What Is The Abortion Pill?
Referred to as the abortion pill, medical abortion is the termination of an existing pregnancy using two different drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone makes the uterus lining thin and stops the embryo from staying implanted and growing. Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and removes the pregnancy through the vagina.
It’s vital to note that the abortion pill is only for women up to 10 weeks pregnant. If you are over 10 weeks pregnant, surgical abortion may be the only abortion option for you.
Risks and Side Effects of the Abortion Pill
The Mayo Clinic shares the common side effects of the abortion pill, including:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Abdominal cramping
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Chills
According to the Mayo Clinic, potential risks 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
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Surgical Abortion
A surgical abortion is a more invasive abortion procedure compared to a medical abortion. It involves anesthesia and is typically done at an abortion clinic.
There are two main types of surgical abortion: Dilation & Evacuation (D&E) and Dilation & Curettage (D&C). Each abortion procedure dilates the cervix using a suction device and works to remove the pregnancy from the uterus using surgical tools.
Risks of Surgical Abortion
Each type of surgical abortion uses a similar process to end a pregnancy, which comes with similar risks, including…
- Perforation of the uterus, or when a surgical instrument pokes a hole in the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
What Do I Need Before Abortion?
It’s essential to consider the risks before deciding on abortion. Your first step to making a final pregnancy decision is confirming your pregnancy details.
Before an abortion, you will need to know how far along you are, which is only verified with an ultrasound. Get free and confidential pregnancy confirmation services at our center today.
