Looking for information about taking an abortion pill or different types of abortion procedures? Abortion providers offer both medical and surgical abortions. The types of abortion that may be available depend on factors such as how far along a woman is in her pregnancy and what kinds of procedures an abortion provider offers.
It may seem like abortion is the solution to moving on with your life or getting back on track. No matter what you choose – to carry or to abort – your life is forever changed. Abortion carries the potential for physical complications, which are significant if they happen to you.
Consider all the facts and make an informed decision, one you can live with long term.
Types of Abortion
Medical Abortion
Also known as the abortion pill, medical abortion works to end a pregnancy through two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol.
Mifepristone blocks the womb from absorbing progesterone, a necessary hormone for pregnancy progression. The second drug, Misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and remove the pregnancy through the vagina.
Misoprostol is only approved by the FDA to use within the first 70 days of pregnancy. After that, a surgical abortion is the only other abortion option.
Risks of Medication Abortion
With such a serious medical procedure come serious risks. According to Mayo Clinic, these risks include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Digestive system discomfort
- An ongoing pregnancy (if the procedure fails)
- Infection
- Fever
Surgical Abortion
There are two main types of surgical abortion: Dilation & Evacuation (D&E) and Dilation & Curettage (D&C). Each abortion type dilates your cervix and incorporates vacuum aspiration as well as surgical tools to remove the pregnancy from the uterus. A surgical abortion is done within an abortion clinic.
Risks of Surgical Abortion
Both types of surgical abortion procedures use similar processes of termination. These come with similar risks, including:
- Perforation of the uterus (when a surgical instrument pokes a hole in the uterus)
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
- Excessive bleeding
Confirm Your Pregnancy
Before moving forward with an abortion, it’s important to confirm your pregnancy with a pregnancy test with a medical professional and get an ultrasound. An ultrasound will confirm you have a viable, non life-threatening pregnancy.
If you still need more information about abortion and your options, we are here to educate you more. It’s a big decision so it’s ok to ask the hard questions along the way. You deserve to know the facts.
Contact us today for more information or to set up a consultation.
