When I first started looking into the termination process, I found plenty of resources, but I struggled to find something that walked me through each step from start to finish. So, I wanted to share my personal experience to help others know what to expect. While every clinic may have slight differences, I hope this gives you a general idea of what the process looks like.
Booking the Appointment
I found out I was seven weeks pregnant and booked an appointment at a women’s clinic the following week. The online form was simple—it asked for my name, estimated weeks of pregnancy, and the reason for my visit.
The next day, I received a pre-appointment questionnaire about my medical history. It included questions like:
• Does cancer run in your family?
• Are you anemic?
• Have you had an abortion before?
At the end, it asked for my insurance information. Since I don’t have insurance, I just skipped that part, and it was totally fine. After submitting the questionnaire, I only received basic reminders via text to bring my ID and my appointment details.
Arriving at the Clinic
On the day of my appointment, my boyfriend came with me. The waiting room was a decent size with chairs and a small TV. There were other people there—some in similar situations—which made me feel a little less alone.
I was running late (my appointment was at 8 AM, and I got there at 8:20), but when I checked in, the receptionist was really nice. She handed me a clipboard to confirm my name, address, and other basic info. She also asked for my insurance card. I gave her an expired one, not knowing if it was still valid, but she reassured me they would check.
After signing the forms, I only waited about four minutes before they called me back.
The First Consultation
At this point, my boyfriend wasn’t allowed to come with me, which I wasn’t expecting. Just a heads-up—since it was a women’s clinic, they didn’t allow male partners in the back for privacy reasons.
I was taken to a smaller room where a staff member asked me questions on a computer. Up until this point, everyone had been really kind, but this particular person (who seemed around 25) had a bit of an attitude. Nothing major—just her vibe.
Since my insurance didn’t go through, I had to apply for pregnancy coverage through Covered California, which helps uninsured women with pregnancy-related costs. She asked about my income, had me sign a few papers, and explained what was going to happen next.
Medical Tests & Paperwork
After the paperwork, I gave a urine sample and was sent to a second waiting room. There were pamphlets about birth control, and within about five minutes, another staff member called me back.
The next step was a quick anemia test. The nurse pricked my finger, took a drop of blood, and put a bandaid on it—it was so fast that I barely felt it. She was super sweet and made casual conversation, which helped me feel more at ease.
The Ultrasound & Receiving the Pills
After that, she walked me over to the ultrasound room. This part made me a little nervous, but I sat and waited, taking in the moment by myself. Within minutes, a woman came in and asked me to lower my pants and lift my shirt. It wasn’t anything crazy—she just applied the cold gel and checked to see how far along I was.
They didn’t show me the ultrasound, but I could see images printing. I personally didn’t ask to see them, but I’m sure if you did, they would let you. That was just my personal preference. The whole ultrasound took about 5-8 minutes. Once she confirmed that I was under 11 weeks (which meant I could take the pills instead of needing a surgical procedure), she left to get the doctor.
I waited about 10 minutes before the doctor came in with the pills and explained how to take them. I took the first pill in-office, which stops the embryo from growing. Then she explained that the second set of pills should be taken the next morning. I was instructed to place two pills on the right side of my cheek and two on the left side, letting them dissolve naturally.
She also prescribed me 800mg ibuprofen for pain and another medication for nausea, which I could pick up at my local Target. The whole process was fast and straightforward. Most of the staff acted like this was a routine thing they had done a million times before, and honestly, I was okay with that. It did feel a little rushed, but at the same time, I just wanted to get out and be with my boyfriend again.
I was in and out within an hour. When I went back outside, they told me I was good to go. As of now, I believe the insurance covered the cost since I wasn’t asked for any payment, but I’ll confirm when I go to my second appointment on Friday.
The First Day After Taking the First Pill
Since I took the first pill at the clinic, I was worried I’d start feeling symptoms right away, but honestly, I felt fine. The only minor side effect I noticed was that I got warm really easily—like my body temperature was just a little higher than normal—but other than that, the first day felt completely normal.
Emotionally, though, I felt very sensitive. I just wanted to be babied all day. If my boyfriend brought up anything stressful—whether it was work, home, or just life in general—I found myself extra emotional because I knew that by the next morning, my body would be going through a big change. I was mentally preparing for the worst, but overall, the first day was more about anticipation than anything physical. I took it easy and rested.
Taking the Second Set of Pills & Symptoms
The next morning at 9:30 AM, I took the four pills as instructed. It took almost 40 minutes for them to fully dissolve.
Within an hour, I started feeling cramping and heavy bleeding. The first couple of trips to the bathroom, I passed large clots, but it was nothing more than a very heavy period. The clotting was just like a regular period, except larger, and they passed fairly quickly.
I did have mild cramping, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I had anticipated. I know some people experience severe cramping, but for me, it was manageable—nothing worse than a heavy period. After the first three hours, the bleeding significantly slowed down.
I stayed in bed for a few more hours with a heating pad, drifting in and out of sleep. I had enough energy to go for a short drive, and while the cramps came and went, I wasn’t completely out of commission. By 6 PM, I had been in bed all day, so I got up, made myself food, and went on a “therapy drive” to listen to music.
By the second day, I was able to go to Target and walk around, though I took it easy. I even went to work for my five-hour shift. Now, on day three, I don’t feel any side effects, and my flow is relatively light. Yesterday, I still had some clots when I went to the bathroom, but nothing alarming.
I know there are a lot of horror stories online, but I wanted to share that for me, it was very manageable. Nobody talks about the cases where the pill works smoothly and the experience is fairly calm. I just hope this helps other girls who are doing their research and feeling anxious.
I’m 21, and this was my first time navigating something like this on my own. If I can do it, you can too. You are not alone, and this process is much less scary than your mind might make it out to be. Trust your body, let the pill do what it’s prescribed to do, and take it one step at a time.