Totally correct are you, totally wrong am I- the false positives ARE less common. Withdrawn with apologies.
This in no way invalidates the existence of UFOs, however.
Or pregnancies resulting from the occupants of UFOs, for that matter…
Depending on where you live and how old your friend is, she can get a free blood test at the clinic. If she is too old or your state doesn’t cover it, there will be a minimal fee.
If she is pregnant, the above is the same regarding an abortion that is done properly and safely by a doctor. A friend of a friend (yeah, I know) got an abortion in Florida and I don’t think it was more than $200.
As others have said, yes, there are any number of natural substances that are abortifacents. However, of this number, several are poisonous of themselves, and as naturally occuring in plants and such, concentrations of the substance you’re after will vary. Apparently, it’s hard to dose oneself such that a miscarriage is initiated without further damaging one’s own health. It’s far safer and far more effective to see a doctor.
According to this site, certain medications can cause false positives, as can blood in your urine. Blood in the urine, at least, can come from a urinary tract infection (though I don’t know if that would produce enough blood to throw off the results), which isn’t rare at all in women.
There is no such thing as alternative medicine. There is medicine that works, and there is everything else.
It’s not the political issue of abortion (which would be a valid topic in Great Debates) but the solicitation of medical advice, which is generally frowned upon (for liability and safety reasons) and usually results in the locking of a thread. Given the vice grip that has been applied to some pretty marginal questions I’m surprised this one wasn’t frozen down like a side of beef, but…eh.
Stranger
I understand what you’re saying. However, I was not seeking medical advice.
I am simply concerned about my friend and was curious if there was any validity to the method she is attempting to use. Period. Whatever info I receive is for my my own peace of mind and nothing more. Apparently, by what’s been posted, I should be concerned for my friend.
I am sorry if I did not make my questions and intentions clear enough. Mods, do whatever you must. Please accept my apologies for this.
IANAD or an apothecary but I would think that regardless of the method used to terminate a pregnancy, your friend is putting herself at risk.
Whether she were to go to a doctor and get an abortion or try to take some herb to cause a miscarriage there are things happening there that go beyond just hiking up your leg and expelling the embryo. There is blood and tissue to consider. I’m a bit fearful of doctors too but damn, if I chose to terminate my pregnancy I’d rather go to someone that knew what the hell they were doing rather than buying some crap online and giving it a go.
Another thing that is worrisome is that your friend has performed how many tests and they’re all negative yet she still is convinced she’s got one baking in the oven?
She still wants to drink some poison?
I hope you have some influence on her, brother, because she really should talk to a doctor.
I have talked to her a million times, but she won’t listen. She does / has done a lot of off-the-wall stuff like this. Frankly, I’m often surprised she hasn’t ended up in a life threatening situation. I’m not saying she is suicidal. She just doesn’t realize the potential implications of the things that she has done / is doing. It’s heartbreaking.
We’re starting to get into IMHO/personal-advice territory here, but if this were my friend, I would disengage from her on this issue: “Since you won’t listen to my recommendations, which I took the time to research for you and have confidence in, you will have to take responsibility for your own decision on this. I hope you stay healthy, but if you do something stupid despite my warnings, don’t come to me for help.”
Heart-breaking indeed. But what else can you do?
That must be frustrating as hell for you as her friend. 
I’m only going to say this because I don’t know you at all so please don’t think I’m talking down to you or anything. Have you talked to her at all about the explicit dangers of herbal abortion remedies? Is she fully aware that she will be poisoning herself? What would she say or do if you presented her with factual information on how dangerous this is? Yes these things (herbs) will work but they’re hardly worth the risk. They may abort her right into her own grave.
It does sound like she’s the type of person that gets a thought-on and develops tunnel vision about it. Good luck and keep us posted please.
Oh, by the way, if she is in fact pregnant, how far along to you suspect she is?
No. No it can’t. Profound stupidity, a lot of yellow pee, and a friend’s uterus are my cite.
Other ideas that don’t work but are widely touted on the net:
- Blue/black cohosh (but you might just rupture your uterus)
- Shoving parsely inside your lady parts and leaving it there for awhile
- Pennyroyal (mainly cause it kills you too)
- Accupuncture
- Punching the affected uterus
Another danger using these “remedies” is that you’ll have an incomplete abortion, and end up in a lot worse shape. Infection, toxic effects, death, and permanent damage to various organs also are major risks. Nevermind the ramifications if this isn’t a regular pregnancy but an ectopic one, or a cyst, or a bad test, or another condition. A needed abortion is not a good reason to destroy your kidneys, liver, reproductive organs, or life.
Your local Planned Parenthood (or similar) should be able to provide abortion services at low or no cost. Prior to 8 weeks a chemical abortion (also called RU-486) will allow your friend to take pills discreetly and not spend a whole day at a clinic and having to explain where she’s been/ get a ride/ get hassled by protestors/ a nasty invasive proceedure/ whatever.
Have your friend see a doctor. If she is worried about family/ associate involvement, use a false name & pay cash. But do something other than this Vitamin C thing. Sexual responsibility means keeping all involved safe and healthy, physically and emotionally. And your friend isn’t doing that for herself.
Good luck.
Sorry; I didn’t intend to come off as accusitive. If the mods don’t have a problem with your question then I really don’t either, and as the responses have all been some variation on, “What a really dumb thing your friend is doing to herself,” I don’t see any harm done. I’m just a little surprised that other threads have been shut down for asking pretty innoculous medical-related questions.
Anyway, good luck to you with the friend. As others have said, if you can’t get her to visit a doctor at least try to get her down to Planned Parenthood and talk with a counselor or somesuch, or check out the relevent chapters of Our Bodies, Ourselves. Anything but the hypertoxification/toxic shock-induced miscarriage/gut punch method of “alternative” abortion.
Stranger
Would would a homeopathic abortfacient even be? A few sperm in a liter of bottled water?
1 Cite
2 Cite
Red cite.*
Blue Cite. *
And some even suggest vitamin C may be helpful to pregnancy. :smack:
*admittedly discusses more general risks rather than Vit. C specifically.
Would would a homeopathic abortifacient even be? A few sperm in a liter of bottled water?
I think about my only option left is to C&P many of these replies into an email and send it to her. I have known her for many years, (IRL and online) I don’t think the email will change her mind, but it’s worth a try anyway.
I’d guesstimate about 4 weeks, give or take.
Yes, very much so, but I think I will probably have to end up following the below suggestion:
Like I said, this isn’t the first time she’s pulled this kind of thing. She was severly hooked on “natural” stimulants, in the past, primarily ephedra. She has this hairbrained notion that if it’s “natural” it can’t possibly harm you. :rolleyes:
When she was on the herbal stimulants, she was always complaining of health problems, e.g. hair loss, stomach problems, but wouldn’t accept that it was likely caused by what she was using on herself.
People RECOMMEND that?? :eek: :eek:
That stupider than the old “take an extra hot bath” wives’ tale.
Thanks, inkleberry. Those are great cites. I’ll pass these on to my friend. If this doesn’t convince her, then 
:eek: