An unexpected pregnancy can bring a lot of questions, and if you’re considering abortion, it’s important to understand the procedure and the potential risks involved. Before making any decision, take time to learn about your pregnancy, your health, and the medical considerations that may affect your options.
It’s okay to have questions and take time to understand your options. Life Choices provides a wide array of confidential, no-cost services and compassionate support so you can make an informed decision at your own pace.
Take the first step by visiting us for free pregnancy testing. Schedule an appointment today.
Start with an Ultrasound
A positive pregnancy test cannot tell you whether the pregnancy is developing normally, how far along you are, or whether the pregnancy is located inside the uterus. An ultrasound provides those answers.
This information is critical because an ectopic pregnancy, when the pregnancy develops outside the uterus, is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment and cannot be treated with an abortion pill. An ultrasound also determines gestational age, which can affect what options are medically appropriate.
Getting an ultrasound first can help you make a decision based on facts instead of guesses.
What Are the Risks of Medical Abortion?
A medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill, uses two drugs, mifepristone followed by misoprostol, to end a pregnancy. The FDA has approved this regimen through 10 weeks of gestation. After taking the abortion pill, most women experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding as the pregnancy and related tissue are expelled.
Common side effects include:
- Vaginal bleeding and cramping
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Fever, chills, or headache
The abortion pill carries possible complications, including:
- An incomplete abortion that requires a follow-up procedure
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- An ongoing pregnancy
If you experience severe pain, excessive bleeding, a persistent fever, or other concerning symptoms, seek medical attention right away.
What Are the Risks of Surgical Abortion?
A surgical abortion is performed in a medical setting to remove the pregnancy from the uterus. Before the procedure begins, the cervix is gradually dilated. Suction and specialized surgical instruments are then used to remove the pregnancy. Local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia may be used to help manage pain during the procedure.
As with any medical procedure, there are potential risks, including:
- Tissue remaining in the uterus
- Injury to the cervix
- Perforation of the uterine wall
- Moderate to severe bleeding
- Infection
Can Abortion Affect Mental Health?
Every woman’s experience after an abortion is different. While some women feel relief, others experience emotions such as grief, sadness, anxiety, or depression. These feelings may arise immediately or surface weeks, months, or even years later.
For some, they are prompted by a later pregnancy, miscarriage, infertility, or another significant life event. Whatever your experience, your mental health deserves the same care and attention as your physical health.
Find the Information You Need
While online information can be helpful, it can’t tell you what’s happening with your pregnancy. That’s why getting accurate medical information is an important first step.
Start here. Life Choices provides free, confidential pregnancy services, including pregnancy testing, limited OB ultrasounds following a positive test, options consultations, and pregnancy and parenting support.
Reach out to schedule a visit.
Life Choices does not provide or refer for abortions.