Are you pregnant and unsure of your future? You are not alone. According to one recent study from the United Nations, as many as 121 million pregnancies are unintended every year worldwide. That is almost half of all pregnancies.
Since parenthood wasn’t on your calendar for this year, you may be looking for information on all your options–including abortion.
There are several types of abortion. Here is everything you need to know about each one.
What is a Medical Abortion?
A medical abortion occurs when you end a pregnancy by taking the abortion pill series within the first 10 weeks of gestation. First, you take a pill called mifepristone. Then a few hours or days later, you will take the second pill, misoprostol. The combination of these pills blocks the pregnancy hormone progesterone.
This hormone is what brings oxygen and blood into the uterus, which provides nutrients and air to the fetus. Without those, the pregnancy will be terminated.
Your body will essentially go into labor and expel the contents of your uterus. Common side effects are cramping, nausea, vomiting, and bleeding.
What Are the Potential Complications of a Medical Abortion?
As with any other medical procedure, there are risks to medical abortion. If you use certain types of birth control, like an IUD, you have a higher risk for complications that could cause infection.
A medical abortion also comes with the risk of an incomplete abortion, which is when the contents of your uterus do not fully get expelled from your body. You will likely need surgery to remove the rest of it before an infection sets in.
Another potential complication is that there is a chance a medical abortion will not work. This is especially true if you order the pills on the internet without the supervision of a healthcare provider. Drugs that have not been approved by the FDA may be fake, expired, or contaminated.
Another common complication is hemorrhaging. You may need a blood transfusion or iron supplements if you bleed out too much.
What is a Surgical Abortion?
Another type of abortion is a surgical abortion, which typically occurs after the first trimester when the abortion pill is no longer an option.
You will lie on an exam table with your feet in stirrups during the procedure. You may be given a sedative. Your cervix will be mechanically dilated to open your uterus. Then a suction cup will be placed inside to suck out the fetus and placenta from the womb.
What Are The Potential Complications of a Surgical Abortion
One common complication of a surgical abortion is an infection from bacteria entering the uterus. This would require treatment with antibiotics.
Another risk is an incomplete abortion. This will require a second procedure to remove whatever was left behind.
Because of the large amount of blood flowing to and around the uterus, you will likely suffer heavy bleeding. You may receive an injection into the uterus to try and stop or limit the blood loss.
Another risk is perforation of the uterus. You may need extensive abdominal surgery if the instrument goes through the uterus into other internal organs.
Because of all these reasons and others, death is a possibility. You also may suffer infertility when trying to become pregnant in the future.
How Can I Know What is Right For Me?
Before you make any decisions regarding your future, you need to get an ultrasound. This will tell you how far along your pregnancy is and alert you to potential complications. At Alabama Pregnancy Test Center, we offer ultrasounds free of charge.
You should ask a lot of questions about each of your options before deciding. The more information you have, the more confident you can be about your choice.
It is also important to note that Abortion is illegal in Alabama and many of the surrounding states. This means you will need to travel for an abortion, which can get costly when you include medical costs—hotel, food, and transportation.
At Alabama Pregnancy Test Center, we can offer helpful information about alternative options, answer any questions you may have, and help you determine what option is best for you. Please call us today to schedule your free consultation.