Abortion is a major medical decision that can affect you physically and mentally. If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and considering abortion, it’s good that you are asking about procedures, side effects, and potential risks now.

Let’s take a closer look at the two main types of abortion: medication and surgical.

What is a Medication Abortion?

The abortion pill method is a medication abortion because it uses two drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The FDA highly regulates the first drug, mifepristone. This drug blocks progesterone, a necessary hormone for the pregnancy to develop. Misoprostol, the second drug, causes contractions to expel the pregnancy from your body.

The FDA approves the use of mifepristone only through 10 weeks of pregnancy (70 days from the first day of your last period). The further along you are in your pregnancy, the less effective the drugs are.

It’s vital to know how far along you are before taking the drugs. An ultrasound is the best way to determine the number of weeks.

Bella Women’s Center offers ultrasounds free of charge. If you are considering a medication abortion, schedule a pregnancy intake appointment with a member of our caring staff first.

What is a Surgical Abortion?

How far along you are in your pregnancy determines the type of surgical abortion procedure you have. Be prepared for the possibility of having your cervix dilated (opened) and receiving anesthesia before the procedure.

Abortion providers use vacuum or suction aspiration for early pregnancies. Later pregnancies require the addition of surgical instruments such as a curette (a sharp, spoon-shaped scraping tool) or forceps.

What Side Effects Will I Feel?

All abortions involve cramping and bleeding. With the drugs from a medication abortion, you can expect to feel nauseous and possibly have diarrhea, a fever, and chills.

With a surgical procedure, you may struggle with dizziness and a headache from the anesthetic. Some women report blurred vision and a ringing in their ears.

Are There Risks With Abortion?

Like any major medical procedure, abortion does have potential risks. These are the possible risks of a medication abortion:

• An incomplete abortion which may need to be followed by a surgical procedure
• An ongoing pregnancy if the drugs fail
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Fever
• Infection

These are the possible risks of a surgical procedure because they use surgical tools:

• Perforation of the uterus
• Damage to the cervix
• Scar tissue on the uterine wall
• Infection

How Can Bella Women’s Center Help Me?

It is critical to verify your pregnancy before deciding what to do. Experts estimate that 26% of all pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage. It is possible to get a positive pregnancy test result even after a miscarriage.

How do you find out if you have already miscarried? Once again, an ultrasound is the easiest way to determine if you have miscarried.

Contact Bella Women’s Center to schedule an appointment. We will help you get the answers you need without pressure or judgment.