Getting an abortion may be your first thought, but you need to understand the procedures, side effects, and potential risks.
Learn as much as you can before choosing this option. You need to make a confident decision for your future, and we’ll help you with factual, medically based information you can trust.
The Facts About Abortion
An abortion may seem like a solution for your unexpected pregnancy, but the truth is abortion can have long-lasting effects on your physical body and your mental health.
There are limitations as well. Abortion is not available in Texas except in very specific health-related cases. This means that if you are considering an elective abortion, you will have to travel to another state.
Two Types of Abortion Procedures
There are two main types of abortion: medical and surgical. Typically, the gestational age (how far along you are in your pregnancy) determines which type is available.
Medical Abortion
A medical abortion is also known as a medication or chemical abortion. You may have heard it referred to as the abortion pill method. It uses two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, to end a pregnancy.
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for all pregnancies to develop. Without it, the lining of the uterus thins, and the pregnancy ends.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes uterine contractions and vaginal bleeding to expel the pregnancy and tissue from the body.
The FDA restricts mifepristone. Only certified providers can prescribe it, and they approve the drug for use only through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Surgical Abortion
Abortion providers use various surgical procedures depending on the number of weeks you have been pregnant. Providers use suction or vacuum aspiration if you are within your first trimester (13 weeks or less).
As the pregnancy progresses, other surgical instruments are added, such as a scraping tool or forceps, to remove larger parts.
A surgical procedure may also require dilating (opening) your cervix and using either local or general anesthesia for pain management.
Understand the Risks
Both the abortion pill method and surgical procedures have physical and emotional risks.
Medical Abortion (the abortion pill method)
According to the Mayo Clinic, the following are the possible physical risks of a medical abortion:
- An incomplete abortion. The body doesn’t release all pregnancy tissue.
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work.
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding.
- Digestive system discomfort.
- Infection.
The side effects include diarrhea, headache, upset stomach, fever and chills, and vomiting. Many women also experienced extreme pain with the contractions after taking misoprostol.
“I’m currently in the ER…After 48 hours from the last dose of MISO [misoprostol]. I went from a little bleeding to ALOT and severe pain in my back and pelvic area, to the point where I couldn’t stand up straight.” An Anonymous Reddit User
Since you take the drug, without medical supervision, in your home, knowing what to expect is vital.
Surgical Abortion
The Mayo Clinic also lists these as potential risks of a surgical procedure:
- Perforation of the uterus (a surgical instrument pokes a hole in the uterus).
- Damage to the cervix.
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall.
- Infection.
The side effects of surgical procedures include bleeding and cramping.
Emotional Risks
There is the potential for mental health issues with all abortions. The women most affected are those who have struggled with their mental health before the abortion.
Emotional problems include guilt, a sense of loss, anxiety, and depression.
There is much more to know about your health, your pregnancy, and abortion limitations. Please schedule an appointment to talk with us today.
Radiance Women’s Center does not perform or refer for abortion.
