Like any major medical procedure, there are always risks with abortion. It’s essential to be prepared and to know what to look for.
All abortions can cause bleeding and cramping, but how do you know if you are bleeding or cramping too much? How do you know if it’s time to seek emergency care?
Get the facts about abortion procedures from Choices. If you’re considering abortion, make sure you get as much information as possible beforehand. Schedule a no-cost, confidential appointment today.
The Two Main Types of Abortion
There are two main types of abortion: medical and surgical. How far along you are in your pregnancy usually determines the procedure you have. Let’s take a closer look at both:
Medical Abortion (aka The Abortion Pill Method)
The FDA approves the drugs for a medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill, through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The drugs become less effective the further along you are.
The two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, end the pregnancy and cause bleeding and contractions to remove it from your body. The Mayo Clinic lists the following potential physical risks of a medical abortion:
- An incomplete abortion (the body doesn’t release all pregnancy tissue in the uterus).
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work.
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding.
- Infection.
- Fever.
- Digestive symptoms such as an upset stomach.
An incomplete abortion is also called “retained products of conception.” Heavy or irregular bleeding is the most common symptom of an incomplete abortion.
When retained products of conception remain in your uterus, it can cause an infection, which can damage your reproductive organs or cause dangerous complications if left untreated.
Surgical Abortion
Surgical procedures range from suction or vacuum aspiration to the use of medical instruments such as a curette for scraping or forceps to remove larger parts. Depending on how far along you are, you may need to have your cervix (which leads to the uterus) dilated (opened) and receive local or general anesthesia for pain.
Often, an abortion provider performs a surgical procedure to remove retained products of conception or an incomplete abortion. Although rare, an infection can occur after a surgical procedure like dilation and curettage (D&C).
The physical risks of a surgical abortion include the following:
- Perforation of the uterus.
- Damage to the cervix.
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall.
- Infection.
How Can Choices Help Me?
Although we do not perform or refer for abortions, we can give you factual, medically based details about abortion procedures and the potential risks. Your health and safety are our first concern.
Before choosing to have an abortion, take time to learn the facts about your pregnancy and abortion procedures. We can help you get the information you need with no-cost, confidential pregnancy services, like conclusive pregnancy testing, an ultrasound, and STI/STD testing, all essential steps before choosing abortion. We also offer abortion follow-up care to help protect your health and recovery.
Book an appointment and protect your health and safety. We’re here for you.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
Pregnancy Testing
To confirm your pregnancy, start with a no-cost pregnancy test from Choices. We will confidentially provide conclusive results at no cost to you.
STD/STI Services
During your pregnancy test, we also offer limited STD/STI screening. You and your partner receive no-cost treatment if you test positive for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, or syphilis.
Ultrasounds
If your pregnancy test is positive, complete the confirmation process with a no-cost limited ultrasound. An ultrasound confirms viability, the gestational age, and the location of your pregnancy.
Abortion Pill Reversal
If you’ve taken the first dose of the abortion pill method and regret your decision, it may not be too late to save your pregnancy. There’s a process called Abortion Pill Reversal, but you must act quickly.
Pregnancy Testing
To confirm your pregnancy, start with a no-cost pregnancy test from Choices. We will confidentially provide conclusive results at no cost to you.
STD/STI Services
During your pregnancy test, we also offer limited STD/STI screening. You and your partner receive no-cost treatment if you test positive for gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, or syphilis.
Ultrasounds
If your pregnancy test is positive, complete the confirmation process with a no-cost limited ultrasound. An ultrasound confirms viability, the gestational age, and the location of your pregnancy.
Abortion Pill Reversal
If you’ve taken the first dose of the abortion pill method and regret your decision, it may not be too late to save your pregnancy. There’s a process called Abortion Pill Reversal, but you must act quickly.
