Learning the facts and considerations about abortion is important if you are considering your options after finding out you are pregnant.
There are two main types of abortion: medical abortion and surgical abortion. The type used depends on several factors. Before making a pregnancy decision, it is important to understand key details about your pregnancy, including how far along you are and where the pregnancy is located.
Life Choices provides free pregnancy testing and limited ultrasounds to help you learn more about your pregnancy, along with a confidential place to ask questions about your options.
Below, we explain how medical and surgical abortion work and the risks associated with each.
What Is a Medical Abortion?
If you’re considering the abortion pill, you may be wondering what actually happens when you take it. A medical abortion uses two drugs, called mifepristone and misoprostol.
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks progesterone, a hormone your body needs to support the pregnancy. About 24 to 48 hours later, misoprostol is taken. This drug causes the uterus to contract, which brings on cramping and bleeding as the pregnancy passes.
The FDA has approved the abortion pill for ending an intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks of gestation.
Some cramping and bleeding are expected after taking the abortion pill. You may also experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, or a headache.
The abortion pill also carries risks, which can include an incomplete abortion, heavy or prolonged bleeding, or an infection.
What Is a Surgical Abortion?
A surgical abortion takes place in a clinic or other medical setting, where an abortion provider uses a procedure to remove the pregnancy from the uterus.
There are several types of surgical abortion procedures. These include vacuum aspiration, dilation and curettage (D&C), and dilation and evacuation (D&E).
After the procedure, it’s common to have some light bleeding or spotting along with mild cramping for a few days.
It’s also important to understand that surgical abortion can involve certain risks. These may include injury to the uterus or cervix from surgical instruments, infection, or scar tissue developing inside the uterus. This scar tissue is known as Asherman’s syndrome.
Why Your Pregnancy Details Matter
Finding out that you’re pregnant is only the first piece of the puzzle. A pregnancy test can confirm that hCG, a hormone produced during pregnancy, is present, but it cannot tell you important details about how your pregnancy is developing.
An ultrasound can provide this information. It can help estimate how far the pregnancy has progressed, determine whether the pregnancy is developing inside the uterus, and identify signs that could indicate a miscarriage.
Knowing how far along you are is important when considering the abortion pill because it is FDA-approved only through 10 weeks of gestation. Taking the drugs beyond the approved timeframe may increase the chance of complications.
An ultrasound can also help determine whether the pregnancy is ectopic, meaning the pregnancy has developed outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. An ectopic pregnancy requires different medical care, and the abortion pill will not end a pregnancy growing outside the uterus.
Get Answers at Life Choices
You deserve to understand your pregnancy before making a decision about what comes next.
Life Choices offers free and confidential pregnancy services, and our team can help you understand important details about your pregnancy and provide accurate information about your pregnancy options.
If you have questions about abortion or simply want to learn more about your pregnancy before deciding what to do next, text 970-514-5650 or visit lifechoices.org to schedule an appointment.
Life Choices does not perform or refer for abortions.