Before any medical procedure, knowing the risks helps you make an informed decision. The same is true about abortion. The abortion pill and surgical abortion each carry their own set of risks, and getting clear on what those are before moving forward is one of the most important things you can do for your health.
Care Net offers free, confidential pregnancy testing and ultrasound referrals so you can get the information you need before making any decision. Make an appointment today or call (505) 617-1391.
The Two Types of Abortion and Their Risks
There are two categories of abortion: medical and surgical. The risks associated with each differ based on the method and how far along you are in your pregnancy.
A medical abortion uses two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, and is FDA-approved through 10 weeks of gestation. Risks specific to the abortion pill include an incomplete abortion requiring additional treatment, heavy or prolonged bleeding, infection, fever, and a continuing pregnancy if the drugs do not work as intended.
Surgical abortion involves a procedure performed in a clinical or hospital setting to manually remove the pregnancy from the uterus with scraping and suction using specialized medical instruments.
Risks associated with surgical abortion include uterine perforation, uterine scarring that can affect future fertility, infection, heavy bleeding, and, in rare cases, damage to surrounding organs. Because sedation or anesthesia is required, additional risks associated with anesthetic reactions must also be considered.
Both types of abortion carry an increased risk of complications when an undetected health condition is present at the time of the procedure.
What an Undetected Condition Can Mean for Your Safety
Skipping a pregnancy test and an ultrasound before an abortion procedure is unsafe. An undetected ectopic pregnancy, one implanted outside the uterus, cannot be resolved by either abortion method and is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate medical intervention.
An undetected STD or STI at the time of an abortion increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, a serious infection of the reproductive organs that can affect long-term fertility. An ultrasound also confirms gestational age, which directly determines which procedures are available and the associated risks at that stage.
How Care Net Can Help
Before making any pregnancy decision, having confirmed information about your pregnancy is a critical first step. Care Net provides free pregnancy testing and can connect you with an ultrasound referral so you have the details you need. Client advocates are also available to walk you through all three of your options with accurate information and no pressure.
Contact Care Net today to schedule your free, confidential appointment.
Care Net does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.