Are You Considering Abortion?
When women discover they are unexpectedly pregnant, they often consider abortion first out of fear. We understand. Before you schedule an abortion, we want you to be fully aware of the different procedures, side effects, and potential risks.
Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we can give you factual information and answer your questions. Your physical and emotional health is important to us. We know that confidence comes with understanding.
Learn all you can about abortion. Schedule a free, confidential appointment today with a knowledgeable, caring staff member.
What Are the Different Types of Abortion?
There are two types of abortion: medication and surgical. How far along you are in your pregnancy determines the type of abortion procedure you have.
Medication (also known as the “abortion pill” method)
The abortion pill method uses two drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The FDA highly regulates the first drug, mifepristone. You should only receive it through a certified provider.
With this method, mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone from reaching the uterus. Without progesterone, the pregnancy cannot remain implanted and is terminated. The second drug, misoprostol, causes cramping and bleeding to expel the pregnancy from your body through the vagina.
Although the FDA approves the abortion pill method through 10 weeks of pregnancy (70 days after the first day of your last period), some experts recommend not using it after 9 weeks (63 days). The drug is less effective the farther along you are in your pregnancy, which means you could have an incomplete abortion.
There are other limitations as to who can use this method. Side effects could include nausea, vomiting, headaches, and diarrhea.
Surgical
The abortion provider determines the surgical procedure based on the number of weeks you are pregnant. If you are still in the first trimester (12 weeks of pregnancy or under), you could have a vacuum or suction aspiration.
Later pregnancies require a spoon-shaped scraping tool called a curette during dilation and curettage (D & C). Depending on the number of weeks, the abortion provider may also use forceps to remove larger parts of the pregnancy (dilation and evacuation).
Surgical procedures often require dilating (opening) your cervix, which leads to the uterus, and receiving either local or general anesthesia.
Side effects could include nausea, sweating, and faintness.
Are There Risks With Abortion?
All abortions involve a certain amount of bleeding and cramping. However, you run the risk of other health issues, such as the following:
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Pregnancy tissue remaining in your body causing infection and fever
- Damage to the cervix
- Poking a hole in your uterus with a surgical instrument
- Severe cramping, with pain in your abdomen or lower back
- Potential mental health issues, like anxiety, depression, and grief
Abortion is a major medical decision, and there is more to learn. Talk with us in confidence about this option.
Aspire Women’s Center does not perform or refer for abortions.