If you're considering an abortion for an unplanned pregnancy, it's beneficial to be informed about the typical side effects and potential risks of surgical vs. medical abortion. You can expect anything from light bleeding to a potential incomplete abortion.
At Choices Options for Women, we provide free pregnancy consultations for you to get medically-based answers to your questions and learn more about abortion methods and risk factors.
What Are The Common Abortion Side Effects?Medication abortions are only FDA-approved through 10 weeks gestational age. Side effects of a medication abortion include:
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
In-clinic surgical abortions commonly take place during the second trimester. Typical side effects can last a few days and include mild cramping, spotting, or bleeding.
What Are The Health Risks Of An Abortion?According to abortion providers, the types of surgical abortion include dilation and curettage (D&C) or dilation and evacuation (D&E). The risks for these abortion surgeries may consist of the following:
- Perforation to the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
Medical abortion includes potential risks such as:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn't work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Protect Your Health with a Free Ultrasound
Before proceeding with an abortion, getting an ultrasound is a critical step to determine:
- Gestational age (how long you have been pregnant) may affect available options.
- Location: If you have an ectopic pregnancy (growing outside the uterus), it requires immediate medical attention. Treatment of an ectopic pregnancy is not an abortion because ectopic pregnancies are not viable. Treatment of ectopic pregnancy is legal in all 50 states and is essential for the health and life of the mother.
- Viability (whether the pregnancy develops): Confirms if a miscarriage has occurred.
At Choices Options for Women, we provide a safe and compassionate environment for you to receive medically accurate information, explore your options, and express your feelings and thoughts.
We are here to provide you with the support you need so you don't have to navigate this journey alone. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We are here for you.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.