Abortion ends a pregnancy through drugs or surgical procedures. Each method affects the body differently and carries potential risks and complications.
If you are researching abortion, your health and safety come first. Learning how each method works, which risks require attention, and other essential facts helps protect your health.
First Choice Pregnancy Center offers free, confidential pregnancy testing, limited obstetrical ultrasounds, and factual abortion information. Contact First Choice to schedule an appointment.
How Do the Two Types of Abortion Work?
A medical abortion, also called the abortion pill, uses two drugs.
The first, mifepristone, blocks progesterone, a hormone needed for the pregnancy to continue. Misoprostol is taken 24-48 hours after mifepristone to induce uterine contractions. Abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding occur as the embryo or fetus and related pregnancy tissue are expelled from the uterus through the vagina.
The two-drug succession is FDA-approved through 10 weeks of gestation, counted from the first day of the woman’s last menstrual period.
A surgical abortion takes place in a clinic or hospital. The abortion provider dilates the cervix and uses suction, surgical instruments, or a combination of both to remove the pregnancy from the uterus. Depending on the method and gestational age, additional surgical instruments may be used. Local anesthesia or sedation may also be provided.
What Are the Risks of a Medical Abortion?
Abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding are expected during a medical abortion. According to the FDA, the bleeding is likely to be heavier than a typical menstrual period.
Possible complications include:
- An incomplete abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding
- Fever
- Infection
- Digestive symptoms
An incomplete abortion occurs when pregnancy tissue remains inside the uterus. These complications may require prompt medical evaluation and additional treatment to protect the woman’s health.
What Are the Risks of a Surgical Abortion?
Light vaginal bleeding or spotting and mild abdominal cramping are expected after a surgical abortion. Possible risks include:
- Damage to the cervix
- Perforation of the uterus by a surgical instrument
- Heavy bleeding
- Infection
- Pregnancy tissue remaining in the uterus
- Scar tissue forming inside the uterus, also known as Asherman’s syndrome
- A reaction to sedation or anesthesia
Why Does Pregnancy Location Matter?
A positive pregnancy test detects hCG, but it cannot determine where the pregnancy is located.
Most ectopic pregnancies develop in a fallopian tube rather than the uterus. Abortion drugs do not end an ectopic pregnancy. As a tubal ectopic pregnancy grows, the fallopian tube may rupture, causing life-threatening internal bleeding.
A limited obstetrical ultrasound can provide information about estimated gestational age, pregnancy location, and whether cardiac activity is detectable.
First Choice offers both abdominal and transvaginal limited ultrasounds performed by a registered nurse. After receiving a positive pregnancy test at the center, you could qualify for a free, confidential ultrasound.
When Is Emergency Care Necessary?
Seek immediate medical care following an abortion if you experience:
- Bleeding that soaks through two full-size sanitary pads per hour for two consecutive hours
- Severe or worsening abdominal or pelvic pain
- A fever of 100.4°F or higher that lasts longer than four hours
- Weakness, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol
- Fainting, extreme dizziness, difficulty breathing, or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
These warning signs may be associated with heavy blood loss, infection, an incomplete abortion, or another complication requiring prompt treatment. Contact a healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the above symptoms.
If your symptoms are severe or you cannot reach a provider, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
What If I Have Taken the First Abortion Drug?
If you have taken mifepristone but have not taken misoprostol and want to continue your pregnancy, we encourage you to call the Abortion Pill Reversal Network’s 24/7 helpline at 1-877-558-0333 as soon as possible. You can also read our Abortion Pill Reversal information to learn more.
Reversal is not guaranteed, but the helpline can connect you privately with a medical professional who can assess your situation and explain whether treatment may still be available to help you continue your pregnancy. If you are unsure whether reversal may still be possible, call anyway.
Learn More at First Choice Pregnancy Center
Online information can explain abortion risks in general, but it cannot tell you what is happening in your body. Your gestational age, pregnancy location, and health history all deserve careful attention.
At First Choice, you can learn more about your pregnancy and discuss your questions in a free, confidential appointment. We will provide factual information without pressure or judgment.
Schedule a confidential appointment online, call (580) 772-7900, or text (580) 789-9871.
First Choice Pregnancy Center does not provide or refer for abortions.
