If you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy, abortion may be one of the paths on your mind.
Before making a decision, having accurate information about the procedures, risks, and specifics of your pregnancy is an important way to protect your health.
Read on for the facts you’ll want to know. You can also contact Crisis Pregnancy Outreach (CPO) in Tulsa for no-cost pregnancy services and confidential support.
Types of Abortion
There are two primary types of abortion, and which one (if any) may be available depends on how far along you are and your health history.
Medical Abortion: Commonly called the abortion pill, this method uses two drugs taken at different times to end an early pregnancy.
The first drug causes the pregnancy to stop growing and detach from the uterus.
The second drug then causes the uterus to contract, expelling the pregnancy through cramping and vaginal bleeding at home.
The FDA approves the abortion pill only through 10 weeks of pregnancy, which is one reason why confirming gestational age first matters.
Other pre-existing health conditions may make you ineligible for a medical abortion, so it’s important to consult with your doctor before proceeding.
Surgical Abortion: An invasive in-clinic procedure that is typically used when a medical abortion is not an option.
A medical provider dilates the cervix and inserts suction and medical instruments into the uterus to remove the pregnancy and related tissues.
Side Effects and Risks
Both types of abortion carry health risks worth weighing fully before moving forward.
Risks of medical abortion include:
- An incomplete abortion, which may require a follow-up surgical procedure
- An ongoing pregnancy if the medication does not work
- Heavy, prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive discomfort
Risks of surgical abortion include:
- Uterine perforation (a hole in the uterine wall)
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue, called Asherman’s syndrome, that can affect future fertility
- Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes
- Incomplete removal of tissue, requiring another procedure
Research has also shown that there are risks to your mental health after an abortion. These risks include grief, sadness, anxiety, substance abuse, and depression.
Confirm Your Pregnancy First
Before any abortion appointment, two steps are important to protecting your health and future.
A clinic-confirmed pregnancy test rules out a false positive, and an ultrasound reveals how far along you are, where the pregnancy is located, and whether it is progressing.
Without those details, you cannot know if the abortion pill is medically appropriate or whether an ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threatening, is present.
How CPO Can Help
Reach out to us, and we’ll help you get the facts you need about your pregnancy.
Crisis Pregnancy Outreach offers on-site confirmation of pregnancy test results at no cost, and through our partnership with GoLife Mobile Clinic, a free follow-up ultrasound is also available.
Our team will also take the time to listen, answer your questions, and walk you through every option.
You have the strength to do this, and you do not have to do it alone.
Contact us today to schedule your free and confidential appointment.
