Rouge Pills
How To Use
Mifepristone + Misoprostol for Abortion
The combination of two types of pills – mifepristone and misoprostol is one of the most common and effective abortion methods available.
Mifepristone works to prepare the uterus, by blocking progesterone (a hormone necessary to maintain pregnancy). You take one pill of mifepristone 200mg, and swallow with water.
Mifepristone is irreversible and will end your pregnancy. It will work in your body for 24-48 hours, preparing your uterus for misoprostol.
Day 1: Take Mifepristone
Swallow 1 pill of mifepristone (200mg) with water. Most people do not feel the effects after taking mifepristone.
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Normally, you can continue with your life as normal. Some people DO report bleeding after taking mifepristone. If you DO start bleeding after mifepristone, you can start taking misoprostol as soon as you wish.
Taking Misoprostol:
Misoprostol works by causing the strong uterine contractions necessary to expel the contents of your uterus.
You take misoprostol 24-48 hours after mifepristone. ​Misoprostol is best absorbed in the soft tissues, like our cheeks or vaginal walls. One dose for misoprostol is 4 pills of 200mcg each.
There are three ways to take Misoprostol:
Sublingual
(under the tongue)
Buccal
(Between the cheeks and teeth)
Vaginal
(insert pills deep into the vaginal canal)
It is important these medicines dissolve for at least 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, swallow the remnants.
If you vomit before 20 minutes, you may need to repeat your misoprostol dosage after your nausea goes away.
If your pills don’t start dissolving within the first 10 minutes, you may need to dip it for 3 seconds in a glass of water.
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The whole abortion process can take between 5 days and 2 weeks from the time you take mifepristone, until the time you stop bleeding.
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It is important to plan ahead for this, and make sure you have time to rest when you take the misoprostol.
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The pills mimic the process of a miscarriage. The secrets to gauging the level of pain you may experience during an abortion can be found in the intensity (or lack thereof) of your menstruation or previous births/ abortions.
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Always trust your body to alert you to anything that doesn’t feel normal. Our team of Rouge Doulas are always here to support you if you have any questions.
Day 2-3 :
Take Misoprostol
1 dose of misoprostol = 4 pills (200mcg each)
IMPORTANT:
Misoprostol leaves the bloodstream within 6 hours of taking it. There is no way for anyone to detect it on any kind of test.
However, chalky remnants of the pills can be seen in the vaginal canal for days after the pills have been inserted. If you live in a country where abortion is restricted, the buccal or sublingual routes are advised.
How Many Doses of Misoprostol Do I Need?
For early abortion (less than 12 weeks) 1 dose of misoprostol may be sufficient. Sometimes it is necessary to continue taking more doses every three hours. Try to have at least 8 misoprostol pills on hand for early abortion.
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Many people start bleeding 3-9 hours after taking the first misoprostol dose. Some people bleed quite a bit, and the embryo/ fetus passes easily. Others don’t bleed at all right away, or the process can take even a few more days for the body to pass it. If you have any questions during your process, contact a Rouge Doula for support.
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It is crucial to pay close attention to your body. Monitor your bleeding, and pay close attention to when the embryo/ fetus passes. Once this has occurred, the majority of the abortion is complete.
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If you feel like you have NOT bled enough, you may need to take more misoprostol.
Second Trimester Abortion with Mifepristone and Misoprostol
Similarly to first trimester abortion, you take 1 pill (200mg) of mifepristone swallowed with water.
After 24-48 hours, you can begin the misoprostol process.
If you are more than 12 weeks pregnant, you will need to take several doses of misoprostol, every three hours until the process is complete.
For example:
Dose 1 : take 4 pills of misoprostol (200 mcg each)
Wait three hours
Dose 2: take 4 pills of misoprostol (200 mcg each)
Wait three hours
Dose 3: take 4 pills of misoprostol (200 mcg each)
Continue this way until you feel that the process is complete.
