For years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has described the abortion pill as safe and effective. Early clinical trials showed serious complications in fewer than 0.5% of cases. But new research released in 2025 paints a very different picture. It shows that serious problems happen far more often than most people realize.
This article explains the latest findings, the real risks of the abortion pill, and why an ultrasound before any decision is so important for a woman’s health. Keep reading to learn more.
Major Findings from the 2025 EPPC Study
In April 2025, the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) published a study that reviewed health insurance claims from more than 865,000 women who used the abortion pill (mifepristone). The results were alarming: about 1 in 10 women faced severe or life-threatening complications within 45 days.
Key points from the study include[1]:
- 10.93% of women who took mifepristone experienced serious complications—more than 22 times higher than the “less than 0.5%” rate the FDA has long reported.
- These complications included heavy bleeding (hemorrhage), serious infections (sepsis), and other emergencies that required hospital care or surgery.
- These aren’t just statistics. They represent real women dealing with pain, fear, and unexpected medical bills.
Why Do the Numbers Look So Different?
The FDA’s current safety claims come from clinical trials done over 10 years ago with about 30,000 participants.[1] Those trials took place in carefully controlled settings where:
- Doctors closely watched every patient.
- Pregnancy dating was exact.
- Follow-up care was immediate if anything went wrong.
Real life is different. In recent years, rules have relaxed. Many women now take the abortion pill at home after a phone call or online visit. In many cases, no in-person exam or ultrasound is required.
That means problems like ectopic pregnancies (when the pregnancy grows outside the uterus) or pregnancies that are farther along than thought can easily be missed. Both situations raise the risk of severe complications.
Serious Risks of the Abortion Pill
The 2025 study highlighted several risks of the abortion pill[1]:
- Heavy, uncontrolled bleeding (hemorrhage) that may require blood transfusions or emergency surgery.[2]
- Sepsis, a life-threatening infection that can develop if pregnancy tissue is left behind. Without fast treatment, sepsis can lead to organ failure or death.[3]
- Trips to the emergency room, hospital stays, and follow-up surgeries.
The abortion pill is not just “heavy cramps and bleeding.” For many women, it can become a medical emergency with lasting effects on their health.
Why You Need an Ultrasound Before an Abortion
When the abortion pill was first approved in 2000, the FDA required an in-person visit and an ultrasound. Those requirements have since been dropped, and many women now get the pills through telehealth without ever being seen in person.
An ultrasound is not just a formality, it’s a vital safety step. 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.[4]
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.[5]
Pathway Health Clinic 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 Pathway Health Clinic
You deserve honest, complete information—including the real risks of the abortion pill—so you can make a truly informed decision.
No matter what you’re facing, we’re here to help with compassion and without judgment. Call us at (760) 945-4673 or schedule a confidential ultrasound or consultation today.
Please be aware that Pathway Health Clinic 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/
- 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