Medication and surgical abortions end a pregnancy in different ways, and each has its own timeline, risks, and medical considerations. Understanding these differences and learning important details about your pregnancy beforehand can protect your health.
Schedule a free, confidential appointment at Turlock Pregnancy and Health Center.
Medication Abortion (The Abortion Pill)
Medication abortion uses two drugs taken in sequence and is FDA-approved through 10 weeks of pregnancy.
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks progesterone, which the pregnancy needs to continue. The second drug, misoprostol, is taken 24 to 48 hours later and causes uterine contractions leading to cramping and bleeding that expel the pregnancy.
Risks include:
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding
- Infection and fever
- Incomplete abortion, where tissue remains in the uterus and requires surgical follow-up
- Ongoing pregnancy if the drugs fail
Surgical Abortion
Surgical abortion is performed in a clinic or hospital. Two methods are used depending on gestational age. Vacuum aspiration suctions out the pregnancy during the first trimester. Dilation and evacuation (D&E) is used later and involves suction and forceps.
Risks include:
- Uterine perforation
- Cervical injury
- Scar tissue inside the uterus, which can affect future fertility
- Infection
- Psychological effects such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress
Two Health Steps Before Any Procedure
Two pieces of information protect your health before making a decision about your pregnancy.
First, an ultrasound confirms gestational age, pregnancy location, and viability. A pregnancy outside the uterus, called an ectopic pregnancy, cannot be treated with abortion because it cannot continue to develop normally and can become life-threatening if left untreated.
Second, STI testing matters because an untreated STI can increase the risk of pelvic infection during or after a surgical abortion. Left untreated, infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, which may impact future fertility.
Turlock Pregnancy and Health Center offers both services at no cost. Schedule your free, confidential appointment today. Call (209) 656-9898.
Turlock Pregnancy and Health Center does not perform or refer for abortion. All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.