inform anyone other than my partner. My partner works away so wouldn’t be able to collect me from the clinic after a general anaesthesia. Did you have to have someone with you due to it being local? And what were your other side effects after? Depending how soon they can get me in I may choose this option. I really struggle with emetophobia so this is why I am so worried

Hi, I am probably the best person to reply to this post as I am going through my first EAHMA right now. I took the first pill in hospital on Friday, and this morning I took the 2nd set of medication. The cramps have been terrible but so far, that’s it. My bleeding is still minimal. I definitely haven’t passed “the mass” yet. I am 5 weeks and 2 days. I think the earlier you catch it the better. I went through the NHS. Called on Monday, telephone appointment Thursday, hospital appointment Friday.

I had the pills by post, they came with strong painkillers to take at various times.

I didn’t find it half as bad as I expected; the painkillers made me dozy so I laid in bed, slept though most of it, and the pain was less strong than some periods for me. It was over in less than 4 hours.

No sickness or nausea.

No side effects at all, and didn’t need anyone with me. I had to take some antibiotics, and I had very limited bleeding, just like the tail end of a period. It was during Covid so I though they’d be a bit anti me going in rather than having the pills posted, but I just explained the issue and she couldn’t have been nicer about it - just said ok we’ll do it surgically.

I don’t mean to come across as flippant about it, but physically I’ve had more unpleasant smear tests. I had given birth before though, so don’t know if that made any difference.

@Tinyyetsatisfying thanks so much for your reply! I can’t believe how quickly you’ve managed to get sorted. I only found out I was pregnant on Thursday night so I only had Friday to arrange my appointments so was never gonna get anything for over the weekend. I’m hoping I can get the medication as soon as possible as I am going on holiday the beginning of March so wanting to be sorted by then😭 did they provide you with any other medication alongside the pills? I don’t have my NHS phone call until Thursday but am thinking of going through BPAS just due to them offering me a call sooner.

@OnlyMabelInTheBuilding thank you for your reply! That’s made me feel much more at ease as I have seen mainly bad stories about the pills😭 did they offer any anti sickness pills? And did you go through the nhs or bpas?

I went privately, I can DM you the details if you’d like. The pills were sent out same day.

@CloakedInGuccii am going to have a think about this option. I did look online and it said I would need to be in the clinic for up to 4 hours. was this how long you were there? Just I’m unsure as to whether I could take the time off work as I’m not going to inform them. I am honestly just so scared about the whole process and I think because I’m going through it alone it makes it 100x worse😭

@OnlyMabelInTheBuildingyes please could you dm me the details😊 I’ll definitely look into it because I am wanting to start the medication as soon as possible as I really do not want to prolong. And I’m unsure as to when I will receive my medication from the NHS or BPAS as they didn’t have many appointments at all!

I have had experience of both pills & surgery (not something I ever would have imagined being the case and not decisions that were made lightly). The pills were fine, definitely felt really nauseous after the first one but the 4 you take 24 hours later had no side effects. Bleeding started in the timeframe expected & was heavy with cramps but manageable & tailed off after a couple of days to a more normal period. It felt a bit long & drawn out but much more private, I could control when I did it & just holed myself up at home for a couple of days.

Surgery itself was literally less than 10 mins like another poster has said, though had to form fill, test blood type, take a tablet, wait an hour, wait for it to be my turn then recover for a bit & be discharged so overall I probably was there a few hours. It felt much more medical & made it feel so much more real as well, I was so aware of what I was doing. Plus not very private at all, clinic staff were so lovely but it was a bit of a conveyor belt & very strange to be waiting with other people doing the same thing. But procedure and recovery were so much quicker & easier in my experience. I did have retained products so had the procedure repeated.

its such a personal thing but physically surgery was much better for me, mentally the pills were the best choice. Sending you lots of love and here if you want to ask anything, it can be a very lonely place

I called BPAS too but unfortunately they don’t cover Scotland so I had to do NHS route. Yes the pack they gave me came with the Misoprostol (the abortion medication), cocodomol, ibuprofen, 3 days of antibiotic (just Incase) and 6 months of the mini pill. I started the medication today at 12.30pm. I inserted 4 of the Misoprostol vaginally then 4 hours later inserted another 2. You have to take 6 if you’re under 9 weeks and 8 if you’re over 9 weeks. I’m approx 10-11 hours in. I haven’t been sick, just cramping. I’ve mostly lay in bed and watched tv. There’s blood when I wipe and spotting on my pads but nothing major yet so my assumption is I’ve still got the mass and clots to come. So far it’s been a far less intense experience than I anticipated.

@Jsh125thanks for your reply! I am sort of swaying towards to surgery route however will decide when they call me on Tuesday. I think for me it’s more just the waiting around for the call. I found out I was pregnant on Thursday night so have basically sat and worried all weekend! I really just want it over with 😭

@Tinyyetsatisfyingthank you! What antibiotic did they give you? I’m going to see if it’s possible for anti sickness medication when they call. I’m so glad that it has been a positive experience for you so far!

Doxycycline 100mg

You’re welcome, hopefully hearing some experiences of both will help. I went through BPAS & had to wait a couple of weeks for surgery, not sure if it’s the same everywhere but the clinic closest to me had a surgeon there for one day every 2 weeks so wasn’t like I could just go a few days later and get it done. During the wait morning sickness arrived with full force which was horrible so worth just considering if there is a wait for a surgery date.

No but it was right during Covid (June 2020) so there was only one other patient there so that may have sped things up. I had an appointment time, saw a nurse for a basic check up (blood pressure etc), then moved to a room with beds where I got changed. Sat there for a bit, then went into the procedure room. Afterwards I had to go back to the bed for a bit to take the first antibiotics and I guess just be monitored but that was only 15 mins. I’d guess I was there an hour in total. ETA - what also made it quicker was that because I was so early in the pregnancy, I didn’t need any medication to dilate my cervix. So there was no waiting for that to take effect.

I think there are benefits to either method. With the pills you can do it at home so more pleasant environment and easier from a practical point of view. Surgical you have to go in, but it’s done there and then, so quicker process.

Just an update for you, I slept all through the night last night. Passed my first, and so far only, blood clot this morning. Haven’t had any cramps since and now it’s just light blood like a period. I do believe that clot was the sac. I called my clinician and she said with me only being 5 weeks it definitely is a much easier experience and she wasn’t surprised at my journey.

Hi, I’ve been through this. I was about six weeks. It was for me like a very heavy period and more painful-although they gave me codeine and ibuprofen which helped a lot. By the next day I felt totally fine. I will be honest with you, I did vomit which I was surprised at as it a rare thing for me. Not trying to worry you, but definitely worth discussing the possibility of this with them.

@Tinyyetsatisfyingim so glad it’s went smoothly for you. How many days do u think I will need to take off work? Or have you managed okay?

@Xenomoththank you for your reply! Did you go through the NHS? I’ve managed to rearrange my appointment to tomorrow morning over the phone so am hoping I can get the medication as soon as possible.