Missed Period Pills: Understanding the Risks and Realities

Have you heard of missed period pills? They are also referred to as”period pills” or “late period pills.” At first glance, the name sounds simple enough. And these pills are often marketed as an easy way to “bring on your period” when it’s late. But what are missed period pills really? And do they work the way people think they do?

Let’s break down the facts so you can make a fully informed decision.

What Do Missed Period Pills Claim to Do?

Missed period pills are advertised as a way to start your period if it’s late, without needing to confirm whether or not you’re pregnant. Some other common terms used are “pushing your period,” “bringing down your period,” or “menstrual regulation.” The idea is to take a pill, trigger a period, and move on.

But before trusting that claim, it’s important to understand how your menstrual cycle actually works, and what these pills are made of.

How Does a Normal Period Work?

Your period is not like flipping a switch. It’s a complex monthly cycle involving several stages, hormones, and natural changes in your body. Here’s the simplified version:

1. Your uterus builds a lining under the influence of rising hormones.
2. Ovulation occurs, releasing an egg from the ovary.
3. If sperm is present, the egg may be fertilized and implant into the uterine lining.
4. If fertilization does not happen, hormone levels drop and the lining sheds; this is known as your period.

Your body follows this rhythm naturally. If you are not pregnant, your period arrives once the cycle completes. If you are pregnant, your period cannot occur because your body must maintain the uterine lining for the pregnancy.

What are Missed Period Pills?

Despite the gentle-sounding name, missed period pills are actually the same medications used in a chemical abortion. Missed period pills contain misoprostol, and oftentimes mifepristone as well. These drugs:

• block progesterone
• prevent the pregnancy from continuing to grow
• cause the uterus to cramp and empty

Some missed period pill regimens may use a lower dose of mifepristone than pills marketed as the abortion pill, but the substance, and its intended effect, is the same as the abortion pill.

Can Missed Period Pills Really Bring Back a Period?

Let’s compare how a period works with what missed period pills actually do.

If you are NOT pregnant:

Your body already knows there is no pregnancy and naturally lowers progesterone. Taking mifepristone, which blocks progesterone, may or may not have an effect on the process. Taking misoprostol, which causes the uterus to cramp and empty, could cause your period to return earlier than it naturally would. In this situation, missed period pills may or may not “push your period.” Missed period pills may, however, cause additional cramping.

If you ARE pregnant:

Blocking progesterone causes the pregnancy to stop developing and be expelled. This can appear similar to a heavy period. However, the result is not a period, because an early pregnancy or embryo will be expelled along with the uterine lining. This is a medication or chemical abortion.

This means someone taking missed period pills without knowing whether or not they’re pregnant may never know whether they simply had a late period or ended a pregnancy.

Are There Health Concerns?

A natural period is a normal bodily function usually with minimal medical risk.

However, an abortion, even an early one, can come with physical and emotional complications. These can include:

• Heavy bleeding
• Cramping
• Infection
• Incomplete abortion
• Emotional distress

There is another major concern: ectopic pregnancy. Mifepristone and misoprostol do not treat an ectopic pregnancy. If an ectopic pregnancy continues untreated, it can cause internal bleeding and become a life-threatening emergency. Only an ultrasound can confirm whether a pregnancy is located safely in the uterus.

What Does All This Mean?

Here’s the bottom line:

• At best, missed period pills disrupt your body’s natural rhythm and induce a period if you are not pregnant.
• At worst, a medical issue can be missed and leave you with urgent but undetected medical needs.

You may also later find yourself wondering if you were ever actually pregnant. This may not bother some people, but some may find this troubling. This is why understanding what missed period pills actually do is so important.

What’s the Safest Next Step?

Before taking missed period pills, or any abortion pills, the safest and most empowering first step is to get the information you need:

• A medical grade pregnancy test
• An ultrasound to confirm how far along you are
• Verification of the pregnancy’s location to rule out an ectopic pregnancy
• Clear information about your options, risks, and alternatives

Only you can decide what is best for your health and your situation. You deserve accurate, compassionate, pressure-free information before making that decision.

We are here to help you understand your body and your choices. Schedule a free pregnancy test and follow-up ultrasound today so you can make an informed and confident decision.