You may be faced with one of the hardest decisions you’ve had to make. An unplanned pregnancy comes with lots of questions and concerns, but you are not alone.

If you are considering the option of abortion, we can better inform you so you understand the different types of procedures and risks associated with each.

What is Abortion?

Abortion is the termination of an existing pregnancy. An abortion procedure is completed through the consumption of two drugs, or by undergoing a surgical procedure within an abortion clinic.

There are two types of abortion: medication abortion and surgical abortion.

1. Medical Abortion

Medical abortion, or “the abortion pill,” ends a pregnancy using two different drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. 

The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the womb’s ability to absorb progesterone, a necessary hormone for pregnancy progression.

The second drug, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through the vagina. The FDA has only approved this drug for use within the first 70 days of pregnancy. Otherwise, a surgical abortion may be your only other abortion option.

Risks of Medical Abortion

According to Mayo Clinic, risks of medical abortion include:

• An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure fails
• Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive system discomfort

2. Surgical Abortion

The two types of surgical abortion include: Dilation & Evacuation (D&E) and Dilation & Curettage (D&C). Both procedures work towards dilating your cervix and use vacuum aspiration and surgical tools to remove the pregnancy from the uterus.

Surgical abortion is performed at an abortion clinic and it’s vital to understand the detailed list of risks.

Risks of Surgical Abortion

Since both types of surgical abortion use similar methods of fetal termination, the risks of both procedures are the same. These risks include:

• Perforation of the uterus, or when a surgical instrument pokes a hole in the uterus
• Damage to the cervix
• Scar tissue on the uterine wall
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Infertility

You Are Not Alone

We understand how overwhelming this process can feel but you are not alone. Our compassionate team at Heart of the Hills can help you determine the best next step.