If you are pregnant and exploring abortion as an option, it’s essential to learn all you can to best protect your health.

While there are two different types of abortion, both act to terminate a healthy pregnancy.

Learning the facts about abortion—how it works as well as potential risks and side effects to be aware of—is vital.

Equally as important is learning all the facts about your pregnancy so that you have the details needed to make the best decision for yourself.

Types of Abortion and How They Work

The two types of abortion are medical and surgical.

Medical Abortion

Also known as the abortion pill, medical abortion uses a series of drugs to terminate your pregnancy.

Mifepristone, the first drug, prevents progesterone from reaching your uterus. Without progesterone, the pregnancy stops growing and detaches from your uterine wall.

Misoprostol, the second drug, forces your uterus to contract, expelling your pregnancy from your body through your vagina.

There are known health risks to a medical abortion that you need to be aware of.

These risks can include:

  • An incomplete abortion, which may require a follow-up surgical procedure
  • Heavy and prolonged bleeding
  • Infection
  • Fever
  • Digestive discomfort

Keep in mind that the FDA does not recommend using the abortion pill after a pregnancy is more than 10 weeks old, so getting an ultrasound scan before a medical abortion to determine the age of your pregnancy is very important.

Surgical Abortion

Surgical abortion is typically used after 10 weeks of pregnancy and is considered an invasive medical procedure.

During a surgical abortion, the doctor will dilate your cervix (which leads to the uterus) and then insert surgical tools into your uterus through the birth canal to remove the pregnancy and related tissue.

Just as with a medical abortion, there are known health risks that can include:

  • Perforation of the uterus
  • Damage to the cervix
  • Scar tissue on the uterine wall (which could lead to infertility)
  • Infection

Getting the Facts About Your Pregnancy

Determining details of your pregnancy is vital to empowering you to make the best decision for yourself and your health.

Using an ultrasound scan, medical professionals can determine the age, location, and viability (development) of your pregnancy—all details that will be valuable to you in knowing what options are available to you.

We’re Here to Help

Salem Pregnancy Care Center is here for you.

We provide free pregnancy test confirmation as well as a complimentary ultrasound scan.

Our trained staff will review the scan results with you, discuss your options, and answer all your questions.

Contact us today to schedule your free and confidential appointment.

 Salem Pregnancy Care Center does not perform or refer for abortion.

All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.