Expert: Pat G - 7/19/2011

Question
Dear Doctor,
   As prescribed by my gynic i took 200 mg of Mifepristone and 800 mg of misoprostol for terminating my pregnancy at home. I was less than 9 weeks pregnant. There was heavy bleeding for four days and the bleeding went uptill 14 days after taking misoprostol. I took the pregnancy test after 16 days of taking misoprostol but i can see a very hazy red line which indicates that i am still pregnant. what do you advise. Do i need to wait for a little while longer and take the test again or should i take another dose of misoprostol. What exactly did Mifepristone do in the process of abortion. Thanks

Answer
Hello, Gauri,

Please know that I am not a doctor. I am a medical researcher. You're welcome.

Mifepristone stops the mother from supplying progesterone, which is needed for the development of the baby. This results in cutting off the supply of food, water, and air. Often, at 9 weeks, these pills don't do anything because the baby is already making his or her own progesterone. The fact that you saw a very hazy red line would tend to indicate you are no longer pregnant. It takes awhile for the pregnancy hormones to dissipate. You should test again in a week. Taking another dose of misoprostol is not only useless, but dangerous. These pills can kill a woman. A woman should never take them in the first place.

If you continue to get a positive pregnancy test, I recommend you go to a doctor. Don't go to someone who gives out these pills for abortion. Giving these pills to a pregnant woman is malpractice. Find someone who knows abortion is bad medicine.

My guess (and that's all it would be over the internet) is that in spite of the fact that the pills often don't work at 9 weeks, they did in your case.

Please don't ever try to have an abortion again. Abortion is dangerous no matter how it is done. It can kill you or leave you seriously disabled. You deserve better. Let me know how you do, and take care.