If you are considering abortion, you may be sorting through a lot of information and emotions at once. Before making a decision, understanding your pregnancy, the different abortion methods, and the possible physical and emotional effects can help you make a pregnancy decision from a more informed place.
InnerVisions HealthCare provides no-cost pregnancy testing and limited ultrasounds, as well as factual information about abortion and your other options.
Schedule a confidential, free appointment today to get the information you need.
An Ultrasound Can Give You Important Information
A positive pregnancy test can confirm the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), but it cannot tell you the essential details you need to know.
A limited ultrasound can provide important information, including:
- Your gestational age (how far along you are in your pregnancy)
- Where the pregnancy is located (inside the uterus or outside)
- Whether there are signs that the pregnancy is developing with a heartbeat
These details can be important when considering your options. For example, the abortion pill is FDA-approved through ten weeks of gestation. Taking these drugs beyond this timeframe increases the risks of complications such as an incomplete abortion.
Knowing where the pregnancy is located is also vital for your health. An ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. It cannot continue normally and requires medical treatment. The abortion pill does not treat an ectopic pregnancy.
There Are Two Main Methods of Abortion
There are two main types of abortion: a medical abortion and a surgical abortion.
A medical abortion, also called the abortion pill, involves two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the hormone needed for the pregnancy to continue. Misoprostol, taken 24 to 48 hours later, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. Some women describe the pain as more severe than they expected
An abortion provider performs a surgical abortion in a clinical setting. It is an invasive procedure that is generally done later in pregnancy and involves using surgical instruments and drugs to dilate the cervix and then manually remove the pregnancy from the uterus with suction and scraping.
Abortion Can Involve Risks and Side Effects
The side effects of a medical abortion include significant abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding as well as vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and headache. There are also risks to be aware of, including an incomplete abortion, infection, and heavy and prolonged bleeding.
For a surgical abortion, mild abdominal cramping and light vaginal bleeding or spotting are expected. Potential risks of this procedure include uterine perforation, heavy bleeding, infection, and scar tissue formation inside the uterus, also known as Asherman’s syndrome.
Your Emotional Experience Is Worth Considering
Women can have a range of emotional responses after an abortion. However, research does show that women who felt pressured into a decision, who have a desire to continue the pregnancy, or who are navigating pre-existing mental health challenges are more likely to experience emotional difficulty following an abortion.
Learn About Your Options at InnerVisions HealthCare
Before making a pregnancy decision, having accurate information about your pregnancy and all of your options can help you move forward.
InnerVisions HealthCare provides no-cost pregnancy services and information about parenting, adoption, and abortion so you can better understand what each option could look like for you and the support available. STD testing is also an important step before making any pregnancy decision to protect your health. We provide this service for you and your partner at no cost.
Our team is here to answer your questions and provide a confidential place to discuss your concerns.
Contact us to make your no-cost appointment.
InnerVisions HealthCare does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.