If you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy and considering abortion, it’s essential to understand the physical effects it can have on you. Abortion is a serious medical procedure and, as with any medical intervention, has side effects and risks.
We’ll go over how abortion will affect you physically, but if you’d like to talk to someone one-on-one, reach out to us at Women’s Resource Center. We’re here to provide no-cost pregnancy services, as well as detail the information you’ll want to know about abortion.
Keep reading to learn more about the side effects and risks.
Medical Abortion
The first type of abortion procedure available early on is a medical abortion. This is the process of using drugs to end a pregnancy. It involves two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, and is FDA-approved through ten weeks gestation (how far along you are).
Medical abortion has two major side effects: vaginal bleeding and cramping in the stomach area. You may also experience nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, diarrhea, or headaches.
The risks include:
- The body not releasing all pregnancy tissue in the uterus, also called an incomplete abortion. This may require surgical abortion.
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work.
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding.
- Infection.
- Fever.
- Digestive symptoms such as upset stomach.
You will need to contact a health provider right away if you notice heavy bleeding, fast heart rate, a fever that lasts more than four hours, or other warning signs.
Surgical Abortion
The second type of procedure is known as a surgical abortion. It uses a combination of drugs, medical instruments, suction/vacuuming, or forceps to remove a pregnancy from the uterus physically.
After a surgical abortion, you will likely remain in a recovery room for a few hours to check for excessive bleeding or other complications. The side effects include mild cramping and light bleeding that can last for a few days.
The risks of a surgical abortion are:
- Perforation of the uterus.
- Damage to the cervix.
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall.
- Infection.
You should contact your health team if you notice heavy bleeding that requires pad changes every hour, pain that gets worse instead of better, or these other signs.
Get Fully Informed
Abortion can have a severe physical impact on your body. It’s critical to be aware of as much as you can before you seek a procedure.
Visit the Women’s Resource Center to get fully informed and access no-cost pregnancy services that can give you insight into your pregnancy and options.
Contact us today to make a confidential appointment.