Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of Aid Access, the No 1 supplier of abortion pills by mail in the United States works remotely, shipping around 9,000 abortion pills a month. However, right after Trump declared victory in the 2024 election, her website was flooded with 5,000 requests for abortion pills in less than 12 hours.But does the abortion pill work when taken home? How to know if it has been consumed right? As per the Guttmacher Institute, medication abortion accounted for 63% of all US abortions in 2023, an increase from 53% in 2020. Now, women are stocking up on abortion pills and morning-after-pill ahead of the "reproductive apocalypse", says Elisa Well, co-founder of another abortion pill finder site, Plan C, as reports The Guardian. This comes as a backdrop of Trump's win who is an anti-abortion believer, which is why, women are stocking abortion pills up in case it is banned in the US as the power transfers. For this election, abortion was on the ballot for voters in 10 states, out of which 7 passed for protective abortion, while the 3 supported anti-abortion.What is the abortion pill?To be accurate, there is more than just one pill. The combination of pills is a safe and reliable way to end a pregnancy up to about 12 weeks after the first day of your period. This procedure could be carried out at home. However, a follow-up appointment is suggested to get reassurance.It is a combination of two medications - mifepristone and misoprostol, which are consumed in two separate doses. The person may experience cramping and bleeding within a few hours of taking the second medication. This is an indicator that it has worked.If you pass large blood clots, it may indicate that the embryonic or fetal tissue is exiting your body. Cramping occurs so your uterus can shrink back to its original size.How long is this process for?This process can take somewhere between 2 to 3 days to complete, however, symptoms can last for a few weeks.If you are not aborting at home with the help of the pill, an ultrasound is likely to be performed and you will be given a dissolving tablet that is placed in your vagina, under your tongue or between your cheek and teeth. This will lead to bleeding within 4 hours.How does it work?Mifepristone helps block the pregnancy hormone called progesterone which leads to the breakdown of the uterine lining and stops the growth of the fetus. Once, the body realizes that pregnancy cannot be continued, misoprostol helps push out tissue through the vagina.The contraction helps the uterus get back to its original size. This could be on the same level as when someone experiences a miscarriage.Is it effective?According to a 2011 study titled Comparative effectiveness, safety and acceptability of medical abortion at home and in a clinic: A systematic review, there was no difference found between the effectiveness of medical abortion and surgical abortion. Another 2015 study titled Medical Compared With Surgical Abortion for Effective Pregnancy Termination in the First Trimester, reveals that both options are as effective in the first trimester.Are there any side effects?While you will experience bleeding and cramping after taking the second pill, there could be other side effects too including:VomitingDiarrhoeaHeadachesTirednessFever-like symptomsHowever, once the symptoms reduce, your bleeding becomes lighter and cramps are not as severe, you would know that the medication is over.Abortion History In The USThe 2024 election's focal point was abortion rights and it became a major topic following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, where the Supreme Court ended the 50 years of federal protection of abortion rights in the US. It opened the door for states to craft their own bans. Since then, 14 out of the 11 states have established previously illegal limits on when can a person have an abortion.7 of the 10 states in the US with abortion protectiveIn 10 of the US states, abortion was on the ballot for voters in the 2024 elections, out of which, 7 passed the abortion protective. The list of the 7 states are:ArizonaColoradoMarylandMissouriMontanaNevadaNew YorkWhereas, in Florida, to limit government interference, there was a requirement of 60% support but it only came about 57%.In Nebraska, anti-abortion passed, while in South Dakota, an amendment to prohibit the state from restricting abortion during the first trimester failed.For now, the country has an abortion law that permits abortions to save the life of a pregnant person.