How to buy abortion pills that are safe and effective

Abortion with pills is safe and effective when the correct medicines are used. Because counterfeit and low-quality pills are common, it’s important to know what to watch for. Here are 10 frequently asked questions—with clear answers—to help you understand the facts and avoid unsafe products.

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What medications can be used safely for an abortion with pills?

A medication abortion uses one or two medicines—mifepristone and misoprostol. They’re most effective when taken together, but misoprostol alone can also safely empty the uterus by triggering a process similar to a miscarriage. While the misoprostol-only approach is slightly less effective, it remains very safe and is widely used in places where mifepristone isn’t available.

What is the difference between mifepristone and misoprostol? 

Mifepristone blocks progesterone—the hormone that supports pregnancy—and helps soften the cervix so the pregnancy can pass more easily. Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy, much like a natural miscarriage.

When both drugs are available, mifepristone is taken first, followed 24–48 hours later by misoprostol. Mifepristone is always swallowed. Misoprostol should dissolve in the mouth—either tucked between the cheek and gum or placed under the tongue. You do not need to use misoprostol vaginally, and no one needs to insert it for you.

Mifepristone is approved in only a limited number of countries. You can check availability here: abortionpillsindubai.com. It’s often sold in a combined pack with misoprostol specifically for abortion care.

Misoprostol is more widely accessible, typically less expensive, and easier to purchase from pharmacies or medicine sellers. Beyond abortion care, it is also used to treat ulcers and to prevent or manage heavy bleeding after childbirth, which is why it is often available without a prescription.

“Misoprostol” is the generic name; it’s sold under many brand names worldwide, including Cytotec, Misoclear, Misotac, Kontrac, and Isovent.

What do abortion pills look like? 

Both mifepristone and misoprostol are sold in tablet or pill form. Misoprostol pills usually, but not always, have a unique six-sided shape. Mifepristone is usually a round, white pill. If someone is selling these medications in capsule form, they are not legitimate. (A capsule is a shell or container, usually made of gelatin, that contains a medication.)

What is a “blister pack” and why is it important?

A blister pack is a package where each tablet is sealed in its own bubble between two layers of material. These layers are commonly made from cardboard, plastic, or aluminum.

Misoprostol loses effectiveness if exposed to heat or moisture, so it must be packaged in double-aluminum blister packs (aluminum foil on both the front and back). Misoprostol stored in cardboard, plastic, or as loose tablets in a bottle is unlikely to be genuine or reliable.

Look for a sealed double-aluminum pack with intact foil on all sides. If the foil is torn, punctured, or partly opened, do not use those pills.

What does mifepristone combined with misoprostol look like? 

Where mifepristone is available, it is usually sold packaged together with misoprostol as a “combi-pack.” Combi-packs are rarely counterfeit and should look something like this. 

How much do the pills cost? 

Prices for misoprostol vary by country, but because the drug is widely available, it’s typically not expensive. Manufacturers sell it to pharmacies for very little—around five cents (AED) per tablet—and a recent study found the highest retail price at about 8.08 per pill.

In most places, misoprostol is an affordable option for ending a pregnancy. That said, some pharmacists or sellers may overcharge. To gauge a fair price, ask trusted people in your community or look up local pricing online. As a rule of thumb, misoprostol should not be costly.

Pre-packaged combination packs that include both mifepristone and misoprostol are sold in fewer than 30 countries and are less likely to be available without a prescription. In low- and middle-income countries where these combi-packs are offered and price-controlled, the total cost is typically under 73.46 Emirates Dirham.

How many pills do I need to buy?

If you can get both medicines, you’ll need one 200 mg tablet of mifepristone and at least four 200 mcg tablets of misoprostol. If you are 10–12 weeks pregnant, you might need one or two additional misoprostol doses (that’s 4–8 extra tablets) to complete the process.

If you only have misoprostol, you’ll need at least twelve 200 mcg tablets when you are under 13 weeks pregnant.

How can I know if the pills are real and not counterfeit? 

Even if you ask for misoprostol or mifepristone by name, some sellers may offer counterfeit products that don’t work and can delay care. Look for pills that are:

• White in color
• Tablets (not capsules)
• Sealed in an undamaged double-aluminum blister pack
• Purchased from a trusted pharmacy or medicine seller
• Within the expiration date (check the packaging)

Can I buy abortion pills without a prescription? 

Mifepristone and misoprostol can be obtained from a health provider, from pharmacies and medicine sellers, and from the internet. Depending on what country you live in, a prescription may be required to buy mifepristone and misoprostol from a local pharmacy or medicine seller. But the two medications are often sold without a prescription.

Misoprostol is typically much easier to buy because it is also used to treat ulcers and to prevent or stop heavy bleeding after childbirth. Mifepristone and misoprostol “combi-packs” and misoprostol alone can be bought from online pharmacies and organizations that support people to self-manage their abortions

How can I find abortion pills where I live?” 

We offer a list of resources for finding abortion pills based on location—some developed by Ipas and others by our trusted partners. How to find abortion pills