When face to face with an unplanned pregnancy, it’s common to feel all sorts of emotions and have many questions. Abortion is a major decision – you don’t have to make it on your own. At our clinic, we’re here to give you the facts about abortion.
What Are the Different Types of Abortion?
Two different abortions are done depending on how far along the pregnancy is. Both work towards terminating an existing pregnancy, either through drugs or surgically.
Medical Abortion
The abortion pill is also known as medical abortion. During this type of abortion, two drugs are used to end a pregnancy – only for women up to 70 days (10 weeks) after the first day of your last menstrual period.
The first drug, Mifepristone works to block the womb from absorbing progesterone – the pregnancy hormone. This prevents the embryo from growing or implanting, ending the pregnancy.
The second drug, Misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. The first drug is typically taken at an abortion clinic or doctor’s office, while the second drug is taken at home.
Surgical Abortion
If you are more than ten weeks into your pregnancy, you will need to have a surgical abortion done. There are multiple types of surgical procedures available, depending on how far along you are. Each one requires your cervix to be dilated and a vacuum and scraping tool used to remove the pregnancy. This process is a lot more invasive than a medical abortion and requires anesthesia.
What Are the Risks of Abortion?
Medical abortion comes with serious physical risks to your health. Some of the common risks, according to the Mayo Clinic, include:
- Incomplete abortion – may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Digestive system discomfort
- Infection
- Fever
Some common risks of surgical abortion, according to Medline Plus, include:
- Damage to the womb or cervix
- Uterine perforation
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes
- Scarring of the inside of the uterus
- Reaction to the medicines or anesthesia, such as problems breathing
- Not removing all of the tissue, requiring another procedure
What Should I Do Before Deciding on an Abortion?
Confirm Your Pregnancy
The Mayo Clinic says up to 20% of known pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage. You could potentially receive a positive pregnancy test and no longer be pregnant. It takes your body time to reset your hormone levels. After you receive a positive result from one of our pregnancy tests, the only way to find out if you’ve miscarried is with an ultrasound.
We offer free ultrasounds so you can find out how far along you are, the viability, and the location of your pregnancy. This information is essential to determine whether you are eligible for a medical or surgical abortion.
Consider Your Other Options
Once you’re positive that you’re pregnant, consider all your pregnancy options: abortion, adoption, and parenting. You deserve to know the facts about each one! You may be surprised at the support and resources available to you for each option.
Schedule a free and confidential appointment today to learn more about your pregnancy options.
High Desert Pregnancy Clinic 