Are You Considering Abortion?
Many women facing an unplanned pregnancy immediately consider abortion out of fear and guilt. They think if they have an abortion, no one will know. However, abortion procedures have both physical and emotional consequences. Be prepared and learn more about abortion procedures, side effects, and potential risks.
Are there Different Types of Abortion?
There are two types of abortion: medication and surgical. How far along you are in your pregnancy determines the type of procedure you have.
Medication (Also Known as the Abortion Pill Method)
You may have heard about the abortion pill method. It is a medication abortion because it uses two drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The first drug, mifepristone, is highly regulated by the FDA. They have only approved its use up to 10 weeks gestation. (70 days passed the first day of your last period).
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, a pregnancy cannot survive. The second drug, misoprostol, causes bleeding and cramping to expel the pregnancy from your body through the vagina.
Side Effects and Risks
Expect to feel nauseous and possibly vomit. Also, the drugs can cause diarrhea, fever, chills, and a headache. There are several potential risks:
- Parts of the pregnancy might remain in your body after taking the drugs, which may lead to an infection.
- The farther along you are in your pregnancy, the less effective the drugs are. So, you may have an ongoing pregnancy.
- There’s a potential for heavy and prolonged bleeding.
Surgical
There are several types of surgical abortion. How far along you are determines what surgical instruments are used. In early pregnancy, an abortion provider uses vacuum or suction aspiration. As your pregnancy progresses, the provider may add a sharp spoon-shaped instrument for scraping or forceps to remove larger parts.
Side Effects and Risks
All abortions involve bleeding and cramping. You may experience irregular bleeding for two weeks or more. You may also experience fever and chills, vomiting, and pain.
The potential risks of surgical abortion include:
- A hole poked through your uterus with a surgical instrument
- Damage to the cervix
- Scarring of the uterus
- Infection
Get More Information
Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we can give you more details about the various procedures and potential risks. Be informed so you can make a confident decision. Set up an appointment today.