An unexpected pregnancy can come as a shock. Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended, so if you’re in this place today, you are far from alone.

Abortion is a serious medical decision with physical and emotional side effects. Before moving forward, it’s worth gathering as much information as you can about the procedures, side effects, and potential risks.

It also helps to meet with a healthcare provider first to review your health history and any medications you take, and to have an ultrasound. At Warrenton Pregnancy Center, we offer free, confidential pregnancy testing and ultrasounds so you can confirm the details before you decide anything.

The Two Types of Abortion

There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. A provider determines which one applies based on how many weeks along you are. Confirming your gestational age first is important for your health and safety.

Medical Abortion

The abortion pill method is a medical abortion. It uses two drugs over a 24-to-48-hour period. The first drug, mifepristone, blocks progesterone, a hormone the pregnancy needs to continue. The second drug, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and empty. The FDA has approved this regimen for use through 10 weeks (70 days) of pregnancy.

The Mayo Clinic notes a medical abortion may not be an option if you:

• Are too far along in your pregnancy
• Have an IUD in place
• Have an ectopic pregnancy (one growing outside the uterus)
• Have certain medical conditions
• Take a blood thinner
• Can’t make follow-up visits to your provider
• Are allergic to the medicines used

Cramping and bleeding are part of the medical abortion process and will occur, though the intensity can vary.

Other side effects include:

• Nausea and possibly vomiting
• Fever and possibly chills
• Diarrhea
• Headache

Risks include:

• An incomplete abortion, which may require a surgical procedure
• An ongoing pregnancy if the method doesn’t work
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection

For some women, abortion has also been connected to mental health struggles. If you already deal with anxiety or depression, those feelings may intensify afterward.

What If You Change Your Mind?

If you’ve taken the first drug, mifepristone, and you regret it, you may still have options, and acting quickly matters.

A process known as Abortion Pill Reversal aims to counter the first drug by giving the body progesterone. If you regret starting the abortion pill process, you can call the 24/7 Abortion Pill Reversal Helpline at 1-877-558-0333 right away to learn whether it may still be an option for you.

Surgical Abortion

A surgical abortion is a procedure performed in a clinic or medical setting to end a pregnancy. An abortion provider dilates the cervix to remove the pregnancy tissue from the uterus using suction and/or a surgical instrument called a curette. Depending on gestational age, the procedure may be referred to as dilation and curettage (D&C) or dilation and evacuation (D&E).

It is typically performed under local anesthesia or sedation.

Possible side effects include:

• Bleeding
• Cramping
• Dizziness

Possible risks include:

• Perforation of the uterus
• Damage to the cervix
• Scar tissue on the uterine wall
• Infection
• Heavy bleeding

Before Making A Decision

Here are a few steps that can help you move forward with confidence:

• A pregnancy test to confirm your results
• An ultrasound to learn how far along you are, whether the pregnancy is in the right location, and whether the pregnancy is viable (growing with a detectable heartbeat)
• A consultation to review all of your options

Schedule an appointment with us before scheduling an abortion.