Being in the driver’s seat of an unplanned pregnancy can feel daunting. If you’re considering abortion, read below for information on the different types of abortion available so you can be better informed before making this important decision for your pregnancy.
Surgical vs. Medical Abortion
Surgical
A surgical abortion is a procedure that involves a visit to a clinic. It will begin with dilating your cervix so that a suction device can be used to remove the fetal tissue from the womb.
After suction is used, the doctor may use a curette to remove any pregnancy remnants. A follow-up visit will likely be required to make sure it was successful.
Medical
A medical abortion can be performed up to 10 weeks and is typically prescribed at the abortion clinic where the abortion process begins. It involves taking two different drugs.
The first is mifepristone, which stops the pregnancy. The second, misoprostol, forces contractions so that your body expels the fetus and pregnancy tissue.
Risks of Surgical Abortion
The Mayo Clinic lists the following as potential risks of surgical abortion:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Heavy bleeding
- Cramping
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
Risks of a Medical Abortion
Because a medical abortion can only be performed until the 10th week of pregnancy, it’s important to know the age of your pregnancy. A no-cost ultrasound at our center can provide this information.
The Mayo Clinic lists the following risks associated with medical abortion:
- Incomplete abortion (may need to be followed by surgical abortion)
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy (if the procedure doesn’t work)
- Heavy/prolonged bleeding
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
- Infection
Schedule an Appointment
Now that you know the difference between the two abortion options, medical and surgical, it’s important you first have an ultrasound before scheduling an abortion.
At Hope Rising, we offer no-cost pregnancy testing and limited ultrasounds. Ultrasounds can confirm the age and viability of the pregnancy as well as the location of the pregnancy (to confirm if it is ectopic or not).
Contact us today to make an appointment!