Are you struggling with the news of a recent pregnancy? If pregnancy wasn’t part of your short-term plan, seeing that positive pregnancy test can be crushing.
Options Medical Clinic is here to provide the resources and answers you need to support your decision-making. If you’ve been researching abortion, it is important to know what procedures are available and to be informed about the health risks that accompany them.
Medical Abortion
The first option for pregnancy termination is medical abortion. More commonly referred to as the abortion pill, the pill uses two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, to effectively end a pregnancy.
Mifepristone begins the termination process by causing the uterus to thin and by blocking an important hormone called progesterone. As progesterone is blocked, the pregnancy stops growing.
Misoprostol is given 24-48 hours later and causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. Women will experience cramping and heavy bleeding as the pregnancy is passed.
Medical abortion is only available to women through their 9th week of pregnancy; it is not an effective option for termination after that.
Potential Risks of Medical Abortion
As with any drug, the abortion pill has side effects you should consider before taking it. Common side effects include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Nausea
- Infection
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Surgical Abortion
If you are not a candidate for the abortion pill, surgical abortion is another option available for termination. Surgical abortions are performed in a hospital or health clinic and utilize some type of manual or vacuum aspiration.
One of the most common forms of surgical abortion is Dilation & Curettage. A D&C is performed by dilating the cervix (lower part of the uterus) and using tools (a curette or suction device) to extract the pregnancy. A tool known as a curette is then used to scrape the inside of the uterus to be sure all pregnancy tissue is removed.
Potential Risks of Surgical Abortion
The risks of surgical abortion can range from mild to severe. Common side effects include things like:
- Bleeding
- Cramping
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Feeling faint
More severe side effects to look for include:
- Severe bleeding (changing your pad every hour)
- Fever or infection
- Pain that gets worse instead of better
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection which could include a foul-smelling discharge from the vagina
Here For You
We understand that you’re facing many important decisions right now. Our clinic is here to provide you with support in your decision-making process.
Options Medical Clinic offers a variety of free services to support you including pregnancy testing, limited ultrasounds, and decision support. Don’t take this journey alone. Reach out to our staff anytime by texting 770.874.2031.