An unplanned pregnancy means you have a big decision to make. No matter which option you choose, your life is forever changed. At Heart of the Hills, we provide free and confidential options counseling. Although we don’t provide or refer for abortion, we want you to have factual information so you can make a confident choice.
Have You Confirmed Your Pregnancy?
A missed period and a positive home pregnancy test aren’t enough to determine whether you are pregnant. Start with free lab-quality pregnancy testing at Heart of the Hills. Retesting ensures you get the correct results.
If our pregnancy test is positive, it’s time for a limited ultrasound. You may wonder why you need an ultrasound. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is up to a 20% chance of known pregnancies ending in miscarriage.
Pregnancy hormones take a while to leave your body, so you could get a positive pregnancy test result after you’ve miscarried.
Ultrasound can detect whether the pregnancy is viable (growing) or if you have had a miscarriage. It can also tell how far along you are and the location of your pregnancy.
What Are the Different Types of Abortion?
There are two methods of abortion, medical and surgical. The abortion provider determines which options are available to you based on how far along you are in your pregnancy.
Medical Abortion
You may have heard a medical abortion referred to as the abortion pill. Medical abortions use two drugs to terminate a pregnancy.
The first drug, mifepristone, terminates the pregnancy by blocking an essential hormone. Misoprostol, the second drug, causes contractions to push the pregnancy out of the body.
Side Effects of a Medical Abortion
According to the Mayo Clinic, the following are side effects you can expect:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Risks of a Medical Abortion
The Mayo Clinic lists the following risks:
- Incomplete abortion (which may need to be followed by surgical abortion)
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
Surgical Abortion
There are several different surgical abortion procedures. How long you’ve been pregnant determines which method will be available to you.
You could have suction or vacuum aspiration if you are early in your pregnancy. This procedure uses a suction tube and a syringe to remove the pregnancy.
Later pregnancies require dilation and evacuation (D & E). The abortion provider dilates (opens) the cervix so the pregnancy can pass through. They use a combination of suction, a sharp scraping tool, and possibly forceps to complete the abortion.
Side Effects of Surgical Abortion
- Irregular bleeding
- Cramps
Risks of Surgical Abortion
- Tissue remaining in the uterus
- Injury to the cervix
- A hole in the wall of the uterus
- Moderate to severe vaginal bleeding
- Infection
Where Can I Get More Information?
If you are facing an unexpected pregnancy and unsure what to do, we’re here for you. Confirm your pregnancy with free and confidential pregnancy testing and ultrasound. We can discuss your options once you have the information you need.
Schedule a free and confidential appointment at Heart of the Hills. It may feel scary now, but we can see it through together.
