It’s essential to learn the details about abortion procedures, side effects, and possible risks. An abortion has both physical and emotional consequences, so asking how abortion procedures end a pregnancy is the perfect place to start.
There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. How long you have been pregnant can determine which method you qualify for. Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we will give you the facts. Let’s talk about abortion and what you should expect.
The Abortion Pill
The abortion pill method uses two abortion drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. The FDA highly regulates the first drug, mifepristone. This drug blocks progesterone from reaching the pregnancy.
Without progesterone, a pregnancy cannot grow and survive. At this point, your pregnancy ends. The second drug, misoprostol, causes cramping and bleeding to remove the pregnancy from your body.
The FDA approves the use of these abortion drugs for pregnancies that are ten weeks or less only (70 days since the first day of your last menstrual period). Other experts recommend not using the drugs after nine weeks (63 days).
Why is there a limit? Because research shows, these abortion drugs become less effective the closer you reach 70 days.
Some risks to be aware of with the abortion pill method include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Surgical Abortion
Before the introduction of the abortion pill, abortion providers terminated early pregnancies by vacuum or suction aspiration. Clinicians still use this method today.
As your pregnancy progresses, the abortion provider uses a spoon-shaped scraping tool or even forceps to remove larger portions.
Because the abortion provider uses various instruments to perform the abortion, you run the risk of the following:
- Perforation of the uterus. Perforation happens when a surgical instrument pokes a hole in the uterus.
- Damage to the cervix.
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall.
- Infection
What Should I Do First?
You must find out how far along you are in your pregnancy beforehand. An ultrasound provides the most accurate date. In addition, an ultrasound detects if your pregnancy is growing or if you have miscarried and your pregnancy’s location.
You can receive a free limited ultrasound scan from the Pregnancy Resource Center after a positive pregnancy test result with one of our tests. Fill out our confidential online contact form to request your free appointment.
In addition to regular center hours, we also have a mobile medical unit for your convenience. We care about you and your health. Let us help you get the information you need before you move forward. We are here for you.