Abortion is a medical procedure that comes with risks and side effects. Before moving forward with a procedure, become fully informed.
Pregnancy Choices in Apple Valley, MN, can help. Schedule an appointment today for confidential pregnancy testing, an ultrasound, and information on every option.
Below is a list of the different risks of each type of abortion.
Medical Abortion
A medical abortion is also known as the “abortion pill.” Despite its common name, it utilizes two different drugs taken in succession.
Typically, a woman takes the first drug, mifepristone, at a medical office or abortion clinic. It works by blocking progesterone, a hormone necessary for the pregnancy to grow. This drug will end the woman’s pregnancy.
A woman then takes misoprostol, the second drug, hours or days later, usually at home. It causes abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding, which expels the pregnancy and related tissue from the uterus.
The potential risks of medical abortion include:
- An Incomplete Abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Digestive system discomfort
- Fever
There is always a chance that some of the fetal or placental tissue will remain in the uterus, causing infection. If this occurs, the woman may require a surgical procedure.
Surgical Abortion
A common type of surgical abortion is a dilation and curettage abortion (D&C). During this procedure, a physician uses drugs or small instruments to dilate (open) the cervix.
Then, a physician uses a sharp surgical instrument called a curette, which can also be a suction device, to scrape or suction out the pregnancy and tissue in the uterus.
The potential risks of a D&C abortion include:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
If the perforation (poking a hole in your uterus) occurs, a woman might require further surgery to repair the damage.
Visit Pregnancy Choices Today
If you think you might be pregnant, our experienced medical team can provide you with no-cost pregnancy testing and an ultrasound. We will also give you comprehensive information on your options.
Your health is important to us! Contact us today.
Sources:
Medical Abortion – Cleveland Clinic:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21899-medical-abortion
Medical Abortion – Mayo Clinic:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
Retained Products of Conception – Cleveland Clinic:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21512-retained-products-of-conception
Dilation and Curretage (D&C) – Mayo Clinic:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dilation-and-curettage/about/pac-20384910