There are two forms of abortion, medical and surgical. The type of abortion chosen to terminate a pregnancy depends on several factors. If you are considering abortion as an outcome of your pregnancy, learning more about each procedure can help you make a confident decision and prioritize your health.
Pee Dee Pregnancy Resource Center offers free options counseling so you can understand your options and how each would affect you.
Medical Abortion
You may have heard medical abortion referred to as “the abortion pill,” but medical abortion is actually a process of termination using two drugs. The first drug, mifepristone, acts by blocking the progesterone a woman’s body produces. A woman’s body uses progesterone during pregnancy to support and nourish the growing embryo or fetus. Without the progesterone, the woman’s uterine lining begins to break down, and the pregnancy cannot remain attached.
Up to two days later, the second drug, misoprostol, is taken. It causes the uterus to squeeze, forcing the contents out. The embryo or fetus is expelled from the body with bleeding and cramping.
Medical abortion is only FDA-approved for pregnancies up to 10 weeks.
The list of common side effects women usually experience following a medical abortion includes the following:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Abdominal cramping
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Risks of medical abortion can 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
Surgical abortions vary by pregnancy, depending on how far along a woman is. Surgical abortions begin with a woman lying on her back with her feet in stirrups. The abortion provider uses a speculum to widen her vagina and hold it open.
A local anesthetic is injected into the cervix, the opening of the uterus, before the abortion provider uses rods to dilate (stretch open) it. Suction removes the contents of the uterus, including the embryo or fetus and the supportive pregnancy tissue. If the pregnancy has developed past the point where suction can be used alone, other instruments, like forceps, may tear apart the contents for easier removal.
After a surgical abortion, it is common for a woman to experience light vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping.
Risks of surgical abortion can include:
- Uterine perforation (if a surgical instrument tears your uterus)
- Uterine infection
- Uterine bleeding
Want to Learn More?
The decision you make for the outcome of your pregnancy will affect your future in many ways. You deserve all the information you need to make a confident decision. Contact Pee Dee Pregnancy Resource Center to schedule your free options counseling appointment.