This question is perfect to ask if you are considering abortion. You want to be as fully prepared as possible.
Every woman’s abortion experience is unique. Various factors, such as the type of abortion, how far along you are in your pregnancy, and the facility, can make a difference.
Confirm your pregnancy with a confidential, no-cost ultrasound from Women’s Hope beforehand. An ultrasound determines if your pregnancy is developing or if you’ve miscarried, how far along you are, and the pregnancy’s location. Don’t skip this vital step.
Let’s take a closer look at abortion procedures and the potential physical side effects and risks.
Types of Abortion
There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. A medical abortion is also known as the abortion pill method. You typically take two drugs to end a pregnancy. The FDA approves the use of these drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy only.
Surgical procedures can range from vacuum or suction to the addition of medical instruments, such as a scraping tool or forceps.
What to Expect Physically Using the Abortion Pill
The two drugs used in the abortion pill method include mifepristone and misoprostol. You take mifepristone first to block the hormone progesterone. All pregnancies need progesterone to develop. Without it, the pregnancy ends.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes bleeding and contractions to expel the pregnancy from your body.
Side Effects
You can expect to experience the following:
- Heavy cramping and bleeding with blood clots
- A low-grade fever or chills
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
Physical Risks
There are potential risks with all abortion procedures.
- Failure to end the pregnancy or retained products of conception, which means you still have pregnancy tissue in your body
- Heavy bleeding that doesn’t stop
- Diarrhea and digestive pain
- Allergic reaction to the drugs
- Infection
What to Expect Physically From a Surgical Procedure
An abortion provider usually performs a vacuum or suction aspiration within the first trimester (13 weeks) of a pregnancy. Later pregnancies may require a dilation and curettage (D&C) or dilation and evacuation (D&E).
Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, the abortion provider may need to dilate (open) your cervix (which leads to the uterus). They may also use a general or local anesthesia for pain.
Side Effects
The side effects of a D&C include the following:
- Cramping
- Bleeding or Spotting
Physical Risks
Like all medical procedures, there are risks with a surgical abortion.
- Uterine perforation (when the provider pokes a hole in your uterus with a surgical instrument)
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Asherman’s syndrome
We Are Here For You
Having an abortion is a major medical decision with physical and emotional risks. Get the facts before committing to an abortion. Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we can provide factual, medically based information about the procedures, side effects, and potential risks.
Get free and confidential help. Fill out our online Contact Form or call or text us at (334) 502-7000. We’ll support you no matter what.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.