If you’re considering abortion, you deserve to know the truth about the procedures, side effects, and risks beforehand. Any time something is removed from your body, it’s a major medical decision. We’ll let the experts give you the answers.
Types of Abortion
There are only two variations of abortion: medical and surgical. You qualify for a medical abortion if you’ve been pregnant for 10 weeks or less. After 10 weeks, you will have to have an in-clinic surgical abortion.
Medical Abortion
A medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill, is actually a set of two separate drugs that work together to terminate and eliminate a pregnancy. The two powerful drugs are taken sequentially within a 24 – 48 hour timeframe.
The Mayo Clinic says, “Having a medical abortion is a major decision with emotional and psychological consequences.” It is encouraged to anyone who’s considering medical abortion to learn about all of the physical and emotional risks.
Risks of a Medical Abortion
According to the Mayo Clinic, the side effects and potential risks of medical abortion are as follows:
- Incomplete Abortion (which may need to be followed by surgical abortion)
- Heavy Bleeding
- Infection
- Prolonged Fever
- Abdominal Discomfort
Medical abortion is only available to women who have been pregnant for 10 weeks or less. After 10 weeks, a woman must undergo an in-clinic surgical abortion.
Surgical Abortion
After 10 weeks of pregnancy, a surgical abortion is required to terminate a pregnancy. The two types of surgical abortions are Dilation & Curettage and Dilation & Evacuation. Each type of procedure has the same serious risks associated:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
- Severe bleeding, including passing clots bigger than a golf ball
- Headache, muscle aches, and dizziness
- Severe pain in the belly
- Hot flushes or a fever
- Vomiting
- Sudden abdominal swelling or rapid heart rate
What to do Prior to Your Abortion Appointment
Before your abortion appointment, it is highly recommended you verify your pregnancy with no-cost lab-quality pregnancy testing at Woman to Woman Health Center. If the test is positive, we’ll provide an ultrasound. The typical cost for ultrasounds in Dallas can be hundreds of dollars, but at our center, ultrasounds are offered to you at no cost.
Contact Woman to Woman today to learn more about abortion procedures, side effects, possible risks, and all the options and support available to you.