Abortion is the process of terminating your pregnancy and removing it from your uterus. If you’re considering abortion, it’s critical to be as informed as possible to ensure you understand how abortion works and the risks involved.
How Does Abortion Work?
There are two types of abortion: medical (also known as the “abortion pill”) and surgical.
Medical abortion
Medical abortion involves taking two powerful drugs. The first drug, mifepristone, blocks progesterone, a hormone that’s essential for maintaining a pregnancy. Without progesterone, the uterine lining will shed, and the pregnancy will detach and end. Next, misoprostol is taken. This drug causes uterine contractions that expel the pregnancy out through the vagina. This whole process can take days, and you will experience vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping.
Surgical abortion
Surgical abortion is done in a clinic, and it involves dilating the cervix so that medical instruments (like scraping tools, strong suction, or forceps) can enter the uterus to terminate and remove the pregnancy.
What Are the Risks of Abortion?
Both types of abortion come with risks to your physical and mental health.
Mental Health Risks
According to a study looking into the connection between abortion and mental health complications, it’s clear that “at least some women do have significant mental health issues that are caused, triggered, aggravated, or complicated by their abortion experience.”
Furthermore, feeling at all pressured into an abortion makes you more likely to experience a mental health risk, like depression and anxiety.
Physical Health Risks
Medical and surgical abortion come with unique risks to your health. Although rare, these risks can be potentially life-threatening.
The risks of medical abortion include:
- Incomplete abortion, which is when parts of the terminated pregnancy remain in your uterus
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
If your pregnancy is further than 10 weeks gestation when you take the abortion drugs, you’re more likely to experience a risk.
The risks of surgical abortion include:
- Uterine perforation, which is when one of the surgical instruments pokes a hole in your uterus
- Uterine scarring, which can lead to painful periods and future infertility
- Cervical damage
- Infection
How Can I Protect My Health?
Getting an ultrasound before making any pregnancy decision is the number one way to protect your health. Ultrasound is a simple scan that will give you the essential information you need to know about your pregnancy.
At Upstate Pregnancy Center, we offer free, limited ultrasounds because we believe that you deserve to have access to the information you need to stay safe. We also offer medically accurate information about each of your options and a safe, non-judgmental space to talk. Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential appointment.