Abortion is a hot-button topic, but no one talks about the procedures, possible side effects, or potential physical or emotional risks. Getting factual information is essential. There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. How far along you are in your pregnancy determines the type you have.
Medical Abortion
An abortion is considered “medical” if you take drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The abortion pill is a medical abortion because you take two drugs over a 24 to 48-hour period.
The first drug in the abortion pill regimen is mifepristone, which the FDA highly regulates. Only certified providers can prescribe it. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone from reaching the pregnancy. Without progesterone, the pregnancy cannot continue.
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.
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.
In addition to contractions and bleeding, you may also experience an upset stomach, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea.
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.
- 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 pregnancy.
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.
You may experience bleeding and cramping, dizziness, or a fever with a surgical abortion.
Risks
The Mayo Clinic lists the following as potential physical risks:
- Perforation of the uterus (a medical 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 pregnancy).
LaVie Health offers pre-abortion care to confirm a pregnancy and get you the information you need to move forward. Our pre-abortion care includes free pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and STD testing and treatment, if necessary.
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 LaVie Health first. Be prepared and take control of your health.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
