The abortion pill can only be obtained after a consultation with a medical provider. This sometimes requires an in-person office visit. Some women see it as an advantage to have the abortion procedure at home. Other women consider this a drawback and emotionally taxing.  A medical abortion usually takes hours and days to complete. Side effects may include heavy bleeding, pain, nausea, and faintness. The prescribing clinic should be available throughout the procedure to field questions. The abortion pill must only be taken within a 2-hour range of an emergency room, should surgical intervention become necessary. If remnants remain in the uterus, a D&C may be required. For safety reasons, the abortion pill can only be used up to the 9th or 10th week of pregnancy. Vacuum aspirations can be performed until the 16th week of pregnancy (calculated from the last menstrual period — LMP). If a woman is unsure about her decision, the cut-off date can be a disadvantage by creating additional time pressure.