Abortion is a serious medical procedure with risks that can affect you physically, temporarily or in the long run. Common physical risks include infection and heavy bleeding.
It’s important to consider the risks of both medical and surgical abortion before making a pregnancy decision. We’re here to give you the facts.
The Risks of Abortion
Medical Abortion
Risks of medical abortion include:
- Incomplete abortion (requires another procedure to address)
- Heavy bleeding that will not stop
- Infection
- Fever
- Diarrhea and digestive pain
- Allergic reaction to the medications
Surgical Abortion
With surgical abortion, some women may experience local pain, mild cramping, and light bleeding after the procedure.
Other risks that come with surgical abortion procedures include:
- Uterine perforation (a hole poked through the uterus)
- Uterine infection
- Uterine bleeding
Side Effects of Abortion
Along with risks of abortion come common side effects. Though every woman’s experience with abortion is different, there are common side effects a woman may experience, including:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Uterine cramping
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
It’s vital to a woman’s health to understand what kind of symptoms to monitor for after a procedure since complications could arise. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms that require medical attention after an abortion include:
- Heavy bleeding — soaking two or more pads an hour for two hours
- Severe abdominal or back pain
- Fever lasting more than 24 hours
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
Protect Your Health
Before an abortion, it’s important to understand where your pregnancy stands. Is it viable, healthy, and how far along are you? These questions should be answered before a pregnancy decision to safeguard your health and confirm your options. We can help with pregnancy confirmation.
Contact us to make a free and confidential appointment with our team to confirm your pregnancy with free pregnancy services, as well as a free options consultation.