You could be contemplating abortion because of the fear and anxiety you’re feeling about an unplanned pregnancy. Know that you are not alone in your journey.
You deserve to understand the facts about abortion before taking your next step. The two different types of abortion are medical and surgical abortion, with potential risks that come with each.
Different Types of Abortion
1. Medical Abortion (The Abortion Pill)
Also called “the abortion pill,” medical abortion is a two-drug procedure that terminates a pregnancy.
Medical abortion is only for women up to 10 weeks of pregnancy (up to 70 days of gestation). It’s important to note that under SB 8, the state of Texas bans abortions after approximately six weeks of gestation, unless you have a medical emergency.
First, Mifepristone is prescribed by a doctor or other medical professional and works to end a pregnancy by blocking the womb from absorbing progesterone, a hormone necessary for the pregnancy to grow.
Secondly, Misoprostol is taken and expels the pregnancy through the vagina, causing cramping and contractions.
Abortion Pill Risks
The Mayo Clinic shares the following potential risks of the abortion pill:
- Incomplete abortion which may need to be followed by a surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the abortion pill doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
2. Surgical Abortion
The two most common types of surgical abortion are aspiration abortion and dilation and curettage (D&C). Surgical abortions are typically performed in the first and second trimesters. However, under SB 8, the state of Texas bans abortions after approximately six weeks of gestation, unless you have a medical emergency.
Aspiration abortion utilizes a tube that gets inserted into the uterus through the cervix. An attached suction device will then pull out the pregnancy tissue.
With a D&C abortion, your cervix is expanded and a surgical instrument (called a curette) is used to scrape the inside of the uterus and removes the pregnancy.
Surgical Abortion Risks:
- Damage to the womb or cervix
- Uterine perforation
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes
- Scarring of the inside of the uterus
- Reaction to the medicines or anesthesia, such as problems breathing
- Not removing all of the tissue, requiring another procedure
Before Abortion
Before deciding on abortion, you will first want to know if you are eligible for either type of abortion. This is only confirmed through lab-quality pregnancy testing and an ultrasound. An ultrasound goes a step further and tells you how far along you are, confirms viability, and the location of your pregnancy.
To get a clearer understanding of abortion options and confirm your pregnancy, schedule a free and confidential appointment with us today. We offer our pregnancy confirmation services at no cost to you.