Abortion

What To Know About Abortion

If you’re considering abortion after an unintended pregnancy, you may be feeling pressure, uncertainty, or simply the need to understand what is actually true. It can be hard to sort through everything, especially when advice is coming from all directions.

At Pregnancy Resources Plus, we offer no-cost, confidential appointments where you can meet with an advocate and receive medically accurate information about abortion, including how different procedures work, possible side effects, and potential physical risks.

You do not need to have your decision made before coming in. This is a safe place to ask questions and get the facts.

Why Timing and Details Matter

Abortions are different at different stages of pregnancy. Before making any decision, it’s important to know key medical details, including how far along you are and whether the pregnancy is located in the uterus.

A lab-quality pregnancy test and limited ultrasound can provide information that helps protect your health and clarify your timeline.

Two Types of Abortion

1. Medical Abortion (The Abortion Pill)

A medical abortion involves two drugs taken in sequence. The first, mifepristone, blocks progesterone, a hormone needed to continue a pregnancy. The second, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy and related tissue through vaginal bleeding.

This method is FDA-approved for use through 10 weeks of gestation. Bleeding and cramping will occur during the process, and their severity can vary.

Common side effects may include:

Nausea
Vomiting or diarrhea
Fever or chills
Headache
Fatigue

Potential physical risks may include:

Heavy or prolonged bleeding (enough to soak 2 pads per hour for 2 consecutive hours)
Infection, chills, or fever over 100.4ᵒF (38ᵒC)
Severe abdominal or pelvic pain
Incomplete abortion (tissue remains, and medical care is necessary)
Ongoing pregnancy (if the drugs are ineffective)

2. Surgical Abortion

A surgical abortion refers to an in-clinic medical procedure where an abortion provider removes the pregnancy from the uterus using suction or surgical instruments.

Common types of surgical abortion include vacuum aspiration, dilation and curettage (D&C), and dilation and evacuation (D&E). All involve dilating the cervix and using suction or medical instruments to remove the pregnancy and related tissue, with local anesthesia or sedation.

After a surgical abortion, women may experience light bleeding or spotting and mild cramping for a few days.

Potential physical risks may include:

Cervical injury
Infection
Uterine perforation
Scar tissue that may affect future fertility
Incomplete abortion requiring an additional procedure

A healthcare provider can explain how these physical risks may vary based on gestational age and individual health factors.

Your Next Step

A pregnancy test can indicate pregnancy, but it cannot determine gestational age, whether the pregnancy is progressing, or confirm how the pregnancy is developing. Lab-quality pregnancy testing combined with a limited ultrasound can provide this information and help safeguard your health.

Get accurate information and have your questions answered, Schedule an appointment today