Abortion

Considering Abortion?

If you are considering an abortion, get the reproductive health facts first: procedures, potential side effects, and risks.

There are two types of abortion: 1) Medication Abortion / Abortion Pill and 2) Surgical Abortion.

What Must I Know Before an Abortion?

  1. How far along is my pregnancy?
  2. Is my pregnancy in the uterus?
  3. Is this a viable pregnancy, with a heartbeat?
  4. Do I have an STI (sexually transmitted infection)?
 

What Risks Are Involved?

  • Failed abortion, requiring follow-up surgery
  • Heavy bleeding / hemorrhage
  • Infection / sepsis
  • Vomiting and severe stomach pain
  • Cervical damage / uterus perforation
  • Decreased fertility in the future
  • Preterm delivery in the future
  • Anxiety, depression, and grief
 

CAUTION: DO NOT BUY THE ABORTION PILL ONLINE

Medication Abortion / Abortion Pill

This is a two-part pill process: mifepristone (Mifeprex) and misoprostol. Pills purchased online are not FDA-approved and may lack quality control, proper inspection, and legitimacy.

  • Mifepristone blocks the pregnancy hormone called progesterone. Without progesterone, the fetus will stop developing and detach from your uterus.
  • During the next 48 hours, misoprostol is taken. This medication causes contractions to empty your uterus.
 

In Virginia, the FDA only approves the abortion pill up to 10 weeks 6 days of pregnancy. If you are further along, there is a higher risk of complications. The most accurate way to know the age of your pregnancy is through ultrasound—not the date of your last period.

Surgical Abortion (In-Clinic Abortion)

This is performed at an abortion facility. Surgical tools are used for abortions like vacuum aspiration (suction abortion), dilation and curettage (D&C), or dilation and evacuation (D&E) depending on how far along you are. Examples of these processes are described below.

First Trimester Abortion (up to 13 weeks)

Your cervix (opening to the uterus) may be dilated (opened) so that suction tubing can be inserted. The vacuum suction pulls apart the fetus’ body and removes the fetal body parts from your uterus.

Second Trimester Abortion (up to 27 weeks)

Your cervix (opening to the uterus) may be softened and widened using misoprostol (either pills or a vaginal insert) to facilitate removal of a larger fetus. A combination of suction tubing, curette (a spoon-shaped instrument), and forceps (metal clamps) may be used to scrape and vacuum out the fetus’ body parts. The fetus’ skull may need to be crushed to ease removal.

Third Trimester Abortion (28 weeks and beyond)

At this stage, a lethal dose of medication called Digoxin may be injected into the fetus’ heart or amniotic fluid to cause a heart attack, so the fetus will die. Your cervix may be treated for 2-3 days to prepare for delivery of the deceased fetus. To induce labor, you may be given oxytocin.

CAUTION: YOU MUST KNOW HOW FAR ALONG YOUR PREGNANCY IS BEFORE AN ABORTION

For a no-cost ultrasound and confidential appointment to learn more, call Blue Ridge Women’s Center at (540) 362-4357.

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