There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. Usually, how far along you are in your pregnancy determines which procedures are available.
If you’re considering abortion for an unexpected pregnancy, it’s important to know the specifics about the various procedures, the side effects to expect, and the potential complications. Your health and safety matter to us at McDowell Pregnancy Care Center.
First, confirm your pregnancy. We can do that for you with a lab-quality pregnancy test and a limited obstetrical ultrasound. We offer both services for free.
These tests will help you understand your abortion options. Here are a few facts about the different types of abortion procedures and what you need to know before considering one.
The Two Types of Abortion
Learning you’re unexpectedly pregnant can be quite a shock. As the news sinks in, you’ve got a big decision to make. An abortion is a serious medical decision. You owe it to yourself to get the facts. Here’s what you need to know:
Medical Abortion
A medical abortion is also known as the abortion pill method. It isn’t one pill. It’s two powerful drugs that end your pregnancy and empty your uterus.
The first drug is mifepristone. The FDA heavily regulates this drug. Only certified providers can prescribe it. Mifepristone is approved by the FDA as part of the abortion pill regimen through 10 weeks (70 days) of pregnancy only. Experts indicate a higher risk of complications after 10 weeks.
Mifepristone blocks the essential hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, the pregnancy cannot continue to develop. The second drug, misoprostol, causes vaginal bleeding and contractions to expel the pregnancy and tissue from the body.
Side effects include:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Abdominal cramping
- Nausea with possible vomiting
- Fever
- Diarrhea
Potential risks include an incomplete abortion (where the pregnancy ends but the body doesn’t expel all of the pregnancy and tissue), an ongoing pregnancy if the drugs don’t work, heavy and prolonged bleeding, and infection.
Surgical Abortion
Various surgical procedures are available, depending on how far along you are. If you’re still in the first trimester (under 13 weeks), suction or vacuum aspiration is typically available.
As your pregnancy progresses, the abortion provider adds additional surgical instruments. For dilation and curettage (D&C), they may use a curette, a sharp, spoon-shaped tool used to scrape the uterine wall.
An abortion provider may also perform a D&C when a medical abortion was incomplete. Your uterus needs to be empty after either of these events because of an increased risk of infection and bleeding.
Later pregnancies may require the use of forceps for dilation and evacuation (D&E). Studies find that many women report pain with a D&E.
Risks of a surgical abortion include uterine perforation (with a surgical instrument), infection, heavy bleeding, and the potential for cervical damage or scar tissue developing on the uterine wall, known as Asherman’s Syndrome.
How Do I Know If Abortion Is Right For Me?
Visit McDowell Pregnancy Care Center for confidential pregnancy support.
We’ll confirm your pregnancy with a no-cost pregnancy test and a limited obstetrical ultrasound. An ultrasound determines how far along you are, so you’ll know the abortion procedure you might qualify for.
Ultrasound also detects whether your pregnancy is developing or if you’ve had a miscarriage. You’ll also learn if your pregnancy is located safely in your uterus. If not, this could be a life-threatening complication.
Use our confidential contact form, chat with us online, or call us at (828) 652-7676. Your health and safety matter to us. Get the facts about your pregnancy and abortion first.
*McDowell Pregnancy Care Center does not perform or refer for abortions.
**All abortion information cited in this blog is accurate at the time of writing.