The abortion pill is FDA-approved for use through ten weeks of pregnancy and can be obtained from a certified prescriber, a certified pharmacy, or through a telehealth visit, depending on where you live. The process involves two medications taken in sequence, and in many states you can complete the entire process from home.
How the Two Medications Work
What’s commonly called “the abortion pill” is actually two separate medications taken one to two days apart. The first pill blocks progesterone, the hormone that sustains a pregnancy. Without it, the uterine lining begins to break down. The second pill, taken 24 to 48 hours later, causes the uterus to contract and empty.
Bleeding and cramping typically start one to four hours after taking the second pill. Over the next several hours, you can expect heavy cramping, bleeding, and blood clots. Some people also experience a low-grade fever, chills, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, or diarrhea. The fever and chills generally last about a day. The heavier bleeding usually subsides within a few hours, though lighter bleeding can continue for days or weeks.
Where You Can Get It
You need a prescription from a healthcare provider who is certified under the FDA’s mifepristone safety program. That provider must be able to date your pregnancy accurately, rule out an ectopic pregnancy, and either provide or arrange access to surgical care if needed. Before prescribing, they’ll review a patient agreement form with you that outlines the risks.
Once prescribed, the medication can be dispensed directly by your provider or sent from a certified pharmacy. Certified pharmacies are required to ship with tracking. In practice, this means you can receive the pills by mail in states that allow it.
Telehealth vs. In-Person Visits
Whether you can get a prescription through a video or phone appointment depends entirely on your state. As of late 2025, roughly 23 states and Washington, D.C. allow telehealth prescribing for medication abortion. These include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and Montana.
In about 27 states, you must see a prescribing clinician in person, or telehealth for medication abortion is explicitly banned. These include Texas, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee, and others. Some of these states have near-total abortion bans, making medication abortion unavailable regardless of how you try to access it. Laws change frequently, so checking your state’s current rules before scheduling an appointment is important.
Shield Law States
Eight states have enacted shield laws that protect healthcare providers who prescribe via telehealth to patients in states with restrictive abortion laws. These laws shield clinicians from criminal, civil, and professional consequences that another state might try to impose. If you live in a restrictive state, a provider in a shield law state may be willing to prescribe and mail medication to you, though the legal risk to the patient varies and is evolving.
Finding a Verified Provider
AbortionFinder.org maintains the most comprehensive directory of verified abortion providers in the United States. It includes clinics affiliated with Planned Parenthood, the National Abortion Federation, the Abortion Care Network, and independent providers. You can search by zip code to find both in-person clinics and telehealth services that serve your area, along with financial assistance organizations.
Be cautious with online searches. Some websites that appear to offer abortion services are actually crisis pregnancy centers that do not provide or refer for abortion. Sticking to verified directories helps you avoid delays.
What It Costs
A medication abortion can cost up to around $800 out of pocket, though the price is often lower. The average cost at Planned Parenthood is about $580. If you have health insurance, your plan may cover part or all of the cost, but coverage varies widely. Some government insurance plans cover abortion in certain states, while others only cover it in specific circumstances, like medical emergencies. Calling your insurance provider directly is the fastest way to find out.
If cost is a barrier, abortion funds exist in most states and can help cover the procedure, travel, and other related expenses. The National Network of Abortion Funds connects patients with local organizations that provide financial assistance.
The Gestational Limit
The FDA has approved mifepristone for pregnancies through ten weeks of gestation, counted from the first day of your last menstrual period. That gives you roughly six weeks from a missed period. If you’re past ten weeks, medication abortion is no longer the standard option, and a procedural abortion would typically be discussed instead. Some states impose their own gestational limits that are stricter than the FDA’s, so local laws may narrow your window further.
What to Expect Physically
The first pill usually causes no noticeable symptoms. The real physical experience begins with the second pill. Plan to be at home with access to a bathroom, heating pads, pain relievers, and comfortable clothing. Most of the cramping and heavy bleeding happens within the first several hours. Many people describe it as similar to a very heavy period with more intense cramps than usual.
Certain symptoms signal a need for medical attention: no bleeding at all within 24 hours of taking the second pill, soaking through more than two thick pads in a single hour, a fever lasting longer than 24 hours, foul-smelling discharge, or severe abdominal or back pain. If your period hasn’t returned within two months, or you still feel pregnant afterward, contact your provider. A follow-up appointment is standard to confirm the abortion is complete.