If you are facing an unexpected pregnancy and considering an abortion, it’s important for your health that you understand all your options.
Regardless of the different types of abortion you are considering, there are known medical risks and complications that you may want to be aware of before you make your final decision.
Our team at Choices provides testing and consultation free of charge to you. That means you can get the answers you need with no strings attached, empowering you to make the best decision for your health and future.
Types of Abortions and Their Risks
There are two types of abortion procedures: medical and surgical.
Medical Abortion
A medical abortion is also typically referred to as “the pill”. During a medical abortion, you are given a series of pills. The first pill prevents a pregnancy from remaining attached to your uterus, while the second pill then forces your body to expel the pregnancy through your vagina, terminating the pregnancy.
There are limitations to a medical abortion, with the most important one being that they are only possible during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. This means it’s important that you receive an ultrasound to know the exact age of your pregnancy.
All medical abortions have a chance of risks, which can include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Surgical Abortion
A surgical abortion is an invasive medical procedure that involves dilating your cervix and using a suction device and medical tools to remove your pregnancy from your uterus via your vagina.
Surgical abortion is required after a pregnancy reaches 10 weeks, and there are risks associated with the procedure, including:
- Damage to the womb or cervix
- Uterine perforation (accidentally putting a hole in the uterus with one of the instruments used)
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes
- Scarring of the inside of the uterus
- Reaction to the medicines or anesthesia, such as problems breathing
- Not removing all of the tissue, requiring another procedure
Getting Answers and Knowing Your Options
One of the first steps to take when you think you are pregnant, or have a positive result from a home pregnancy test, is to confirm your pregnancy with no-cost medical-grade pregnancy testing from Choices.
If the test confirms your pregnancy, the Choices medical team recommends a no-cost follow-up ultrasound. An ultrasound scan is an important step in identifying if your pregnancy is viable, as well as the age of your pregnancy.
The ultrasound can also confirm that your pregnancy is not an ectopic pregnancy, a complication that requires medical intervention to protect your health. The information you receive from an ultrasound is vital in providing the details you need to know about the options available to you and the decision best for you.
The team at Choices can provide you with important information you need about your pregnancy and then listen to your thoughts and concerns, providing you the insights you need to make an empowered decision for your health and future.
Contact us today to schedule your confidential, no-cost appointment, and start getting the answers and peace of mind you need.