Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be daunting for many reasons. You may be feeling relational or financial pressure, or you simply don’t want to be a parent right now. Before you make your decision, it’s essential to know the risks.
Any medical procedure comes with risks to consider. Keep reading for more information about the risks of both surgical and medical abortion.
Surgical Abortion
This type of abortion terminates the pregnancy through a surgical procedure. To do this, an abortion provider uses a mixture of suction and instruments to remove the pregnancy.
There are two types: dilation and curettage abortion (D&C) and dilation and evacuation abortion (D&E). The procedures are similar, but a D&E abortion usually requires more time and surgical tools like forceps, as it occurs later in pregnancy.
Risks of a D&C Surgical Abortion
According to the Mayo Clinic, the risks include:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
The Abortion Pill
The abortion pill, also known as medical abortion, is FDA-approved up to 10 weeks gestational age. This is a series of two drugs taken within 24-48 hours of each other.
The first drug, mifepristone, is an antiprogestin, which blocks the essential pregnancy hormone, progesterone. This ends the pregnancy. Then the second medication, misoprostol, is used to induce abdominal cramping to expel the embryo or fetus and pregnancy tissue from the uterus.
Risks of the Abortion Pill
According to the Mayo Clinic, potential risks of medical abortion 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
How Do I Make an Informed Choice?
If you’ve already verified your pregnancy with a reliable pregnancy test, the next step is to schedule a no-cost ultrasound at our center. This can provide information such as the pregnancy’s age, viability, and location, all of which are health factors in your decision.
For example, if your pregnancy is located outside of the uterus, this is a dangerous condition called an ectopic pregnancy and should be treated immediately with a different procedure.
Take your reproductive health into your own hands. Schedule a free and confidential appointment today!
Please Note: We do not provide extended OB/GYN or prenatal care, fertility testing, abortion services, or referrals for abortion.