Abortion is a permanent decision that terminates a pregnancy, and it comes with side effects and risks.
Read on to learn more about these risks and how to protect your health if you’re seeking an abortion. Or, if you want to talk to someone in person about your pregnancy options, contact Spero Medical to be connected with one of our welcoming team members. All appointments and resources are free and confidential.
How Does Abortion Work?
Abortion happens in one of two ways: medical or surgical.
Medical abortion is only an option if your pregnancy is under 10 weeks, and it involves taking two different drugs at home. These drugs work together to terminate and then expel the pregnancy through your vagina.
Surgical abortion is performed in a medical office. It involves dilating the cervix so that medical instruments can enter the uterus. The medical instruments—typically scraping tools and strong suction—remove the pregnancy.
What Are the Risks of Abortion?
Both medical and surgical abortion are associated with various risks.
Medical Abortion
The drugs involved in a medical abortion come with certain risks, which include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Since you take the abortion drugs at home, it’s essential to be aware of these risks since you won’t have the oversight of a doctor.
Surgical Abortion
The risks of surgical abortion are associated with the medical instruments involved and include:
- Perforation of the uterus. This occurs when a surgical instrument pokes a hole in the uterus.
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
How Can I Protect My Health?
If you’re considering an abortion, getting an ultrasound is the most important step you can take to protect your health. An ultrasound will reveal the key information you need to know before an abortion, such as:
- Age of your pregnancy—this is vital since medical abortions are only FDA-approved if your pregnancy is under 10 weeks old.
- Viability of your pregnancy—since 26% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, an ultrasound can show if you’ve had one.
- Location of your pregnancy—some pregnancies develop outside the uterus. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy, and it’s a life-threatening situation that requires emergency medical treatment.
Next Steps
Facing an unplanned pregnancy can feel scary, but you’re not alone. At Spero Medical, we’re here for you with free pregnancy resources, including ultrasound, that can help you make a confident decision about how to move forward. Contact us today to make an appointment in a caring, non-judgmental environment.