Abortion
If you are considering abortion, here are the facts about procedures and the risks for each. Protect your health by confirming your pregnancy details before an abortion.
How Does Surgical Abortion Work?
A surgical abortion procedure includes anesthesia and surgical instruments to remove a pregnancy from a woman’s uterus.
Surgical abortion involves dilating the cervix and using a suction tube to remove the fetus and related pregnancy contents from the uterus. There are varying types of surgical abortion procedures used, depending on the length of the pregnancy. A vacuum aspiration abortion is performed during the first trimester of pregnancy, while a D&E (dilation and evacuation) abortion is performed in the second trimester.
Risks of Surgical Abortion
Be sure to consider the risks when exploring the option of surgical abortion. Possible risks of surgical abortion are:
- Damage to the womb or cervix
- Uterine perforation
- 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
Medical Abortion (The Abortion Pill)
Also known as the abortion pill, medical abortion is a pregnancy termination regimen using two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol.
First, mifepristone works to block the womb from absorbing progesterone, a hormone only produced during pregnancy. Blocking this hormone prevents the embryo from implanting or growing any further and ends the pregnancy.
Next, misoprostol goes a step further and causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through the vagina. Typically, mifepristone is prescribed at an abortion clinic and misoprostol is taken at home, 24 to 48 hours later.
Risks of Medical Abortion
Some potential risks of medical abortion 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
- Digestive system discomfort
- Infection
- Fever
Are You Eligible for Abortion?
Confirm your pregnancy with no-cost pregnancy testing and an ultrasound at our center to learn if you qualify for abortion. Your pregnancy’s gestation (how far along you are) will determine what type of abortion procedure you may be eligible for.