If you’re considering abortion for your unexpected pregnancy, get as much information as possible beforehand. Knowing what to expect and how to handle any complications is critical. Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we can give you the necessary information.
What Are The Types of Abortion?
There are two main types of abortion: medical and surgical. Your type is determined by how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Medical Abortion
Medical abortion is also known as the abortion pill, medication abortion, or chemical abortion. This type uses abortion drugs to end a pregnancy.
Mifepristone, the first drug, blocks the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, a pregnancy cannot survive. The second drug, misoprostol, causes cramping and bleeding to remove the pregnancy from the body.
The FDA approves these drugs only during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. The drugs become less effective the further along you are.
Surgical Abortion
Surgical procedures range from suction or vacuum aspiration in the early weeks to the addition of medical instruments like a scraping tool (known as a curette or forceps) to remove large parts.
Depending on your stage of pregnancy, you may need to have your cervix (which leads to your uterus) dilated (opened). Plus, the procedure may require general or local anesthesia.
What Are the Side Effects?
Abortions involve a certain amount of bleeding and cramping. Because you generally experience a medical abortion in your home alone, it’s critical to know how much bleeding and cramping are too much.
Other side effects can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
Are There Any Risks?
There are risks to any medical procedure. For example, physical risks of medical abortion include heavy and prolonged bleeding, severe pain, and infection. Surgical abortions can involve risks like cervical damage and uterine perforation.
The Mayo Clinic recommends meeting with your healthcare provider before scheduling an abortion. You need to review your current health record, including your medicines, allergies, and factors that could disqualify you from the procedure.
Want More Information?
We’re sure you have more questions about abortion. If you do, please schedule a free consultation to discuss abortion and your other options. We’re a safe place to land.