Abortion is a serious and life-changing decision. Schedule your no-cost pregnancy test and ultrasound to determine if you have a viable uterine pregnancy before you schedule an appointment.
Types of Abortion
There are two types of abortion, medical and surgical. Each of them has different side effects and potential risks. The number of weeks you have been pregnant determines the abortion method you will have.
Medical Abortion
The abortion pill is a medical or chemical abortion method. The FDA has approved this method through ten weeks gestation only (70 days or less since the first day of a patient’s last menstrual period).
A medical abortion uses two drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the uterus from absorbing a hormone called progesterone. Without progesterone, a pregnancy can’t survive.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract to remove the pregnancy through the vagina.
Side Effects Of The Abortion Pill
Every abortion involves additional bleeding and cramping. According to the Mayo Clinic, the following are other potential side effects:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Potential Risks Of The Abortion Pill
The same article from the Mayo Clinic lists these as potential risks of the abortion pill:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Surgical Abortion
There are several types of surgical abortion. Which procedure you have is determined by how far along you are in your pregnancy. Surgical abortion in early pregnancy uses vacuum aspiration to suction out the pregnancy.
Later pregnancies require either dilation and curettage (D&C) or dilation and evacuation (D&E). These methods combine a vacuum device and scraping tool to remove the contents of the uterus. It may also require forceps to remove larger parts of the pregnancy.
Side Effects Of Surgical Abortion
According to research, the following are potential side effects and risks of surgical abortion:
- Bleeding
- Cramping
Potential Risks Of Surgical Abortion
- Tissue remains in the uterus
- Injury to the cervix
- A hole in the wall of the uterus (uterine perforation)
- Moderate to severe vaginal bleeding
- Infection
The Psychological Side Effects of Abortion
A scientific evaluation of the effects of abortion mentally came to the following conclusion:
- Abortion is consistently associated with elevated rates of mental illness compared to women without a history of abortion
- The abortion experience directly contributes to mental health problems for at least some women
- There are risk factors, such as pre-existing mental illness, that identify women at the greatest risk of mental health problems after an abortion
We’re Here For You
Schedule an appointment for your free pregnancy test and ultrasound. We can verify your pregnancy, discuss your situation, and look closely at all your options. No one can force you to make a decision you don’t want to make. Only you can decide what’s best for you.
