Are You Considering Abortion?
Having an abortion is a serious physical and mental health decision. Before you schedule an appointment, be sure you have the information you need about your pregnancy, physical and emotional health, and any other restrictions.
Types of Abortion
There are two types of abortion: chemical and surgical. How far along you are in your pregnancy determines the method used.
Chemical Abortion
A chemical abortion has many names, like medication or medical abortion, RU-486, and the abortion pill. The abortion pill method is a chemical abortion because it uses two drugs to terminate your pregnancy.
The FDA only approves the first drug, mifepristone, through 10 weeks of pregnancy (70 days from the first day of your last menstrual period). Other experts suggest not taking the drugs after nine weeks of pregnancy.
You should expect bleeding and cramping after taking the medications. Some women report severe contractions. Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and headaches.
Risks of the Abortion Pill
- An incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by a surgical procedure
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
Surgical Abortion
The number of weeks you have been pregnant determines the type of surgical abortion procedure. Surgical procedures range from suction or vacuum aspiration to using a sharp instrument for scraping or forceps to remove larger parts.
Abortion providers perform vacuum aspiration in the first trimester (the first 12 weeks). Later procedures are more invasive.
Almost all surgical abortions require either local or general anesthesia, and the provider must dilate (open) your cervix (which leads to the uterus) to remove the pregnancy.
Risks of Surgical Abortion
- Poking a hole in your uterus with surgical instruments
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
Before Your Abortion
Your healthcare provider should review other restrictions, such as current medications, before any abortion.
You should also confirm your pregnancy by scheduling a limited obstetrical ultrasound. An ultrasound determines how far along you are in your pregnancy, if the pregnancy is growing or you’ve miscarried, and its location.
Although we do not provide or refer for abortion, we do provide factual information. Come to Pregnancy Resources for free pregnancy testing. We will schedule you for a free limited obstetrical ultrasound if the test is positive.
