What Are the Risks of Abortion?
No matter what type of medical procedure you have, there will always be a list of possible side effects and risks that might occur. Abortion is no different. Whether you use drugs or have a surgical procedure, there are side effects and risks. You deserve to learn as much as possible before scheduling an abortion.
Two Methods of Abortion
There are two basic abortion methods: medication and surgical. The number of days you’ve been pregnant determines which method you would have.
Medication Abortion
The abortion pill is a medication abortion because this method uses two drugs to terminate your pregnancy.
Every pregnancy needs a hormone called progesterone to grow and stay implanted in the uterus. The FDA highly regulates the first drug, called mifepristone, in the abortion pill method. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, so the embryo can no longer stay attached.
The FDA has approved the use of mifepristone through 70 days gestation, which means you shouldn’t be beyond your 10th week of pregnancy. The second drug is misoprostol, taken within 24 to 48 hours after the first drug. Misoprostol causes your uterus to contract to push the pregnancy out.
The Mayo Clinic lists these risks of medical abortion:
- Incomplete abortion possibly requires a surgical procedure
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Surgical Abortion
Surgical abortions are performed in a clinic, hospital, or doctor’s office. There are different surgeries based on the number of weeks you’ve been pregnant.
If you are in your first trimester or the very beginning of your second trimester, you may be eligible for Vacuum Aspiration, also known as suction aspiration. This method is performed just like it sounds. A vacuum uses suction to pull the fetus out of the uterus.
If you are farther into your second trimester, you will have dilation and curettage (D & C) or dilation and evacuation (D & E). Both a D & C and D & E use suction, and a scraping instrument called a curette. If the pregnancy is further than 14 weeks, the abortion provider may use forceps to remove more significant parts of the pregnancy.
According to the National Health Service, these are some risks of surgical abortion:
- Needing another procedure to remove parts of the pregnancy that stayed in the uterus
- Heavy bleeding
- Infection
- Damage to the uterus or cervix
Free Pregnancy Services
Get the information you need for free at Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center. We provide free ultrasounds if you’ve received a positive result on one of our free pregnancy tests. Our ultrasound exam will show you:
- How far along you are in your pregnancy
- If your pregnancy is located in the correct place
- If it’s viable or you’ve had a miscarriage
At Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center, we provide free pregnancy services and STI testing, information on pregnancy and abortion alternatives, and referrals for other services.
Contact us today to make a free and confidential appointment. We’re here to provide you with the information and support you need to make a confident decision for your future.
Medical Screening Before An Abortion
A positive result on a pregnancy test isn’t enough. Get the information you need before scheduling an abortion. We can provide this screening for you at no cost.
Pregnancy Testing
Even if you’ve taken an at-home pregnancy test, be confident you got the correct result with our free pregnancy testing service. You’ll have your test result during your appointment that day.
Ultrasounds
You need to know how far along you are in your pregnancy, if your pregnancy is viable (growing), and its location. Critical information you can only get with an ultrasound.
Medical Screening Before An Abortion
A positive result on a pregnancy test isn’t enough. Get the information you need before scheduling an abortion. We can provide this screening for you at no cost.
Pregnancy Testing
Even if you’ve taken an at-home pregnancy test, be confident you got the correct result with our free pregnancy testing service. You’ll have your test result during your appointment that day.
Ultrasounds
You need to know how far along you are in your pregnancy, if your pregnancy is viable (growing), and its location. Critical information you can only get with an ultrasound.
