Complications of medication abortion are very rare. They can include:
- Excessive bleeding – if you soak 4 large maxi pads within 2 hours, call the Emergency On-Call number you were given at your appointment or proceed to the nearest emergency room.
- Infection – if you experience fever or chills for more than 4 hours after taking the second set of pills or if fever or chills start more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol, call the Emergency On-Call number you were given at your appointment or proceed to the nearest emergency room.
- Birth defects if the pregnancy is not expelled and is continued to term. An aspiration abortion will be required if the medication abortion is not successful.
- Incomplete abortion – less than 4% of all people who have a medication abortion require a aspiration abortion (using suction) to end the pregnancy.