Abortion

Thinking About abortion?

The decision to terminate a pregnancy is both personal and permanent. Because of this, collecting all the information and answers you need is critical before moving forward with either medical or surgical abortion.

types of Abortion

There are two main types of abortion: medical and surgical.

Medical abortion starts with a woman taking the drug mifepristone to block progesterone and terminate the pregnancy. Then, she takes the drug misoprostol, designed to trigger uterine contractions to expel the pregnancy from her body.

Surgical abortion requires a woman to visit an abortion facility or hospital. In this type of abortion, an abortion provider dilates the woman’s cervix, then surgically removes the pregnancy and related tissue from the uterus using a combination of suction, tools, and sometimes forceps.

The type of abortion available to each woman may depend on the existing laws of her area, how far along she is, and if she has any pre-existing conditions that make one option safer than another.

Risks of Abortion

The Mayo Clinic lists the following potential risks for medical abortion and a dilation & curettage (D&C) surgical abortion.

Medical Abortion Risks

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

Dilation & Curettage (D&C) Surgical Abortion Risks

Perforation of the uterus
Damage to the cervix
Scar tissue on the uterine wall
Infection

Safety Checklist

We recommend gathering all these details before proceeding with an abortion:

Status of your pregnancy (gestation, viability, and location)
Presence of an existing STD
Pre-existing health conditions that could make a procedure unsafe
Risks and side effects of each abortion procedure
Follow-Up and Emergency Plans
If the abortion provider has hospital admitting privileges

For your health and safety, schedule a no-cost appointment for an ultrasound, STD testing, and a chance to talk with a nurse about your health history, risks, and other critical information about abortion. While we do not refer for or provide abortions, we’re here to support you as you consider your options.