Will I See My Pregnancy Pass After Taking the Abortion Pill?

June 3, 2025

Every abortion is unique. There is no way to predict what your experience will be. Circumstances like the abortion method used, how far along you are in your pregnancy, and other factors determine a great deal. 

Abortion expels the embryo or fetus from the body. Depending on how many weeks you have been pregnant, you may be able to recognize it. Let’s take a closer look at what you might expect after taking the abortion pill.

How Long Does the Abortion Take?

Again, several factors determine your experience. The gestational age (how far along you are), the dosage you’re prescribed, your overall health, the other medications you take, and how you take the drugs can alter the time.

Generally, you take the two abortion drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, within 24 to 48 hours of each other. The abortion provider may instruct you to take the drugs orally or insert the tablets into your vagina. Experts say the pregnancy should begin to pass within 4 to 6 hours, but it can begin in as little as 30 minutes. 

How far along you are in your pregnancy can affect the time it takes to pass through the vagina completely. For some women, it can take up to a week. If it’s been more than a week, you should contact the abortion provider because an incomplete abortion is one risk of the abortion pill method.

It’s important to note that the FDA approves the use of abortion drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The further along you are in your pregnancy, the less effective the drugs are. 

How Will I Feel During the Abortion?

How your body responds to the drugs is unique to you. All abortions involve bleeding and cramping, but the Mayo Clinic lists the following as other potential side effects:

• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Chills
• Diarrhea
• Headache

You are encouraged to take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for the pain. However, some

women report feeling severe cramping. One study found that women described the pain as “out of this world” and were unprepared for the intensity.

What Will I See?

Expect to bleed. You may see tissue and blood clots, some of which may be large. To guard against infection, it’s essential to use sanitary pads rather than tampons. If you soak two or more pads an hour for two hours in a row, you should talk to a healthcare provider immediately. 

Women have reported seeing a fetus as the pregnancy passes. This, again, depends on how far along your pregnancy is. At 10 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus is the size of a prune (about 1.5 inches long). It is no longer considered an embryo.

Many women are surprised and even traumatized to see the pregnancy. By 10 weeks, arms, fingers, legs, toes, and ears are visible. Since you perform this abortion method in your home, be sure to have a support system in place during the procedure. 

Choices is Here for You

Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we are available to give you factual, medically based information about abortion procedures, side effects to expect, and potential risks. After-abortion follow-up care is vital to safeguard your overall health. We offer free follow-up exams.

Studies reveal that some women struggle with anxiety, guilt, and sadness following their abortions. If you need someone to talk to, we’re available. We also provide support groups if you are struggling because of a previous abortion decision.

At Choices, we don’t judge or lecture you. Whether or not to have an abortion is your decision. We will, however, support you in any way we possibly can. You matter to us. Book an appointment today to see how we can help you.

All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.