Cytotec for Abortion: Everything You Need to Know

There are many different types of abortion pills on the market and availability is different around the world. Cytotec is among the most common of these pills. Whether you are concerned about how Cytotec works, pricing, dosage or where to get it, we hope this guide will be useful. If you have additional questions, please reach out to one of our counselors directly by email or live chat and we will be happy to support.

What is the Cytotec Abortion Pill

Cytotec pills contain misoprostol, a prostaglandin that causes softening and dilation of the cervix and uterine contractions when used during pregnancy. It is produced by the Pfizer pharmaceutical company. [1] Cytotec drug can be used for self-managed abortion in pregnancies up to 13 weeks.

How Does Cytotec Work for Abortions?

Cytotec works by softening and dilating the cervix, and it also causes the uterus to contract. All of these actions help to expel the pregnancy. Typically it will start working within ~1 hour of use, but it can take more. [2]

What is the Cytotec Dosage?

Typically each Cytotec pills contain 200mcg of misoprostol.
For an abortion up to 13 weeks of pregnancy the recommended dosage to have available is 3 sets of 800mcg of misoprostol (a total of 2400mcg, or 12 pills). [3]
If it is difficult to obtain 12 pills of cytotec 200mcg, you can choose to proceed with only 8 pills, but the effectiveness migth be reduced. I this case, we encourage you to get in touch with us.
If you are between 10-13 weeks pregnant, it is strongly recommended to use 12 pills of Misoprostol.

What is the Price of Cytotec?

The cytotec price is often quite low, but it will vary depending on geographic location. Different countries have different laws about abortion, and this can also affect the price of Cytotec. It is possible that in countries with legal restrictions on abortion, the price of Cytotec without a prescription could be more costly.

There are organizations that will ship the pills for a donation, you can check out Women on Web and Women Help Women for more information about obtaining the pills. [4]

How to Take Cytotec

Using Cytotec is very effective to end a pregnancy when used correctly.
Please note, the following information applies to medical abortions using Misoprostol only for pregnancies that are 13 weeks or less, calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period.
safe2choose recommends using Cytotec under the tongue (sublingually). The best way to do this is to place the Cytotec tablets (4 pills of 200mcg Misoprostol each) directly under the tongue, and let the tablets dissolve there for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, any remaining tablets can be swallowed with water.
3 hours after the first dose (a total of 800mcg) of Cytotec, the next dose should be repeated in the same manner.
3 hours after the second dose, a third dose should be used.[3]
Completing the 12-pill regimen is especially recommended if you are 10-13 weeks pregnant.

What are the Side Effects of Cytotec

When used for abortion, the intended effects of Cytotec are to cause abdominal cramping and bleeding. In addition to these effects, it is possible to experience side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fevers, and chills.

Typically these symptoms are limited to 24 hours. [4]

What Does Cytotec Abortion Pills Look Like?

Cytotec 200mcg tablets are small, white, hexagonally shaped pills. They are scored in the center and will have “searle” and/or “1461” imprinted onto them. [5]

How to Get Cytotec Abortion Pills?

The availability of Cytotec abortion pills is variable depending on geographic location. Cytotec is also indicated for stomach ulcers, so it can sometimes be found over-the-counter without a prescription. If this is the case, the Cytotec is likely to be located near the stomach medications in your local pharmacy. If they are not found there, it is likely that it requires a prescription at the pharmacy.

It has been verified that Cytotec is available in these countries [7]:
Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Zambia

This website may also be useful in finding out the accessibility of Cytotec in your location. [6]

You can also get in touch with our counselors, and they will be able to help you locate a trustworthy provider near you.