Abortion has become a common topic of discussion, but we rarely hear about the procedures, possible side effects, or potential physical and emotional risks. Understanding the facts is essential to you making an informed decision about your future. There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. How far along you are in your pregnancy determines the type of abortion available to you.
Medical Abortion
An abortion is considered “medical” if you take drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The Abortion Pill involves taking two drugs over a 24- to 48-hour period. The first drug in the Abortion Pill regimen is mifepristone, which blocks the hormone progesterone from reaching the embryo. Without progesterone, the embryo can’t survive. The second drug, misoprostol, causes contractions and bleeding to remove the pregnancy from the body through the vagina. Some women have reported severe contractions and heavy bleeding after taking misoprostol. In addition to contractions and bleeding, you may also experience an upset stomach, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea.
The FDA approves the use of these drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The drug is less effective the further along you are in your pregnancy.
Risks
Every medical procedure has risks, so being aware of them beforehand is essential. The following are risks noted by the Mayo Clinic:
- An incomplete abortion is where the pregnancy ends, but the pregnancy tissue isn’t completely expelled from the body. This may require a surgical abortion.
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work.
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding.
- Infection.
- Fever.
Surgical Abortion
There are various surgical procedures based on how far along you are in your pregnancy. They range from suction or vacuum aspiration to the addition of a scraping tool called a curette and forceps to remove larger parts of the fetus.
Depending on the number of weeks you have been pregnant, it may be necessary to dilate (open) the cervix (which leads to the uterus). A surgical procedure may also require local or general anesthesia.
With a surgical abortion, you may also experience bleeding and cramping, dizziness, or a fever.
Risks
The Mayo Clinic lists the following as potential physical risks:
- Perforation of the uterus (a surgical instrument pokes a hole in the uterus)
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
It’s also important to note that some women experience mental health issues following an abortion. Discussing your physical health as well as emotional health before having an abortion is critical.
Before Any Abortion
Several steps should be taken before having either a medical or surgical procedure. First, it’s necessary to confirm the pregnancy. Confirmation comes from a positive pregnancy test and an ultrasound.
Experts estimate more than one in four pregnancies end in an early miscarriage. Ultrasound determines if the pregnancy is viable (growing) and the gestation (the number of weeks) of your pregnancy.
Clear Choice Clinic offers early pregnancy diagnosis to confirm your pregnancy and get you the information you need to move forward. We offer pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and STD testing and treatment, if necessary, all at no cost to you.
We do not perform or refer for abortions, but we do provide you with evidence-based medical information. If you or someone you know is considering an abortion, schedule an appointment with Clear Choice Clinic first. You have options. We have answers.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.