Thinking about abortion? It’s critical to learn all you can about how abortion works and the risks involved to ensure you make a fully informed decision.

How Does Abortion Work?

There are two types of abortion: medical (also known as the “abortion pill”) and surgical. Medical abortion is only FDA-approved if your pregnancy is 10 weeks gestation or under, while surgical abortion is typically reserved for later in pregnancy.

Medical Abortion

Medical abortion involves taking two powerful drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol.

Mifepristone is taken first. It starts the abortion process by blocking progesterone. Without this critical hormone, your uterine lining will loosen and shed, causing your pregnancy to detach and end.

Misoprostol is taken next. It causes your uterus to contract, expelling the pregnancy out through your vagina.

After taking these drugs, you will experience vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. Some women have reported that this pain was unexpectedly severe. You might also witness the expelled embryo or fetus, which can be distressing for some women.

Medical abortion comes with risks to your health, which can include:

• An incomplete abortion which happens when parts of the terminated pregnancy remain in your uterus
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive symptoms such as upset stomach

Surgical Abortion

Surgical abortion is performed in a clinical setting and involves dilating (opening) the cervix so that medical instruments can enter the uterus to remove the pregnancy. Earlier in pregnancy, strong suction and scraping tools are used. However, later in pregnancy, other instruments like forceps remove larger parts of the pregnancy.

Risks of surgical abortion include:

• Uterine perforation (which is when one of the surgical instruments pokes a hole in your uterus)
• Uterine scarring (which can lead to painful periods and future infertility)
• Cervical damage
• Infection

How Can I Protect My Health?

Before making any pregnancy decision, including abortion, it’s critical to get an ultrasound. This simple scan will give you the key details about your pregnancy that you need to know to stay safe.

At Friends For Life Pregnancy Center, we do not perform or refer for abortions, but we understand the uncertainty you’re feeling right now. Navigating your pregnancy choices isn’t easy, but you’re not alone in this. We’re here for you.

Contact us today to learn about all the ways we’re here to help.