If you’re thinking about abortion, you probably want to know how it works. Abortion is a serious medical procedure that comes with risks and side effects. It’s important to consider all of these. Our caring team is here to give you updated information about each abortion procedure and answer your questions about this option.

How does abortion work?

Abortion is much more than just a one-time procedure and you’re done. There is pre-abortion screening to make sure you’re eligible for abortion and follow-up is needed to check if it was completed correctly. There are multiple types of abortion procedures to be aware of when considering this option. No procedure is the same.

What Should I Do First?

Before making your final pregnancy decision, confirm your pregnancy with our lab-quality pregnancy test and ultrasound. Some women experience miscarriages or have an ectopic pregnancy (when the pregnancy is implanted outside the uterus). Both of these health issues are serious and need to be checked by your medical provider. We offer free and confidential pregnancy testing and limited ultrasounds to help you move forward with clarity.

What are the different types of abortion?

Surgical abortion

The Manual or Vacuum Aspiration procedure is a common surgical procedure. This surgery involves using a syringe or vacuum to remove the pregnancy from your body. A D&E (dilation and evacuation) procedure, involves vacuum aspiration, dilation and curettage, and forceps. With this procedure, you are given a sedative and an injection in your cervix, while forceps remove the pregnancy. A curette is then used to remove the remaining remnants of the pregnancy.

RISKS of Surgical Abortion:

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

Medical abortion

One form of this type of abortion is the abortion pill*. A medical abortion involves two different abortion drugs, Mifepristone, and Misoprostol, to end a pregnancy. The first drug, Mifepristone, causes the uterine lining to thin and prevents the progesterone hormone from allowing the embryo to implant and grow. Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and then expel the embryo through the vagina.

Women are only eligible for this type of abortion if they are under 10 weeks pregnant.

*For more information about the abortion pill, Plan B, and Abortion Pill reversal, read Our Abortion Guide.

RISKS of Medical Abortion:

  • Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
  • An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
  • Heavy and prolonged bleeding
  • Infection
  • Fever
  • Digestive system discomfort

Schedule a free and confidential appointment to talk more about abortion and answer your questions about your other options.

Life’s Options does not refer or perform abortion services.

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