Are you considering going through with an abortion after finding out you’re pregnant? First, you need to know the facts before having such a major medical procedure. You deserve to fully understand the different types of abortion: medical and surgical abortion.
Medical Abortion (The Abortion Pill)
Also known as the abortion pill, medical abortion consists of two different drugs that work to terminate an existing pregnancy. The first drug in the abortion pill method is mifepristone, which blocks a hormone called progesterone. This hormone is essential for the pregnancy’s growth. Without it, the pregnancy ends.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes bleeding and contraction-like cramping to expel the pregnancy from the body through the vagina.
The Risks of Medical Abortion
The possible risks of the abortion pill method include the following:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by a surgical procedure
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Surgical Abortion
There are two main types of abortion procedures: Dilation & Evacuation (D&E) and Dilation & Curettage (D&C). Each surgical abortion procedure dilates the cervix and uses vacuum aspiration and surgical tools to remove the pregnancy from the uterus.
The Risks of Surgical Abortion
Each surgical abortion is similar, so they share similar risks, including:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
After any abortion procedure, if you feel that something is “wrong” or has changed, you should seek medical attention. You owe it to yourself to protect your health.
Before An Abortion
Protecting your health by knowing where your pregnancy stands before making a final pregnancy decision is important. Confirm your pregnancy details with no-cost and confidential pregnancy testing and a limited ultrasound at Hope Family Services.
Schedule a no-cost appointment to understand your unique pregnancy details and options better. You are not alone.