How Does Abortion Work?
If you’re considering abortion after finding out you’re unexpectedly pregnant, you deserve to know the facts. Abortion is a serious medical procedure with major risks. Whatever step you take next, our team at Pregnancy Help Center Galveston is here for you. You are not in this alone.
Medication Abortion
You may have heard of the abortion pill. The abortion pill is one drug used in a two-pill process called medication abortion. With Mifepristone and Misoprostol, medication abortion works to end an existing pregnancy. Only women 10 weeks pregnant and under are eligible for this type of abortion.
The first drug, Mifepristone blocks the womb from absorbing progesterone, causing the lining of the uterus to thin and prevents the embryo from implanting and growing. Then, Misoprostol is taken and causes the uterus to contract and release the pregnancy through the vagina.
Potential Risks Of Medication Abortion:
- Incomplete abortion (it may need to be followed by surgical abortion)
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Digestive system discomfort
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy (if the procedure doesn’t work)
- Infection
- Fever
Surgical Abortion
Next, there is surgical abortion. There are two major surgical abortion procedures: a D&E (Dilation and Evacuation) abortion and aspiration abortion.
A D&E (Dilation and Evacuation) abortion is only for women over 12 weeks pregnant. Anesthesia is first given during this procedure and the cervix is dilated. Surgical instruments are used to clear the contents of the uterus, and a curette is used to remove the remaining parts of the pregnancy.
With aspiration abortion, the cervix is first numbed and then different surgical instruments are used to clear the contents of the uterus. Aspiration (vacuum) is done for women around 12-13 weeks pregnant. It’s quite an invasive process for this procedure and all surgical abortion procedures.
Potential Risks Of Surgical Abortion:
- Incomplete abortion
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding
- Damage to the womb
- Injury to the cervix
- Infection
What’s Next?
Before proceeding with abortion, you will need lab-quality pregnancy testing and an ultrasound to verify your pregnancy’s viability and how far along you are. Get both done at no cost with our medical team today. If you still need your abortion questions answered, we are here to talk. We can help navigate through all your questions and educate you on all your options.
Schedule a free and confidential appointment with us to learn more.