Having an abortion is a serious medical decision. Understanding the procedures, side effects to expect, and the potential physical and emotional risks is essential. If you’re considering an abortion, do yourself a favor and get the facts first. We’ll provide medically based information to help you.

Types of Abortion

There are two main types of abortion: medical and surgical. Generally, how far along you are in your pregnancy determines the procedure you qualify for.

An ultrasound can accurately date your pregnancy and determine if it’s developing or if you’ve miscarried. We’ll help you get the information you need.

Medical Abortion (aka the abortion pill)

The abortion pill method is a medical abortion because it uses two drugs to end a pregnancy. Abortion providers also refer to it as a medication or chemical abortion. The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the hormone progesterone. All pregnancies need progesterone to develop. Without it, the pregnancy cannot continue.

Misoprostol, the second drug, causes bleeding and contractions to expel the pregnancy from the body. Some women report extreme bleeding and pain after taking misoprostol.

Because you perform this method at home, without medical oversight, knowing what to expect is crucial. You need to know how much bleeding is excessive and when to seek emergency medical attention.

Some of the Side Effects:

• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Bleeding
• Cramping

Some of the Risks:

• An incomplete abortion with tissue remaining in the uterus
• An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection

Surgical Abortion

Various surgical abortion procedures depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy. For earlier pregnancies (within the first 12 weeks), abortion providers use suction or vacuum aspiration. The provider adds various surgical instruments as the pregnancy progresses.

After 12 weeks, the provider may perform dilation and curettage (D&C). This procedure uses a combination of suction and a spoon-shaped scraping device known as a curette.

Later pregnancies require dilation and evacuation (D&E). The abortion provider may use a combination of suction, a scraping tool, and forceps to remove larger parts.

Some of the Side Effects:

• Irregular bleeding or spotting.
• Cramps.

Some of the Risks:

• An incomplete abortion with tissue remaining in the uterus.
• Injury to the cervix.
• A hole in the wall of the uterus.
• Moderate to severe vaginal bleeding.
• Infection.

Often, with a surgical abortion, the provider must dilate (open) the cervix (which leads to the uterus). Plus, the provider uses general or local anesthesia for pain management.

Before Your Abortion

Knowing the number of weeks you have been pregnant is vital in determining the procedure you qualify for. The FDA approves the use of mifepristone for the abortion pill method through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The further along you are, the less effective the drugs are.

You should also discuss the mental health risks with your healthcare provider. Some women are negatively affected by their abortions, experiencing anxiety, sadness, guilt, and depression.

Before scheduling an abortion, come to Hope Women’s Center for free pregnancy testing and an ultrasound referral. We want you to have the facts to protect your health and safety.

Hope Women’s Center does not perform or refer for abortion.