Health Conditions

A prescription is required for all medication abortion orders. For information about accessing a medication abortion, contact our team here.

A medication abortion typically starts with a combination of two drugs, both of which require an Rx:

• Taken first, mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, which causes the lining of the uterus to break down.

• Then, misoprostol is taken, which causes the uterus to contract and empty.

Hypothyroidism is a medical condition where your thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your throat. An underactive thyroid can disrupt other important bodily functions, such as your heart rate, body temperature, and metabolism. The thyroid gland produces two main hormones called T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). When released by the thyroid gland, T4 is mostly converted to T3, the main hormone responsible for biological effects seen in people. 

Erectile dysfunction (also known as ED) is a medical condition where it is difficult for the penis to get or keep an erection that is firm enough for sexual intercourse. 

ED can be caused by a wide variety of issues, including other health conditions, alcohol, exhaustion, stress, mental health factors, medications, and poor blood flow to the penis.

Hair loss (also known as alopecia) is a medical condition that results in temporary or permanent hair loss on the scalp and/or the rest of your body. This condition most commonly affects male-identifying patients, and it can be caused by factors such as other medical conditions, hormone changes, family history, or aging. 

A headache is a broad medical term that refers to the sensation of pain in an area of your head. A migraine is a specific type of headache that causes severe, throbbing pain alongside other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensibility to light and sound.

Pain is a broad symptom that can manifest differently in every person. It can be isolated in a single area or spread throughout the whole body, and it is often categorized as either acute or chronic. Acute pain typically refers to a mild to sharp pain that can last from a few seconds up to a few months. Chronic pain typically refers to persistent pain that lasts from a few weeks to years.

There are four widely accepted types of pain: 

1. Functional Pain: Pain that doesn’t come from an obvious origin such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or fibromyalgia. 

2. Neuropathic Pain: Pain that comes from nerve damage or irritation such as neuralgia or neuropathy. This pain can also come from damage to or dysfunction of the brain or spinal cord or other nerves. 

3. 1. Pressure on a nerve: This can come from a ruptured or bulging disk in the spine that subsequently causes back pain that then radiates to the leg. 

   2. Nerve damage: This occurs often in people who have type 2 diabetes or the pain one experiences after shingles.

4. Nociceptive Pain: Pain that comes from tissue damage or injury such as back pain, pain following a surgical procedure, or arthritis. This is also called acute pain.

5. Inflammatory Pain: Pain caused by inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout. This pain is often a response from your body’s immune system.

Type 2 diabetes is a medical condition where your body struggles to process sugar, either due to a lack of insulin or a resistance to it. Insulin is an essential hormone that helps your cells utilize sugar as a source of fuel. With type 2 diabetes, the body’s difficulty with insulin leads to high blood sugar levels, which causes other serious conditions such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

Medical professionals and scientists don’t yet understand the exact cause of type 2 diabetes, although they believe genetics, environmental factors, lack of exercise, and being overweight can all contribute.

High blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is a common condition where your blood flows with too much force through your arteries. This occurs when your heart pumps a lot of blood, but your arteries are narrow, thus leading to an increase in pressure. When left untreated, hypertension can then lead to other health problems like heart attack and stroke.

High cholesterol is a medical condition where fatty deposits (also known as “cholesterol plaque”) build up around the walls of your arteries, making it hard for your blood to flow. These deposits can also lead to blood clots, which cause a heart attack or stroke.

Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a medical condition where acid flows from your stomach into your esophagus and/or the back of your throat. While acid reflux is a common symptom that many people occasionally experience, you are diagnosed with GERD if you have mild acid reflux at least twice a week or moderate to severe reflux at least once a week.

Asthma is a medical condition that affects the airways and often causes shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. Extra mucus may also be produced in your airways which also makes it more difficult to breathe. This is a life-long condition, but the symptoms can be managed with appropriate treatment.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a medical condition referring to chronic inflammation of the lungs, which leads to obstructed air flow. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, cough, mucus, and wheezing. This is a lifelong disease that worsens over time, but symptoms can typically be managed with the appropriate treatment.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a medical condition that can lead to difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior in both children and adults. While this is a lifelong, chronic condition, symptoms can be managed through effective treatment. 

Epilepsy is a medical condition where abnormal electrical brain activity causes symptoms such as seizures, loss of awareness, and/or unusual behavior or sensations. Seizures can affect each person differently. Some simple stare, whereas others might twitch their limbs or shake. Epilepsy might eventually go away, or it might require lifelong management.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) refers to medications that contain hormones meant to replace the ones your body might have stopped naturally producing. HRT most commonly refers to replacing hormones in women. In males, we often refer to replacing testosterone as TRT or testosterone replacement therapy, androgen replacement therapy, or male hypogonadism.

Opioid use disorder refers to an addiction to opioids. Addiction is defined as an irresistible craving for opioids, the continued use of opioids even when they are no longer medically necessary, or the misuse of opioids. Anyone who takes opioids is at risk for developing addiction due to the habit-forming nature of the drugs.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep. Sleep-onset insomnia means you have trouble with the former, while sleep maintenance insomnia refers to the latter. 

Some people experience insomnia short-term (for days or weeks), while others experience chronic insomnia (lasting for a month or more). There are a variety of lifestyle remedies and prescription medications available to help manage insomnia and its effects on daily life.

Obesity is a medical condition that means an individual has an excess amount of body fat. This could be caused by a combination of factors such as environment, personal diet, other health conditions, genetics, and exercise choices. Obesity can increase your risk of other medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some types of cancer.