There are a lot of “what ifs” with abortion. You could choose the abortion pill, but what if you’re past the FDA’s 10-week limit or you’re no longer pregnant because you miscarried? Or, what if your pregnancy developed in the wrong location? Get the facts about abortion and what you need to know to avoid the “what ifs.”
What Are the “What Ifs” With Medication Abortion?
The FDA very clearly states that approval of the drug for the abortion pill method is through 10 weeks of pregnancy only (70 days from the first day of a woman’s last period). Other experts recommend not using the drugs past nine weeks. The longer the pregnancy, the less effective the drugs are.
What If You Are Past the FDA’s Approved Gestational Age?
If the abortion drugs don’t work, you will have an ongoing pregnancy. There is always the possibility of an incomplete abortion, too.
Incomplete means the drugs terminated the pregnancy, but the pregnancy wasn’t completely expelled from the body. Leftover tissue in the body could lead to heavy and prolonged bleeding, pain, or infection.
What If You Have Miscarried?
Of course, if you’ve miscarried, there’s no need for an abortion. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) estimates that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. That is more than one in every four pregnancies.
Plus, they say 80% of those miscarriages happen in the first 12 weeks. Because it takes a woman’s body time to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels, it is possible to get a positive pregnancy test after a miscarriage.
What If The Pregnancy Is In the Wrong Location?
A pregnancy that forms outside the uterus is called an ectopic pregnancy. This type of pregnancy often grows in the fallopian tubes, which lead to the uterus.
An ectopic pregnancy can’t grow normally. You may experience bleeding and pain, but if the pregnancy continues to grow, it could cause heavy bleeding, shock, and possibly death.
Are There “What Ifs” With Surgical Abortion?
Like any major medical procedure, there is always the possibility of risks. How long you have been pregnant determines the type of surgical procedure you receive.
Since surgical abortion often requires the use of medical instruments, you run the risk of uterine perforation (where an instrument pokes a hole through your uterus). If it’s necessary to use a sharp, scraping tool called a curette, you could get scarring on the uterine wall.
Most surgical procedures require dilating (opening) your cervix (which leads to the uterus). Dilating can take a day or two, depending on how far along you are. You will also most likely have local or general anesthesia.
What If I’m Depressed After My Abortion?
Many women report a feeling of relief following their abortion, but some say within weeks, months, or even years, they begin feeling anxious and depressed.
Adverse mental health problems because of abortion are real for certain women, particularly women who’ve struggled with their mental health before the abortion. Talking with your healthcare provider prior to an abortion assures you’ve reviewed your physical and psychological health.
How Can the Pregnancy Resource Center Assist Me?
To get information such as the correct gestational age, if you’ve miscarried or not, or the pregnancy’s location, you need an ultrasound. The Pregnancy Resource Center provides free
pregnancy testing, ultrasound scans, and STI testing.
We give the facts about the other limitations to taking the abortion pill and why the FDA says you shouldn’t order the abortion drugs through the mail.
Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we’re here to provide you with the information you need to make a confident decision. You can conveniently schedule an appointment online, by phone, or by text. We’re here for you.