Thinking About Abortion?
If you recently found out you’re pregnant, you may be exploring your options, including abortion. Before making any decision, we recommend you take the time to gather all the information you can.
Despite what you’ve been told, abortion is not as simple as they’d like you to believe. There are potentially significant side effects, as well as risks. It is a serious medical procedure, and you deserve to have all the information you need ahead of time.
Two Types of Abortion
The type of abortion available to you depends on how long you’ve actually been pregnant. If your pregnancy is nine weeks or less, you would be eligible for a medical abortion, but beyond that date, a surgical abortion would likely be necessary.
Medical Abortion
A medical abortion goes by different names. It could be called the abortion pill, RU-486, self-managed or chemical abortion. It uses two very powerful drugs to end your pregnancy.
The first drug (mifepristone) cuts off the flow of progesterone to the uterus. To stay attached to the wall of the uterus, the embryo requires progesterone. The second drug induces labor to expel the pregnancy from the body.
Some risks and side effects of a medical abortion include:
- An incomplete abortion requiring surgery
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Abdominal Cramping
- Vomiting
- Fever, chills, and a headache
Surgical Abortion
A common surgical abortion procedure is vacuum aspiration. This process involves using a syringe or vacuum to eliminate the pregnancy from your uterus. If you are beyond 9 weeks, your cervix will need to be dilated, and a dilation and curettage (D&C) will be performed. A curette may be inserted to scrape the uterus, and a vacuum will then suction the fetus out of the womb through a tube.
Some risks and side effects of surgical abortion include:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
In addition, many women report emotional and psychological side effects after an abortion. They may feel relief in the beginning, but develop feelings of guilt, sadness, and loss later on.
Deciding if abortion is right for you
You are the author of your own story. Only you can decide what’s best for you and your future. Never make a decision based on pressure from someone else.
We are happy to sit down and chat with you regarding this option and others. Schedule an appointment today, and let’s talk. You are never just a number to us. You will always be a friend.