After an abortion, your body may experience side effects and risks.
Read on to learn more about how abortion works and what might happen to your body afterward.
Or, if you want to talk to someone in person about abortion and your other pregnancy options, contact Pathways Pregnancy Resource Center to schedule a free, confidential appointment.
How Does Abortion Work?
There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical.
After either type of abortion, you will experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. The level of pain you will experience will depend on the type of abortion you receive and your pain threshold.
Medical Abortion
Medical abortion, also known as the “abortion pill,” is a combination of two powerful drugs that work together to terminate a pregnancy and then expel it from the uterus through the vagina.
The abortion drugs are taken at home, and afterward, you might experience the following side effects:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
You might also experience a risk which is rare but can be severe:
- 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
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Not every woman is eligible for the abortion drugs. If your pregnancy is further than ten weeks gestation, or if you’re on certain medications or can’t access emergency care, you shouldn’t take the abortion drugs. If you do, you’re more likely to experience a risk.
Surgical Abortion
Surgical abortion happens in a clinic, and it involves dilating the cervix so that medical instruments (scraping tools and strong suction) can enter the uterus to terminate the pregnancy and remove it.
Undergoing a surgical abortion puts you at risk for the following:
- Uterine perforation (which is when one of the medical instruments pokes a hole in your uterus)
- Uterine scarring (which can cause painful periods or future infertility)
- Cervical damage
- Infection
How to Protect Your Health
If you’re thinking about abortion, getting an ultrasound first is an essential way to protect your health. This scan will give you the critical information you need, including your pregnancy’s gestational age, location, and viability.
At Pathways Pregnancy Resource Center, we offer free, limited ultrasounds following a positive result at our center and medically accurate information about your options. You’re not alone in this. We’re here for you. Contact us today to connect with one of our caring team members.