If you’re weighing your options after an unexpected pregnancy, you may already be researching what abortion actually involves. There are two main types, medical and surgical, and they work differently, apply at different points in pregnancy, and carry different risks. Here’s what each one means. Schedule a free, confidential appointment with The Center for Women to talk through your questions in person.
Medical Abortion (The Abortion Pill)
A medical abortion, commonly called the abortion pill, uses two drugs to end an early pregnancy: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the hormone the pregnancy needs to continue, causing the uterine lining to break down. Misoprostol, taken 24 to 48 hours later, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through cramping and bleeding.
When mifepristone was first approved in 2000, it was limited to pregnancies of seven weeks or less. The FDA expanded that window to 10 weeks (70 days since your last period) in 2016, and the drug is not approved for use beyond that point.
Side effects include nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, headache, and diarrhea, along with cramping and bleeding. Risks include an incomplete abortion that may require a follow-up surgical procedure, an ongoing pregnancy if the drugs don’t work, and heavy or prolonged bleeding or infection. A blood clot larger than a lemon, soaking two or more pads an hour for two hours, or a fever of 100.4°F or higher lasting more than four hours are signs that call for immediate medical attention. Clinic staff at The Center for Women can talk through what’s typical to expect and what needs a closer look.
Surgical Abortion
Surgical abortion removes a pregnancy from the uterus using instruments, suction, or both. The process starts with dilating the cervix, using drugs or small rods to open it gradually. A provider then removes uterine tissue with a curette, a spoon-shaped tool that can be sharp or suction-based. Later in pregnancy, providers may also need forceps to remove larger tissue.
Side effects include cramping and light bleeding or spotting for several days. Risks include uterine perforation, damage to the cervix, infection, and scar tissue on the uterine wall known as Asherman’s syndrome, which can affect future periods, pregnancies, and fertility. Anesthesia, when used, carries its own separate risks.
Accurate Information About Your Pregnancy
A limited ultrasound gives you facts about your specific pregnancy: how far along the pregnancy is, whether the pregnancy is located in the uterus, and whether the pregnancy is developing as expected. An estimated 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, and the actual number is likely higher since many happen before a pregnancy is confirmed. And if the pregnancy is located outside the uterus, known as an ectopic pregnancy, that is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate hospital care, not an abortion procedure. Getting this information early protects your health.
The Center for Women in Brevard offers free pregnancy testing, a limited ultrasound, and factual information about abortion procedures, side effects, and risks, all confidential and at no cost. Our trained advocates are here to make sure you have accurate, judgment-free information as you think through what’s next.
Schedule your free, confidential appointment today.
Call (828) 885-7885.
The Center for Women does not provide or refer for abortion services, but we are committed to giving you accurate information about abortion procedures and risks.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.