Are you contemplating abortion as you seek your next steps for your unexpected pregnancy? First, be fully informed about how abortion works and the risks of its two types: medical abortion and surgical abortion.
In this blog, we give you a glimpse into what the different types of abortion procedures entail and what to expect. To learn more about your pregnancy options, including abortion, talk to us today at Alpha House PRC.
1. Medical Abortion
Also commonly known as the abortion pill, medical abortion consists of a series of two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, that terminate an existing pregnancy.
Mifepristone is taken first and blocks the hormone progesterone. It prevents the uterus from sustaining a pregnancy, causing the fertilized egg to detach from the uterine wall. Misoprostol is taken next, which causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy from the vagina.
Risks of Medical Abortion
There are known risks and limitations to medical abortion, and they can cause serious harm if not addressed afterward. Some possible risks of a medical abortion procedure include:
- The body not releasing all pregnancy tissue in the uterus, also called an incomplete abortion (this may require surgical treatment)
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive symptoms such as upset stomach
2. Surgical Abortion
The two most common types of surgical abortion, Dilation & Evacuation (D&E) and Dilation & Curettage (D&C), are done based on how far along you are in pregnancy. Each surgical abortion procedure typically uses sedation and surgical tools to remove the pregnancy from the uterus.
Risks of Surgical Abortion
The Mayo Clinic shares some of the common risks of surgical abortion that could be a threat to your health. Possible risks of surgical abortion include:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Damage to the cervix
- Infection
Contact a healthcare provider right away if you experience any warning signs, such as fever, lightheadedness, heavy bleeding, increasing pain, or anything else irregular.
Know Your Abortion Options
Confirm your pregnancy details to safeguard your health and determine your options. The FDA only recommends medical abortion for women through 10 weeks of pregnancy. An ultrasound is the only way to confirm how far along you are and detect certain pregnancy complications.
At Alpha House, our caring team offers lab-quality, urine-based pregnancy tests and limited ultrasounds at no charge. A licensed nurse performs every ultrasound so you can be confident the results are correct.
To learn more about our free pregnancy services and options information, contact us or text our 24-hour hotline at 417-777-2273. We’re here to walk with you!
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.