In our state, abortion is only legal if the pregnancy endangers the woman’s life. If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, this can be overwhelming if you feel like you don’t have any options that don’t require traveling out of state.
Read this article for more information about how abortion works, its associated risks, and medical screenings to take before scheduling your procedure.
What are the Different Types of Abortion?
How far along you are in the pregnancy will affect what procedure you are eligible for. There are two different types of abortions: Surgical and Medical.
Medication abortion can be prescribed if the pregnancy is less than 10 weeks gestational age. It starts with the first pill, mifepristone. This pill is the one taken to end the pregnancy by blocking an essential hormone, progesterone. Mifepristone is taken next to expel the fetus and pregnancy tissues from the womb.
A surgical abortion is when a woman’s cervix is first dilated and gynecological tools and gentle suction is used to remove the fetus and pregnancy tissues.
At Etowah Pregnancy Testing Center, we offer no-cost ultrasounds which can help inform you of the age of the pregnancy.
What are the Risks of Abortion?
Like any procedure, abortion does have its own possible risks which are important to be aware of.
Risks of a D&C Surgical Abortion
According to the Mayo Clinic, the risks include:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
Risks of the Abortion Pill
According to the Mayo Clinic, potential risks of medical abortion include:
- 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
Recommended Screening
If you are wondering what your options are, or even considering traveling out of state, we recommend first scheduling an ultrasound at our center.
An ultrasound can tell the age but also the location and viability of the pregnancy, which can help you know if an abortion is even necessary.
If the embryo is implanted outside of the uterus, this is an ectopic pregnancy and requires immediate medical attention.
With our no-cost pregnancy services, which also include options consultations, we are here to help support you and gather more information before deciding your next step. Contact us today!