There are two main types of abortion: medication abortion and procedural abortion.
Medication abortion, or the abortion pill, uses medication to end a pregnancy and can be safely taken at home. In general, clinics or online services typically provide medication abortions before or until about 11 weeks of pregnancy.
A medication abortion usually includes taking two kinds of drugs for a two-step regimen. In some instances, Mifepristone may not be available. A one-drug regimen with just Misoprostol can be used instead.
Procedural (in-clinic) abortion occurs in a medical setting, and can be performed by advanced registered nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, physicians or physician assistants trained in abortion care. Clinicians that provide procedural abortions may have distinct gestational age limits (usually around 24-26 weeks), so you should confirm this with your chosen provider in advance.
Overall, procedural abortion is more invasive than medication abortion. There are two main types of procedural abortions available. Your provider can help determine which kind is best for you based on your individual medical needs, as well as options for pain management during and after your procedure.
