Do you find it surprising that for all the national talk about abortion, no one mentions the potential physical and emotional consequences? Perhaps you or someone you know has had an abortion but rarely, if ever, discusses the experience. It’s essential to talk about abortion to make you aware of the side effects and potential risks.
What Are the Types of Abortion?
There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. How far along you are in your pregnancy determines which type you will have.
There is cramping and bleeding with all abortion procedures, but you need to know how much is too much. Be prepared with the facts so you know when to seek emergency care.
The Abortion Pill
The abortion pill method is a medical abortion. Over half of abortions today use this method. There are some restrictions. Do not use this method for the following reasons:
- You are too far along in your pregnancy.
Knowing the gestational age is necessary if you are using this method. The FDA approves the use of the drugs in the abortion pill method through 10 weeks (70 days from the first day of your last menstrual cycle) only. - You have an intrauterine device (IUD) in place.
- No birth control is 100% effective. Becoming pregnant while using an IUD increases your chances of having an ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threatening.
- You have an ectopic pregnancy outside of the uterus.
An ectopic pregnancy means the embryo has implanted somewhere other than the uterus, most likely in the fallopian tubes. You cannot use the abortion pill method to terminate a pregnancy. You must see a healthcare professional immediately. - You have certain medical conditions.
These include bleeding disorders, particular heart or blood vessel diseases, severe liver, kidney, or lung disease, or an uncontrolled seizure disorder. - You take a blood thinner or certain steroid medicines.
- Severe bleeding can occur when you use the abortion pill method. If you experience very heavy vaginal bleeding, such as soaking through two thick full-size sanitary pads every hour for two continuous hours, call your doctor immediately or go to an emergency room.
- Steroids are also known as corticosteroids. Prednisone is a common example. Doctors use it to treat rashes, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, or other conditions.
- You can’t make a follow-up visit to your provider.
- It is possible to have an incomplete abortion when using the abortion pill. A follow-up visit is essential to determine if the abortion was complete. You always want to have access to emergency help too.
- You are allergic to the medicine used.
The two medicines used in a medical abortion are mifepristone and misoprostol. The side effects of using these drugs include nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, diarrhea, and headache.
How We Can Assist You
Although we do not provide or refer for abortion, we can give you the information you need. Elevate Pregnancy and Family Resource Center offers pregnancy testing for free. If your test is positive, we can refer you for an ultrasound.
Why do you need an ultrasound? An ultrasound scan reveals how far along you are in your pregnancy, its location, and if it is viable (growing with a detectable heartbeat). Once you have those results, we can discuss your situation and available options. We don’t charge for our services, so contact us today to schedule an appointment.