Abortion

Two Types of Abortion

1. Medical Abortion

Medical abortion is commonly referred to as “the abortion pill.” It involves taking two powerful drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, that work to terminate an existing pregnancy. 

Mifepristone works by blocking the receptors for the hormone progesterone and detaching the pregnancy from the uterine lining. Misoprostol causes uterine contractions and dilates the cervix to expel the contents of uterus. Medical abortion is recommended by the FDA for women through ten weeks of pregnancy. Otherwise, surgical abortion may be your only other abortion option.

Common side effects may include vaginal bleeding, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, fever, and chills. As with every major medical procedure, there are risks to be aware of going into it. These risks include: 

• Infection
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Incomplete abortion (which may require surgical treatment)
• An ongoing pregnancy (if the drugs don’t work)
  

If you have begun a medical abortion and regret that decision,  It may not be too late to save your pregnancy through Abortion Pill Reversal. 

2. Surgical Abortion

Surgical abortion is a medical procedure that terminates an existing pregnancy by removing the pregnancy contents from the uterus. 

The type of surgical abortion used depends on the gestational age. A vacuum aspiration abortion uses a suction device to remove the pregnancy and is performed in the first trimester (13 weeks pregnant or less). In the second trimester, dilation and evacuation (D&E) involves the cervix being dilated and medical instruments and/or suction are used to remove the pregnancy from the uterus. 

Possible risks of surgical abortion include:

• Perforation of the uterus
• Damage to the uterus and cervix
• Scar tissue on the uterine wall
• Infection
• Heavy bleeding

Safeguard Your Health

If you are thinking about abortion, you will first want to confirm your pregnancy details to determine how far along you are, your pregnancy location, and whether your pregnancy is viable (the pregnancy is not ectopic and has not miscarried). All of these details are confirmed through an ultrasound. 

Consult a medical provider before making an abortion decision. A medical professional will be able to clarify any risks or complications. Also, be sure to:

• Have a complete physical exam, including STI testing
• Provide a list of currently used medications
• Communicate any current or past medical conditions/history

We Can Help

You will first want to gather more details about your pregnancy to confirm if you qualify for an abortion. Start with a pregnancy test, and if you receive a positive result, an ultrasound is recommended to gather important pregnancy information. With an ultrasound, you can be alerted to any possible health complications, like an ectopic pregnancy, which requires immediate medical intervention.

ACOG, (2022, September). Abortion Care.
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/induced-abortion 

Jacobson, J. (2022, November 10). Abortion-procedure. MedlinePlus.
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002912.htm 

Mayo Clinic. (2024, June 28). Medical abortion.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests- procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023, February 3). Information about mifepristone for medical termination of pregnancy through ten weeks gestation.
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and- providers/information-about-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation