Are you considering abortion as you navigate your unplanned pregnancy? When thinking over your pregnancy options, consider the risks of each option.
Though every woman’s experience with abortion is unique, side effects and risks are not uncommon. Be sure to understand the risks before making your final decision.
Medical Abortion
Also known as “the abortion pill,” medical abortion consists of a series of two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol.
Mifepristone is taken first and blocks the hormone progesterone. It prevents your uterus from sustaining a pregnancy and causes the fertilized egg to detach from the uterine wall.
Next, you take misoprostol, which causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy from your body.
The side effects of a medical abortion include:
- Heavy bleeding with clots
- Heavy cramping
- Fever
- Chills
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
Along with the side effects, the following are the risks of medical abortion:
- 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
Surgical abortion is a much more invasive abortion procedure, where a surgeon manually removes the pregnancy from the woman’s body using suction and additional surgical tools. Typically, a woman experiences mild pain, cramping, and light bleeding after the procedure.
Risks that come with a surgical abortion procedure include:
- Uterine perforation (a hole poked through the uterus)
- Infection
- Uterine bleeding
A woman needs to monitor herself for signs and symptoms of complications after an abortion. She should alert a medical provider if she experiences any of the following:
- Abdominal (belly) pain that doesn’t improve or worsens
- Heavy bleeding (bleeding through more than 2 pads per hour)
- Severe cramps
- Fever
- Unusual or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
These symptoms may point to a complication where immediate medical attention is needed. Talk to a medical professional right away.
Before an Abortion
Pregnancy confirmation is vital to determining if you are eligible for abortion. Be sure of your pregnancy details and protect your health by confirming with no-cost and confidential pregnancy testing and ultrasound at Hope Family Services.
Begin by scheduling a no-cost appointment to better understand your unique pregnancy details and options. You are not alone.