Abortion is a serious medical procedure that requires thoughtful consideration before a decision is made. Informing yourself about the procedures, recovery, and complications can enable you to make a decision with confidence. Start here and reach out to Relate Care Clinic with any questions.
Medical Abortion
A medical abortion uses the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol to terminate a pregnancy. These drugs are taken in tandem. Mifepristone is usually taken at the provider’s office and works to block the body’s progesterone from supporting the pregnancy; this causes fetal demise. Misoprostol is taken within 48 hours to induce uterine contractions, which forces the embryo or fetus and supportive pregnancy tissue out of the woman’s body through vaginal bleeding and cramping.
Medical abortion is FDA-approved for use in pregnancies under 10 weeks.
Risks of medical abortion can include:
- 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
Surgical Abortion
A surgical abortion is performed in a clinical setting. During the procedure, a woman will lie on her back with her feet in stirrups, and the provider will use a speculum to expose her cervix. A local anesthetic is injected into the cervix (the opening of the uterus) before the provider uses a series of metal rods to dilate it. Once the provider has access to the inside of the uterus, they will use suction to remove the embryo or fetus and the remaining pregnancy tissue. Depending on how far along the pregnancy is, additional surgical instruments like a curettage (a scraping device) or forceps may be used.
Risks of Surgical Abortion include:
- Uterine perforation (a small tear in your uterus), which may happen if the tip of the curette passes through your uterine wall
- Uterine infection
- Uterine bleeding
Before an Abortion
If you are considering an abortion, you can prioritize your health and safety by first obtaining an ultrasound to confirm, date, and locate your pregnancy. This step will ensure that the appropriate procedure is chosen for your unique pregnancy and rule out complications like ectopic pregnancy.
Abortion Reversal
Sometimes women that have taken the abortion pill regret their decision and want to know if the pill can be reversed. The Abortion Pill Reversal protocol uses high doses of the hormone progesterone to combat the effects of the abortion pill. When implemented before the second drug, misoprostol, has been taken, the Abortion Pill Reversal has a success rate of around 68%.
Relate Care Clinic does not offer or refer for abortion pills. If you begin the self-managed abortion process and change your mind, Relate Care Clinic offers Abortion Pill Reversal onsite at our clinic. Connect with our nurses to confidentially discuss your specific situation.
Visit abortionpillreversal.com or call 1-877-558-0333 to talk with someone and be connected to a provider in your area who can help.
Relate Care Can Help
Obtain a free ultrasound at Relate Care Clinic. Take the time to learn more about the abortion procedures offered as well as your other options, including parenting and adoption. Relate Care can provide resources and referrals to make these alternatives a possibility if you desire.