Abortion is a serious medical decision. Maybe you never imagined you would be facing a decision like this. All the complicated emotions you’re feeling right now are valid. Educating yourself and having all your questions answered is an important step.
Knowledge is empowering and allows you to make an informed decision about your unplanned pregnancy confidently.
The following information will be helpful if you’re considering abortion.
THE TWO TYPES OF ABORTION
There are two types of abortion procedures: medical/chemical abortion and surgical abortion. The type of procedure women undergo depends on how far along they are in their pregnancy, health status, and ability to access emergency/follow-up care.
1. MEDICAL/chemical ABORTION (THE ABORTION PILL)
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved medical/chemical abortion through 70 days (10 weeks) of pregnancy.
A medical/chemical abortion procedure uses two drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The first medication ends the pregnancy by blocking the hormone progesterone. This causes the fetal heart to stop and the pregnancy to detach from the uterine lining.
Up to 48 hours later, the second medication is taken, which causes strong uterine cramping to expel the embryo/fetus and pregnancy tissue. What can you expect after taking the second medication? According to the Cleveland Clinic, the side effects of a medical/chemical abortion are:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Intense cramping
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Like all medical procedures, medical/chemical abortion does have risks. The Cleveland Clinic also reports the following risks of medical/chemical abortion:
- Incomplete abortion
- Heavy bleeding that will not stop
- Infection
