What Are the Different Types of Abortion?

Do you feel uncertain about the future with your unplanned pregnancy? Not knowing what comes next or what choice to make can be tough. 

Having more information about all your options will help you feel more confident about your pregnancy journey and all the choices that lay in front of you. As Francis Bacon once said, “Knowledge is power.”

What Are the Types of Abortion?

A chemical abortion is performed with the abortion pill series. The first drug, mifepristone, thins the uterine wall and prevents important nutrients from reaching the womb, terminating the pregnancy. The second pill misoprostol initiates contraction-like cramping that will propel your body to expel the pregnancy remains. 

A surgical abortion usually happens later in pregnancy and is much more invasive. Most often your cervix will be mechanically dilated and then an instrument or suction device will be inserted to remove the pregnancy.

What Are the Risks of Abortion?

A medication abortion can cause the following side effects:

• An incomplete abortion, where all the parts of the pregnancy don’t get removed.
• Extreme cramping
• Heavy bleeding
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Diarrhea 
• Infection

A Surgical abortion can result in:

• Injury to the uterine lining or cervix.
• A hole in the wall of the uterus (uterine perforation). This is rare.
• Infection. Bacteria can enter the uterus during the procedure and cause an infection.
• Moderate to severe bleeding (hemorrhage), which is sometimes caused by:
  • Injury to the uterine lining or cervix.
  • Perforation of the uterus.
  • The uterus not contracting (atony).
  • Uterine rupture. In rare cases, a uterine incision scar tears open when a medicine is used to induce contractions.
  • Tissue remaining in the uterus (retained products of conception).

Can I Change my Mind?

Your future is up to you. Even if you have already told someone you plan to get an abortion or have scheduled the appointment, it is your prerogative to change your mind. You should never make a decision this big simply because you feel social pressure to do so. Adoption may be another great option for you if you are not ready to be a parent. 

If you have already taken the abortion pill and are having second thoughts, it may not be too late to change your mind if it is still within 72 hours. Abortion pill reversal is possible with success up to 60 percent of the time. 

You can receive injections or pills of the hormone progesterone that will counteract the abortion pill and send needed nutrients back into the womb, preventing the termination of your baby. If you are interested, do not wait to call the Abortion Pill Reversal Network Hotline. 

What is My Next Step?

Your pregnancy may have been unplanned, but making a plan for what to do with it doesn’t have to feel scary. Keep researching and learning about all your options. 

At our center, we can offer no-cost options counseling that can help you learn more about abortion, adoption, and parenting. Give us a call today to talk to one of our caring staff.