There are many reasons consider abortion for an unplanned pregnancy. Perhaps your birth control failed, you’re walking through a difficult season, or you fear a pregnancy will disrupt your future plans.
Whatever your reasons for considering abortion, it’s important to understand the various abortion procedures and the side effects and risks associated with each one.
Keep reading to learn more so you can make a fully-informed decision.
Medical Abortions (The Abortion Pill)
Medical abortion, chemical abortion, and the abortion pill are all names for the same type of abortion. This early abortion method is mostly self administered and requires follow up with a doctor to ensure it was successful.
The abortion pill is made up of two drugs: Mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone ends the early pregnancy by keeping the womb from absorbing progesterone, a hormone necessary for the pregnancy to grow.
Misoprostol expels the pregnancy via uterine cramping and contractions.
The abortion pill method is only FDA-approved through the first 70 days of gestation.
Abortion Pill Side Effects
While the abortion pill process seems simple, there are still side effects and risks to factor into your decision-making equation.
The Mayo Clinic lists the following potential side effects of the abortion pill:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Abortion Pill Risks
The Mayo Clinic also lists the following potential risks of the abortion pill:
- Incomplete abortion which may need to be followed by a surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the abortion pill doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
There are also more serious risks to consider like infection or ectopic pregnancy. If you “feel sick” or experience abdominal pain more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol, you’ll need to contact your doctor or abortion provider right away.
Surgical Abortion
The next category of abortion is surgical. Surgical abortions can be performed in the first trimester and are typically performed in the second trimester. In NY, they are available throughout pregnancy.
There are two main types of surgical abortions: aspiration abortion and dilation and curettage (D&C) abortions.
Aspiration abortion utilizes a tube that gets inserted in the uterus through the cervix. An attached suction device will then pull out the pregnancy tissue.
For a D&C abortion, your cervix is first expanded. Then the abortionist uses a surgical instrument (called a curette) to scrape the inside of the uterus to remove the pregnancy tissue.
Surgical Abortion Side Effects & Risks
According to Mayo Clinic, common side effects of surgical abortions include:
- Bleeding, including blood clots
- Cramping
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Feeling faint
There are additional risks to watch out for:
- Bleeding that’s heavy enough that you need to change pads every hour
- Fever
- Cramps lasting more than 48 hours
- Pain that gets worse instead of better
- Foul-smelling discharge from the vagina
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
Before An Abortion
Before taking the abortion pill or scheduling a surgical abortion, you first need to verify your pregnancy via ultrasound.
An ultrasound will reveal where your pregnancy is located to alert you to a possible ectopic pregnancy (which is nonviable and needs medical attention immediately). It will also reveal how far along you are, which determines which abortion procedure you may be eligible for.
We offer ultrasounds for free at our center so you can learn what you need to know about your pregnancy and make an informed and empowered decision. Schedule your appointment today.