If you’re navigating an unplanned pregnancy and thinking about abortion, it’s completely normal to feel nervous or uncertain. Understanding how abortion works—and what the risks are—is an essential part of protecting your health and making an informed decision.
At Care Net Pregnancy Center of Las Vegas, we offer a safe, supportive, free place to ask questions and get necessary information. Schedule your pregnancy confirmation appointment today.
Medical Abortion (The Abortion Pill)
Medical abortion uses two drugs to end a pregnancy. The first, mifepristone, blocks the hormone progesterone, which is needed to sustain a pregnancy. Without it, the pregnancy ends.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy and related tissue through the vagina. This process usually takes place at home and can involve heavy vaginal bleeding, abdominal cramping, pain, and other side effects.
The abortion pill is only FDA-approved for use during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Taking it without knowing how far along you are—or without confirming the pregnancy’s location—can increase the risk of complications.
The risks of a medical abortion include:
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding
- Incomplete abortion (which may require a surgical procedure)
- Infection
- Fever
- Infection
- Digestive system discomfort
Surgical Abortion
Surgical abortion is done in a clinic and involves dilating the cervix and removing the pregnancy using surgical instruments (such as a curette and forceps). Through a mixture of suction and scraping, an abortion provider ends and removes the pregnancy from the uterus.
The risks of surgical abortion include:
- Uterine perforation (when an instrument pokes through the uterine wall)
- Infection
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the wall of the uterus (also known as Asherman’s syndrome)
Get the Facts Before You Decide
Before any abortion procedure, it’s essential to confirm how far along you are and whether the pregnancy is located inside the uterus. This information helps determine your abortion options—and whether specific health concerns like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy need immediate attention.
While we do not provide ultrasounds at Care Net, we can refer you for an ultrasound at no cost. We do provide confidential, no-cost pregnancy test appointments.
We’re also here to answer your questions, discuss your options, and provide accurate information in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment.
Your health matters; you don’t have to walk through this alone.
Schedule your free and confidential appointment today.
Care Net Pregnancy Center of Las Vegas does not perform or refer for abortions.
All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate medical sources at the time of writing.