Educating yourself on abortion procedures is crucial when you’re making a pregnancy decision. If you know all your options, including parenting and adoption, you can make a choice that’s been carefully considered and well-researched.
The two main abortion procedures are medical abortion and surgical abortion. While we don’t perform or refer for abortions, Hope Bridge Pregnancy Resource Center helps you get the pregnancy options information you need.
Understanding Medical Abortion
You may have heard of medical abortion being referred to as the “abortion pill.” It’s been FDA-approved through ten weeks gestation and uses drugs to end an early pregnancy.
During a medical abortion, mifepristone blocks progesterone, and misoprostol causes uterine contractions that expel the pregnancy and related tissue from the body. You’ll experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding when you take these drugs.
Other side effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, fever, and chills.
Medical abortion-related risks are possible but rare. They include:
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
- Heavy, prolonged bleeding
- Incomplete abortion (which may require surgical treatment)
- An ongoing pregnancy (if the drugs don’t work)
Surgical Abortion: What You Should Know
Surgical abortion is usually performed later in pregnancy and uses dilation, surgical instruments, and suctioning. These procedures must be performed in a clinic, hospital, or doctor’s office.
You will have mild cramping and light spotting or bleeding with this procedure, but serious (though rare) risks can occur, such as:
- Infection
- Uterine perforation (when a surgical instrument pokes a hole in the uterus)
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
Before Making a Pregnancy Decision
Whether you’re considering abortion, adoption, or parenting, there are several things you should do first.
Confirm your pregnancy with pregnancy testing and learn key details with an ultrasound.
This scan detects your pregnancy’s viability (whether it is progressing normally), gestational age (how far along you are), and location. You’ll protect your health and can then move forward with learning about your options.
Hope Bridge Pregnancy Resource Center offers these free and confidential services. We’re here for you.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Note: Abortion is currently banned in Texas except in cases of life endangerment. Women cannot be held civilly or criminally liable for seeking an abortion.