Experiencing an unplanned pregnancy can bring about feelings of fear and worry, but it’s important to remember you’re not alone in this process and you have options! If you’re considering abortion, it’s wise to take time to explore your options, understand the different types of abortion, and learn about the risks and side effects you may face when terminating your pregnancy.
Medical Abortions
Of all the types of abortion, medical abortions are rapidly becoming the most common. Often referred to as the abortion pill, medical abortions utilize a chemical process to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. The process requires the patient to take two pills, Mifepristone and Misoprostol.
Mifepristone is taken first, typically in a medical setting. It ends the pregnancy by preventing the body’s production of the hormone progesterone, which the pregnancy relies on to grow and develop.
The patient will then take Misoprostol around 24-48 hours later which causes contracts and pushes the terminated pregnancy tissue from the womb.
First-Trimester Surgical Abortions
There are two forms of first-trimester surgical abortion procedures. In a Dilatation and Curettage (D&C) procedure, the cervix is dilated and the fetus is scraped from the uterus using a curette. This procedure is available to patients are up to 12 weeks pregnant.
Suction Curettage abortions are available for patients up to 14 weeks pregnant. In this procedure, the cervix is dilated so the abortion provider can insert a suctioning device into the womb which will pull apart and remove the pregnancy tissue. The provider will then scrape the uterus with a curette to ensure there is no remaining fetal tissue in the uterus.
Second-Trimester Abortions
In the second trimester of pregnancy, the procedure used is called Dilation and Evacuation (D&E). D&E abortions are required for women whose pregnancies are between 13 and 24 weeks along as the fetus is typically too developed to remove using first-trimester abortion methods.
In a D&E procedure, the abortion provider will dilate the cervix and use a tool to break apart the fetal tissue into small enough pieces, which will be scraped from the uterus using a curette.
Side Effects And Risks Of The Abortion Pill
As the pregnancy tissue is being expelled from the uterus in the form of blood clots, women should expect to experience painful cramping and heavy bleeding. Additional side effects may include nausea, fever, chills, weakness, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, and headaches.
Women have also reported more serious health risks related to the abortion pill, including infection, sepsis, and hemorrhaging.
Side Effects and Risks of Surgical Abortion
Like the abortion pill, surgical abortion procedures are likely to be accompanied by side effects such as bleeding, cramping, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
Additionally, some women experience severe health complications from surgical abortion procedures, including lacerations to reproductive organs, infection, hemorrhaging, and sepsis.
What To Do Before You Schedule Your Abortion
Deciding if abortion is right for you is a difficult choice to make on your own! Thankfully, you’re not alone!
Before you make a final decision for your pregnancy, we recommend taking time to consider the different types of abortion and all your pregnancy options and then schedule the necessary pre-abortion screenings to learn about your unique pregnancy conditions. Your local pregnancy clinic offers free, confidential pregnancy testing and limited ultrasound scans to help you make an informed and safe choice for your pregnancy.
Your limited ultrasound will reveal where your pregnancy is located, which will provide insight into which pregnancy option is safe for you!
Schedule your free pre-abortion screening today at The Pregnancy Center Clinton!
