The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said for years that the abortion pill is safe and effective. Clinical trials reported serious complications in less than 0.5% of cases. However, new research from 2025 indicates that the risks and complications are much more common.
This article dives into these findings, highlighting the complications of the abortion pill and the vital role of confirmatory ultrasounds in protecting women’s health. Keep reading to learn more.
Key Findings from the 2025 EPPC Study
A study from April 2025 by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) looked at insurance claims from women who used the abortion pill. This research looked at over 865,000 cases. It suggests that the abortion pill may not be as safe as previously thought. One in ten women experienced serious side effects.
Here are the study’s most striking insights[1]:
- Core Statistic: 10.93% of women who took mifepristone had severe or life-threatening complications within 45 days. This rate is at least 22 times higher than the “less than 0.5%” reported by the FDA.
- Types of Complications: Complications included sepsis, infection, and hemorrhaging, which can all be life-threatening. Each requires immediate medical care to treat.
- Human Impact: These are not just numbers. They show real women facing physical and emotional pain, along with unexpected medical bills.
Why the Discrepancy in Safety Data?
The current FDA-approved drug label is based on 10 clinical trials. These trials included a total of 30,966 participants. In those trials, less than 0.5% of participants experienced serious adverse reactions. However, it is based on data from trials that took place more than 10 years ago.[2]
Additionally, the FDA conducted its trials in controlled environments, which did not account for real-world variables. Key differences between clinical trials and real-world data include:
- Ideal Trial Conditions: Clinical trials often occur in controlled environments where participants are closely monitored, gestational ages are precisely confirmed, and follow-up care is provided as needed.
- Relaxed Real-World Protocols: In contrast, the relaxed protocols of recent years—allowing self-administration at home without in-person verification—expose women to variables like undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies or later-stage pregnancies, both of which increase the risk of serious complications.
Serious Abortion Pill Complications
The primary abortion pill complications highlighted in the study include[3]:
- Hemorrhaging: Prolonged, heavy bleeding that requires blood transfusions or emergency surgery to treat.[4]
- Sepsis: Sepsis, a severe infection, can be caused by an incomplete abortion. Sepsis can cause organ failure, tissue damage, and even death if untreated.[5]
- Emergency Interventions: Frequent ER visits, hospitalizations, and surgical procedures to treat hemorrhaging and sepsis.
The abortion pill involves more than just cramps and discomfort. It can lead to serious, life-threatening complications that can have lasting impacts on women’s health.
Why You Need an Ultrasound Before an Abortion
The original FDA guidelines from 2000 mandated in-person visits and ultrasounds, but eventually removed these mandates. With telehealth expansions, many women now proceed without an ultrasound, increasing the risk of serious complications.
An ultrasound isn’t just a routine step, it’s a safeguard to protect your health. It determines two key factors about your pregnancy: viability and gestational age.
Viability
A viable pregnancy indicates that the pregnancy is progressing normally and has the potential to continue to term. During an ultrasound, technicians check for signs like a detectable heartbeat, which typically appears between 6.5 and 7 weeks of gestation.[6]
Having an ultrasound before abortion also helps rule out nonviable pregnancies, such as miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies (where the embryo implants outside the uterus). In these cases, abortion is not necessary. Alternative medical care is required, especially for ectopic pregnancies, which can be life-threatening if untreated.
Gestational Age
Gestational age refers to how far along you are in your pregnancy, measured from the first day of your last menstrual period.
Knowing your gestational age is crucial because the abortion pill (mifepristone) is only FDA-approved for use up to 10 weeks of gestation.[7]
Willow Center provides free ultrasounds to women who receive positive pregnancy tests at our center. Schedule your appointment today.
Get the Facts on the Abortion Pill at Willow Center
At Willow Center, we believe that you deserve to know all the facts, including the possible complications of the abortion pill. When you have the facts, you can make informed, empowered decisions.
Whatever you’re facing, we’re ready to help. Schedule a confidential ultrasound or consultation today. Give us a call at 402-228-6410 or schedule your appointment online to get started.
Please be aware that Willow Center does not provide or refer for abortion services.
Sources
- Ethics & Public Policy Center. (2025, April 28). Insurance Data Reveals One in Ten Patients Experiences a Serious Adverse Event. https://eppc.org/publication/insurance-data-reveals-one-in-ten-patients-experiences-a-serious-adverse-event/
- See source #1.
- See source #1.
- Cleveland Clinic. (2024, April 24). Hemorrhage: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Types. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hemorrhage
- Cleveland Clinic. (2024, April 24). Sepsis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12361-sepsis
- Cleveland Clinic. (2023, March 3). Fetal Development. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/7247-fetal-development-stages-of-growth
- Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. (2023, March 23). Mifeprex (Mifepristone). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/mifeprex-mifepristone-information