If you have learned you are unexpectedly pregnant, you are most likely considering all of your options. Learning the facts about abortion and understanding potential risks can help you feel more informed.
Crossroads PRC La Grange is here to give you accurate information about abortion and offers no-cost lab-quality pregnancy testing and ultrasounds so you can get the important medical details you need.
Schedule your no-cost, confidential appointment.
Understanding The Abortion Pill (Medical Abortion)
A medical abortion¹ uses two prescription drugs, mifepristone² and misoprostol³, to end a pregnancy. The abortion pill is only FDA-approved up to ten weeks⁴ from the first day of your last menstrual period.
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the hormone progesterone and causes the pregnancy to stop growing. The second drug, misoprostol, taken hours or days later, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue through cramping and bleeding.
Some of the risks⁵ that accompany the abortion pill include the following:
- An incomplete abortion⁶ where the body has not released all the pregnancy tissue.
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding.
- Infection.
- Fever.
- Digestive issues.
Understanding a Surgical Abortion
A surgical abortion, also called dilation and curettage⁷, is an invasive procedure that empties the uterus by dilating the cervix with drugs or surgical tools. Suction is then used, along with other instruments, to remove the pregnancy from the uterus.
This procedure is performed in a clinical setting and may involve sedation or other local anesthesia. The side effects of a surgical abortion may include cramping and bleeding.
Associated risks⁸ of a surgical abortion include the following:
- Uterine perforation, this is when a surgical instrument passes through your uterine wall and causes a tear.
- Infection.
- Asherman’s syndrome,⁹ where scar tissue bands can form in your uterus, causing infertility and changes in menstruation if left untreated.
Key Differences Between Medical and Surgical Abortion
A medical abortion and a surgical abortion have the following key differences:
- Timing – Medical abortion can only be used up to ten weeks, while surgical abortion may be used later, depending on state laws.
- Process – Medical abortion uses two drugs taken in succession, while a surgical abortion is a procedure that takes place in a hospital or clinic.
- Risks – Both of these abortion methods have risks. A medical abortion has been found to have a higher risk of hemorrhaging and an incomplete abortion than a surgical abortion when compared in this study¹⁰ published on PubMed.
Why an Ultrasound is Important
Getting an ultrasound is essential before you make any pregnancy decision.
An ultrasound gives you important medical details about your pregnancy. It will confirm the location to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy¹¹ is where the pregnancy grows outside of the uterus and needs urgent medical attention. The ultrasound will provide measurements to determine the gestational age of the pregnancy. It will also determine whether there is fetal heart motion. These three details help determine the viability of a pregnancy and give you the information you need to move forward with a confident decision.
It can also help determine if you have already miscarried, as pregnancy tests can still show a positive result even if you have recently miscarried.
Get The Facts at Crossroads PRC La Grange
No matter your circumstances, we want you to know that you have access to our free pregnancy services, which include pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and STI testing at our center, so you can confirm your pregnancy and protect your health.
During your confidential appointment, we will give you accurate information about your options, including parenting, adoption, and abortion, and the chance to ask any questions to our registered nurse and team members.
Focus on the step in front of you, not the whole staircase. We are here for you.
Contact us to make an appointment at our center today.
Crossroads does not perform or refer for abortions.
References
- Mayo Clinic. Medical Abortion. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
- MedlinePlus. Mifepristone. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600042.html
- MedlinePlus. Misoprostol. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a689009.html
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Questions and Answers on Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks of Gestation. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation#:~:text=The%20FDA%20first%20approved%20Mifeprex,200%20mg%2C%20in%20April%202019.
- Mayo Clinic. Medical Abortion. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
- Cleveland Clinic. Retained Products of Conception. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21512-retained-products-of-conception
- Mayo Clinic. Dilation and Curettage (D&C). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dilation-and-curettage/about/pac-20384910
- Cleveland Clinic. Dilation and Curettage (D&C): Risks. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/dilation-and-curettage#:~:text=What%20are%20the%20risks%20of%20a%20dilation%20and%20curettage%20(D%26C)%3F
- Cleveland Clinic. Asherman’s Syndrome. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16561-ashermans-syndrome
- PubMed. Immediate complications after medical compared with surgical termination of pregnancy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19888037/ - Cleveland Clinic. Ectopic Pregnancy. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9687-ectopic-pregnancy