Abortion is a procedure that can impact your life in several different ways. If you’ve just learned that you’re pregnant and are considering abortion, it’s critical to understand the procedures, risks, and time limitations before choosing this option.
Before you decide, protect your health by learning about the top three things you need to know if you’re considering abortion. If you’d like a safe, neutral space to learn more about this option, contact us today. All appointments are free and confidential.
1. Physical Risks of Abortion
There are two primary types of abortion, and the timing of your pregnancy often determines which one is offered to you.
Medical abortion, sometimes called the abortion pill, is only available through 10 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. It requires taking two prescription drugs at home. You can expect vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. Women report pain from mild to excruciating.
While rare, other risks include:
- Incomplete abortion requiring a follow-up surgical procedure
- Heavy or prolonged hemorrhage
- Infection and/or sepsis
- Nausea, vomiting, or severe abdominal pain
Surgical abortion is an in-clinic procedure. A provider dilates the cervix and uses suction along with surgical instruments to remove the pregnancy and any related tissue from the uterus.
Physical risks associated with surgical abortion include:
- Infection and/or sepsis
- Uterine perforation
- Heaving bleeding or hemorrhage
- Cervical damage
- Scar tissue, affecting future fertility
2. Mental Risks of Abortion
Many women can also experience mental health outcomes and/or grief, anxiety, sadness, or depression after an abortion.
According to the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, almost 75% of women who had an abortion felt at least subtly pressured into making the decision—and many of these women suffered psychological effects afterward, including “depression (14.4%), guilt (14%), shame, regret, self-hatred, feelings of worthlessness, feelings of being unworthy of love, drug or alcohol addiction (9%), low self-esteem, anxiety, and thoughts or attempts of suicide (6.2%).”
Furthermore, if you’re thinking about the abortion pill, it’s important to know that the pregnancy will pass while you’re at home—and seeing this occur can be distressing for some women.
3. Protect Your Health with a Pre-Abortion Screening
One of the best ways to protect your health is to have all the facts about abortion before you decide.
At Blue Ridge Women’s Center, we provide pre-abortion screenings at no cost to you. This important service includes:
A free pregnancy test:
Confirm your pregnancy as a first step.
A free ultrasound:
An ultrasound scan reveals important details about the age, viability, and location of your pregnancy.
- For example, about 2% of pregnancies are ectopic, meaning the embryo has implanted outside the uterus, which is a condition that requires immediate medical attention.
- Additionally, the Mayo Clinic has also found that 10-20% of pregnancies can end in miscarriage.
Limited STI testing:
If you’re undecided about your next steps or you plan to terminate your pregnancy, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) test is essential information. During an abortion procedure, an undiagnosed STI can spread into the uterus, fallopian tube, and/or into the pelvis, which can affect future fertility or cause chronic pain.
We don’t benefit from your decision.
Blue Ridge Women’s Center offers the information you need in a safe, judgment-free environment so that you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
You do not have to navigate this decision alone. We’re here for you.