If you’re thinking about abortion, you may have questions about what actually happens. What does the abortion pill do? What happens during a surgical abortion? And how are these two methods different?
The abortion pill uses two different drugs, while a surgical abortion involves a procedure to end and remove the pregnancy from the uterus. Learning how each method works can give you a clearer picture of what the process involves and help you know what questions to ask before making a pregnancy decision.
Black Hills Pregnancy Center offers no-cost pregnancy testing and limited ultrasounds to provide information about your pregnancy. We can also give you information about abortion and your other options.
Schedule an appointment at our center today. Our door is open.
What Happens During a Medical Abortion?
A medical abortion, often referred to as the abortion pill, involves taking two drugs: mifepristone followed by misoprostol.
Mifepristone works by blocking progesterone, the hormone that supports pregnancy. Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract, which results in abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding as the pregnancy is expelled.
The FDA has approved the abortion pill for use through 10 weeks of gestation for an intrauterine pregnancy. Common side effects may include nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, diarrhea, and headache.
The abortion pill is also associated with certain risks, including heavy bleeding, infection, an incomplete abortion, or an ongoing pregnancy.
What Happens During a Surgical Abortion?
A surgical abortion ends a pregnancy through a procedure that removes pregnancy tissue from the uterus. The method used can vary depending on the stage of pregnancy and is performed in a clinical setting by an abortion provider.
Earlier procedures commonly use suction to remove the pregnancy tissue. At later stages, the procedure may involve additional instruments and techniques. One method used is dilation and curettage (D&C), which requires the cervix to be dilated so the pregnancy tissue can be removed.
Cramping and bleeding are expected after a surgical abortion. Potential risks include infection, injury to the cervix, uterine perforation, and scar tissue within the uterus, also known as Asherman’s syndrome, which can affect your future fertility.
Why the Details Matter
Before deciding how to move forward with your pregnancy decision, there are a few details you will want to know. While a pregnancy test can show that hCG is present, there is still more to learn. A limited ultrasound can help show how far along you are, where the pregnancy is developing, and where the pregnancy is located.
Knowing these details is important when considering your health and options. For example, an ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube, and requires prompt medical evaluation and treatment.
If abortion is one of the options you’re considering, you can also take time to learn about other possibilities, including parenting and adoption. Considering each option alongside your circumstances can help you think through what comes next.
Understand Your Pregnancy at Black Hills Pregnancy Center
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you reach out.
If you’re sitting with questions about your pregnancy, wondering what your test results mean, or trying to understand what comes next, getting clear information can help you take the next step.
Black Hills Pregnancy Center offers no-cost services, including lab-quality pregnancy testing and a limited ultrasound performed by a certified nurse technician, to help you learn more about your pregnancy. We can also offer pregnancy counseling about your options so you can make an informed decision.
Contact us to make a confidential appointment.
Black Hills Pregnancy Center does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
