Can Medication Abortions Be Reversed?

If you’ve recently found out that you are pregnant, you may be weighing your options and deciding what to do. One of those options is taking the abortion pill—also known as a medical or medication abortion. Before you decide anything, it’s incredibly important to confirm your pregnancy. Confirming your pregnancy lets you know if you are actually pregnant and whether you need to make a decision.

If you’ve confirmed your pregnancy and are considering a medication abortion, the next step involves learning more so you can make an informed decision, and we at Life Forward are here to help you on your journey.

We have a team of medical professionals that you can talk to and ask questions. They will provide some answers but will also encourage you to consider and research the facts and information shared about each option. We also have experienced Client Educators who are trained, willing to listen, and provide a safe and neutral environment. We want you to feel heard and understood as you share intimate thoughts and feelings. Please reach out to Life Forward to get started today!

In this article, we’ll cover some of the most important things to know about medication abortions and whether it is possible to reverse the abortion pill. This includes common questions about the abortion pill reversal, the different ways that reversing the pill can affect you, and other information about reversing the abortion pill to help make sure you are informed and prepared. 

What Is the Abortion Pill and How Does It Work?

As a refresher, the abortion pill is one of the two methods used for abortion. Taking an abortion pill involves two main medications: mifepristone and misoprostol. These two medications are used in combination for a medication abortion, meaning a medication abortion actually involves multiple pills.

You can use the abortion pill(s) to cause an abortion early on in your pregnancy—up to the 10th week of pregnancy or up to 70 days after the first day of your last menstrual period. The mifepristone pill works by blocking progesterone—commonly referred to as the “pregnancy hormone.” Without progesterone, the pregnancy cannot continue. Then, the misoprostol pill makes the uterus contract, completing the abortion.

If you choose to move forward with a medication abortion, your doctor will give you a mifepristone pill that you must take in front of them in the office at that time. Then, your doctor will give you a misoprostol pill to take home, and instruct you to take it at a later time—usually a day or two after taking your mifepristone pill. It’s also recommended to return to your doctor’s office for a follow-up visit 1-2 weeks after taking mifepristone to ensure that everything is okay.

Can the Abortion Pill Be Reversed?

If you’re considering a medication abortion, or have already taken the mifepristone pill and are having second thoughts about your abortion, you may have heard about a potential abortion pill reversal. The main method claimed to be able to reverse the abortion pill involves taking varying levels of progesterone in order to try to continue your pregnancy. Several studies and case series claim that taking progesterone after taking the mifepristone pill can reverse the effects of mifepristone, reverse your abortion, and allow your pregnancy to continue. 

However, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)—among other leading voices in the scientific and health communities—these studies have severe limitations, including no control group, no ethics appeal, no reported safety outcomes, and the under-reporting of data. Because of this, there is no definitive evidence that prescribing progesterone after the mifepristone pill will increase the chances of continuing your pregnancy.

In fact, in one abortion pill reversal study claiming that progesterone can reverse the effects of mifepristone also indicated that almost 50% of pregnancies continue if the woman only takes the mifepristone pill and does not take the misoprostol pill. This means that your pregnancy could still continue after taking the first abortion pill, even if you don’t take progesterone. 

While some of these studies suggest that progesterone use in early pregnancy is low risk and can be used to counter the effects of mifepristone, they also admit that further research is required in order to provide definitive evidence. So, taking progesterone after a mifepristone pill could potentially help to reverse your pregnancy, but it has not yet been scientifically proven to do so.

A 2020 study examining the effect of oral progesterone taken after mifepristone

was even stopped early due to safety concerns. These safety concerns stemmed from mifepristone being taken without misoprostol, and no effect of progesterone treatment was found.

Since there is no definitive evidence of progesterone reversing the abortion pill, the best thing to do is to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider to get their opinion. However, in some states, doctors are required to offer the “abortion reversal pill” as an option when their patient is getting a medication abortion, even though there is a lack of evidence supporting the safety of the practice. 

That’s why you should be aware of the facts, and speak openly with your doctor, because even if they are required to talk about the abortion reversal pill by law, they may not agree with using it or think it is safe and effective. They will be able to guide you through this situation and help you make the best choice for you and your body. If you are looking into abortion reversal, you can also reach out to us at Life Forward to get additional information so you can make an informed decision!

How Life Forward Can Help

At Life Forward, we are here to help women in the Cincinnati area who are pregnant or think they may be pregnant. In addition to consultations, pregnancy testing, and ultrasounds, we offer other educational and supportive services—as well as referrals to other community resources—at no cost to you.

Our staff of trained Client Educators and medical professionals will assist you and connect you to the resources and help you need. These resources can help you be more prepared during your pregnancy and make the best decision for yourself. Learn more about the services we offer or contact us at 513.961.7777 to schedule an appointment today!