There are three steps in the process of a medical abortion:

Step One
· Takes place at the clinic or doctor's office
· Medical history is taken, along with a clinical exam and lab tests are performed.
· Psychological and physiological counseling is provided and completed.  Consent is also obtained.
· According to the FDA, if the woman is eligible for a medical abortion, she first swallows three mifepristone pills, each containing 200 mg of mifepristone.

Step Two (approximately 36 to 48 hours after the Step One)
· Takes place at the doctor's office, the clinic, or even at home.  It depends on the regimen and the health care provider.
· If abortion has not occurred and confirmed by the health care provider, the woman takes two tablets of the prostaglandin misoprostol, the uterine contracting drug.  Depending on the regimen, the misoprostol tablets may be swallowed or inserted into the vagina.

Step Three (approximately 11-17 days after Step Two)
· Takes place at the doctor's office or clinic.
· The health care provider checks and confirms that there has been a complete abortion.
· If the abortion is incomplete, the health care provider will go over other treatment options, including but not limited to, waiting a few days and re-evaluating for a complete abortion or even performing a surgical abortion.
· If the abortion is ongoing, a surgical abortion will be completed.

Possible side effects include pain, cramping, vaginal bleeding, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, and fever.  Rare complications include excessive vaginal bleeding and incomplete or ongoing pregnancy.
 

For more detailed information, please refer to the following websites:
Pro Choice
Planned Parenthood