Can the Abortion Pill be Reversed?
March 16, 2026
The most common form of abortion today is medication abortion, also known as the “abortion pill.” This form of abortion consists of two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. They are taken over a period of two days to end an early pregnancy.
Research indicates that about 63% of abortions in 2023 were performed using abortion pills, with the remaining procedures being surgical abortions.[1]
As medication abortions become more common, many women undergoing a medication abortion are surprised to learn that there is a way to reverse the abortion process if they change their minds. After taking the first pill, mifepristone, some women experience immediate regret and wish to continue their pregnancy. In these cases, a medical protocol known as abortion pill reversal can be administered in order to save the pregnancy.[2]
When administered promptly, abortion pill reversal can save approximately 64–68% of pregnancies [3], highlighting the importance of timely information and access to qualified healthcare providers.
What is the Abortion Pill?
The medication abortion procedure uses a drug combination of Mifepristone and Misoprostol, which is called Mifegymiso. This procedure is completed over two days and is generally only performed until 70 days (10 weeks) of pregnancy.[4]
On day one, the first pill, mifepristone, is taken orally to block the hormone progesterone. Progesterone is essential for maintaining the uterine lining in early pregnancy, allowing the embryo to receive nutrients and continue developing.[5] By blocking progesterone, mifepristone causes the uterine lining to break down, cutting off blood and nutrient supply.[6] This will starve the embryo.
24 to 48 hours after taking Mifepristone, the Misoprostol pills are inserted buccally or vaginally. Misoprostol causes uterine contractions and cramping, which expel the embryo or fetus. This process also expels the placenta, amniotic fluid, and uterine lining.[7]
These effects generally start 1 to 4 hours after taking Misoprostol, with contractions and bleeding typically lasting 2 to 6 hours.[8] Contractions and bleeding can be intense and painful. Many women also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and headaches.[9]
See the Medication Abortion page for more information on this procedure.
How does Abortion Pill Reversal Work?
The first pill in the abortion pill process blocks progesterone, causing the uterine lining to break down. Abortion pill reversal is simply a dose of progesterone that is re-administered to counteract mifepristone and replace the progesterone that it blocked. Progesterone will be repeatedly administered throughout the course of the first trimester or until the woman’s body starts producing enough on its own. Progesterone can be administered vaginally, buccally, or by an intramuscular injection. The reversal process is most effective when it begins within 24 hours after taking the first abortion pill, though success has still been reported when treatment starts as late as 72 hours afterward.[10]
Progesterone is a naturally occurring hormone in a woman’s body and plays a vital role in sustaining and nourishing a healthy pregnancy. If a woman only takes the first abortion pill but later regrets her decision, providing additional progesterone can overcome the effects of mifepristone and continue the pregnancy.
Because time plays such an important role, it is critical for a woman who wants to continue her pregnancy to seek medical care right away and ask a physician about receiving progesterone treatment.
Is Abortion Pill Reversal Safe?
Progesterone is safe for both pregnant women and their developing babies. This hormone is naturally produced by the body and plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy by supporting the uterine lining and helping the embryo continue to grow. As a medication, progesterone has been approved by the FDA and has been used for many years to help reduce the risk of miscarriage and preterm birth in at-risk pregnancies.[11] Clinical experience and research have shown that progesterone therapy does not increase the risk of birth defects when used during pregnancy.[12]
Although mifepristone is used as part of the medication abortion regimen, available evidence indicates that it is not linked to birth defects.[13] This means that if a woman changes her mind after taking Mifepristone, she does not need to assume that harm has already been done to the fetus.[14]
Some women who take progesterone may experience mild side effects such as drowsiness, fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches, or digestive discomfort.[15] It is important to carefully follow all instructions provided by your abortion pill reversal provider and to contact them if you have any questions or concerns during treatment.
To learn about the risks of the abortion pill, click here.
How do I access Abortion Pill Reversal?
If you or someone you know took the abortion pill and regrets it, Abortion Pill Reversal provides free and confidential care 24/7. Call their hotline at 1-877-558-0333.
An on-call healthcare professional will ask you a few basic questions to determine whether reversal treatment may be an option for you. If you choose to proceed, they will help connect you with a doctor or qualified medical provider in your area who can begin treatment. The service is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Patients can also visit Abortion Pill Rescue Network’s website, AbortionPillReversal.com, which includes an online chat feature for those who would rather communicate through text.
While Abortion Pill Reversal can help save a pregnancy, many women are still in need of resources and support to aid them in the circumstances that led them to abortion in the first place. If you need pregnancy support, contact us for referrals and information about the help available.
[1]Guttmacher Institute. (2024). Medication Abortion Now Accounts for More Than Half of All US Abortions in the United States. https://www.guttmacher.org/article/2024/03/medication-abortion-now-accounts-more-half-all-us-abortions
[2]Natural Womanhood, “Stop a Medication Abortion with Abortion Pill Reversal,” accessed March 23, 2026,Natural Womanhood article.
[3]Heartbeat International, Abortion Pill Rescue Network Impact Report 2021 (Columbus, OH: Heartbeat International, 2021).
[4]Celopharma Inc. (2019). Mifegymiso product monograph. Health Canada.https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00050659.PDF
[5]Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Progesterone.https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24562-progesterone
[6]Healthgrades. (n.d.). Abortion pill: What to know.https://resources.healthgrades.com/right-care/pregnancy/abortion-pill
[7]Mayo Clinic. (2024). Medical abortion.h,ttps://www.mayoclinic.org/whichwhichtests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
[8]Cleveland Clinic. (2024). Medical abortion.https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21899-medical-abortion
[9]Drugs.com. (n.d.). Misoprostol side effects.https://www.drugs.com/sfx/misoprostol-side-effects.html
[10]Abortion Pill Reversal. (n.d.). Abortion Pill Rescue Network.https://abortionpillreversal.com
[11]Munkhtuya Bataa, Erini Abdelmessih, and Fahad Hanna, “Exploring Progesterone Deficiency in First-Trimester Miscarriage and the Impact of Hormone Therapy on Fetal Development: A Scoping Review,” Children 11, no. 4 (2024): 422, https://doi.org/10.3390/children11040422.
[12][Authors], “[Article title],” PubMed, 2025,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40339952/.
[13]Bernard, Nathalie, Elisabeth Elefant, Pierre Carlier, et al.
“Continuation of Pregnancy after First-Trimester Exposure to Mifepristone: An Observational Prospective Study.” BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 120, no. 5 (2013): 568–574. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.12147.
[14]Turner, Joseph V., Deborah Garratt, Anna Barwick, et al.
“Congenital and Fetal Effects after Mifepristone Exposure and Continuation of Pregnancy: A Systematic Review.” Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 116, no. 5 (2024): 1207–1216. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.3392.
[15]Drugs.com, “Progesterone: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings,” last modified February 17, 2026,https://www.drugs.com/progesterone.html.