Hartford GYN Center
One Main Street, Hartford CT 06106
(860) 525-1900
Medical Abortion Take-Home Instructions
Preparation:
Budget time off & child care
Purchase thick, overnight maxi pads
Schedule a check-up appointment
Make sure you have a thermometer
Today: You will begin your medical abortion process by taking Mifeprex in our Center. This starts your
abortion by blocking the hormones that enable the pregnancy to grow. After taking this pill
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Headache
Diarrhea
Vaginal bleeding
Stomach/abdominal pain or cramps in your uterus
Feeling tired or dizzy
Nausea and/or vomiting
Tips:
Fill your prescriptions now
Notify work/school/ family of the check-up appointment
24-48 Hours later: To complete the abortion process you need to use misoprostol.
Preparation:
Consider taking pain reliever 30 mins before misoprostol
Take anti-nausea meds 30 mins before misoprostol
Set up heating pad
Eat lightly
Put on maxi-pad
Put the pills in your lower jaw between your cheek and your gum (2 pills on each side). The pills usually
dissolve after about 20 minutes. While the pills are dissolving, do not eat or drink anything. If the pills do
not fully dissolve after 30 minutes, take a sip of water and swallow whatever is left.
With these pills
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Stomach pain or cramps in your uterus
Nausea and/or vomiting
Vaginal bleeding
Dizziness
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Headache
Diarrhea
Feeling tired
Slight fever
Tips:
Remember bleeding & cramping is normal
Drink warm fluids
7-14 Days Later: Return to our Center for your scheduled check-up.
. During this visit you will get a transvaginal
ultrasound and briefly meet with staff. If you need to reschedule your appointment due to an emergency,
please call us. This appointment is so important that if you miss it we will call you and then mail a letter
to your address if we cannot connect with you!
Tips:
You may still be bleeding at your check-up
Ask for any doctor’s notes
Hartford GYN Center
One Main Street, Hartford CT 06106
(860) 525-1900
Additional Information
Some patients report that symptoms are mild, while for others they are more intense. Every person is
different and experiences the medication abortion process in their own way. You should expect to have
pain and nausea or intense cramping and vomiting so please take the prescriptions as needed.
Side effects like bleeding, cramping, and clotting are most common for the first 5 days after taking the
misoprostol. After that, you may experience them for another 1-8 weeks. It is common to be bleeding
during your follow-up appointment with our Center.
For cramps you can:
 Fill and take the prescribed pain medications. Follow the directions on the pill bottle.
 Get off your feet and use a heating pad or hot water bottle on your abdomen.
 Take a hot shower/bath.
 Drink a hot beverage like tea or hot chocolate. Ginger ale can sometimes also help.
For nausea you can:
 Fill and take the prescribed anti-nausea medication. Follow the directions on the pill bottle.
When to Call Our 24-Hour Emergency Hotline (800) 877-6332
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If you have a fever of 100.4° or higher.
If you have abdominal pain or cramps in your uterus that don’t go away after you have treated
yourself with the prescription pain medicine or massage described above. The fundal massage
described above is extremely helpful!
If you are soaking through 2 overnight maxi pads an hour for 2 hours in a row.
If you feel like you have the flu or have consistent weakness, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea for
more than 24 hours after the misoprostol.
If you have a question that isn’t answered on this sheet or you don’t know if what you are feeling
is normal.
Notes:
Date/time you swallowed Mifeprex at our Center____________________________
Date/time you inserted misoprostol in your cheek___________________________
We can be reached 24/7
Your check-up is scheduled for __________________________________________