Deciding to terminate a pregnancy can be one of the most difficult decisions some women face in their lives. An abortion may be considered for numerous reasons, such as to end a pregnancy where the foetus isn't developing correctly or when it would put the mothers life at risk to continue. It could be to end a pregnancy conceived during an attack, or a whole host of other reasons specific to the parents and unborn childs situation. Abortion pills can be used in early pregnancy as opposed to surgical options, but whichever method is chosen there's no 'easy' way. As well as the psychological aspect, women taking this medication will want to know what other kinds of effects it will have on their body. 

The abortion pill is a potent combination of medicines named mifepristone and misoprostol used for stopping pregnancy development. These pills are taken in two doses. The first one is for mifepristone that will block the progesterone and prevent pregnancy development. Bleeding and cramping will start immediately or up to 48 hours after taking the dose of misoprostol which causes the same effect as a miscarriage.  

As with any medicine, many side effects are not that common, but they can happen. Women usually mention that they experience sudden weight gain, which is a real threat to their self-confidence. They attribute it to this abortion pill, but is that really true? We asked people from the weight loss clinic Chicago to help us answer this question, and here is what they said: Doctors have proven that there is no direct connection between abortion pills and weight gain or loss. Changes in weight after an abortion are likely to be due to psychological factors such as changes in appetite and mood as opposed to the medication itself. 

A post-abortion syndrome is a form of post-traumatic disorder. It can happen to women after having an abortion, and it reflects a combination of different emotions like a quilt, sadness, grief, or anxiety. Cases of depression or suicidal thoughts have been noted, so if you feel sad or lonely, avoid drinking alcohol after abortion and call your doctor. You should never drink alcohol as an outlet for your feelings because it could spiral into having a dependency to where you’ll need to go to alcohol rehab. So this is something that you truly have to keep in mind. It's really important to have some form of support system around you during this time, if you feel as though you cant open up to friends or family then consider online counselling, forums and support groups or helpline numbers such as the Samaritans.

Even if your termination was medically necessary, it doesnt mean that the decision will be easy and just about every woman is likely to experience negative feelings after the procedure. Having a support system and reminding yourself of your reasons for going through will things is important. Everyone's situation is different, so think things through carefully and you'll know if you're doing things for the right reasons.