Are You Considering Abortion?
You hear a lot about abortion in the news, but does anyone talk about the various procedures, possible risks, and harmful side effects? If you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy and considering abortion, you owe it to yourself to get the facts.
Alabama banned abortion, and surrounding states severely restricted access. You need additional information before seeking an abortion.
Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we can give you factual information about procedures, the side effects to expect, and potential risks. Get informed first.
What is the Abortion Pill Method?
The abortion pill method is considered a medical or medication abortion because it uses two drugs to terminate a pregnancy.
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the hormone progesterone. Every pregnancy needs progesterone to survive. The lack of this hormone terminates the pregnancy.
Misoprostol, the second drug, causes contractions to remove the baby from the body. Both drugs cause abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding.
The FDA approves the use of mifepristone through 10 weeks of pregnancy only (70 days from the first day of your last menstrual period). Other experts suggest not using it past nine weeks.
Side Effects Of the Abortion Pill
- Cramping
- Bleeding
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Potential Risks Of The Abortion Pill
- Incomplete abortion (the pregnancy is terminated, but not all of the tissue is removed from the body)
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
The FDA highly recommends not ordering these drugs through the mail. Many online providers promote cheaper abortion drugs, but without FDA oversight, you can’t be sure you are getting the correct dosage. Cheaper doesn’t mean safer.
What Is Surgical Abortion?
Abortion providers perform surgical abortions in a clinic or hospital. If you are 12 weeks or under, you can have a suction or vacuum aspiration. For this type of abortion, the provider inserts a tube to suction out the pregnancy.
As the pregnancy progresses, the abortion provider may add a surgical instrument known as a curette (a sharp scraping tool) or forceps to remove more significant parts.
Later pregnancies require more invasive procedures. You often need general or local anesthesia, and the provider needs to dilate (open) your cervix (which leads to the uterus).
Side Effects Of Surgical Abortion
- Bleeding
- Cramping
- Potential nausea due to the anesthesia
Potential Risks of Surgical Abortion
- Perforation of the uterus (a hole is poked through with a surgical instrument)
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
Will I Suffer Emotionally?
Some women do report negative mental health issues with abortion. Many women say they feel relief immediately following their abortions but begin feeling anxious, depressed, guilty, or shameful in the following weeks, months, or even years.
Schedule an appointment with Hope’s Choice to discuss not only the possible physical effects of abortion but also the emotional. We care about you and your future.