Did you know not every abortion is completely successful? Although rare, some women will experience what’s known as an incomplete abortion following their termination procedure.
If you’ve recently been considering abortion, take a minute to learn about the warning signs and symptoms to watch for regarding an incomplete abortion. Incomplete abortions can cause serious health complications and should be treated by healthcare professionals promptly.
What Is An Incomplete Abortion?
An incomplete abortion is defined as pregnancy tissue left inside the uterus after an abortion procedure. Because of the non-invasive nature, women who elect to have a medical abortion are at higher risk of experiencing an incomplete abortion.
A medical abortion uses two medications to terminate a pregnancy: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone is prescribed first and its job is to block a hormone known as progesterone. This inhibits the pregnancy from attaching to the uterine wall and stops it from developing further.
After about 24-48 hours, misoprostol will be prescribed. Misoprostol is designed to cause uterine contractions similar to labor and expel the pregnancy through the vagina. It is at this stage that complications can occur.
What To Watch For
Pregnancy tissue that is not properly expelled from the uterus can cause issues. Some of the symptoms to watch out for include:
- Prolonged and heavy bleeding
- Severe abdominal pain
- Sustained fever
- General malaise/weakness
- Vomiting or diarrhea
Make A Plan
The best way to decrease the odds of having an incomplete abortion is to plan for an ultrasound before beginning any termination procedure. An ultrasound is able to reveal exactly how far along a pregnancy is and can bring clarity on the best path forward.
Contact Turlock Pregnancy and Health Center today and schedule a no-hassle, completely free ultrasound. Our resources and services are here to support you on your journey.