How Does Abortion End My Pregnancy?

If you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy, you may be considering abortion. 

Abortion, also referred to as “pregnancy termination,” ends a pregnancy through the use of drugs or surgery. 

Before choosing to have an abortion, it is vital to understand how it works and can affect your body.

Continue reading to learn more about the two types of abortions and the risks associated with each. 

Medical Abortion 

Medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill, uses two drugs to terminate the pregnancy. 

Mifepristone is administered first in a doctor’s office, followed by misoprostol at home. 

Mifepristone acts by blocking progesterone and stopping the growth of the pregnancy, and then misoprostol creates uterine contractions, which leads to the expulsion of the pregnancy through the vagina. 

According to the FDA, medical abortion should only be performed within the first 10 weeks of a pregnancy. 

Risks of Medical Abortion

Every woman’s body reacts differently after having an abortion, so there is no way to know how your body will respond. Health risks of the abortion pill include but are not limited to: 

• Incomplete abortion, which may require a follow-up surgical procedure
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive discomfort

Surgical Abortion

In a surgical abortion, a doctor removes the pregnancy from your uterus. 

The doctor begins by dilating your cervix with either drugs or a surgical instrument. Then, the doctor uses surgical tools and scrapes or suctions the pregnancy and other tissues from your uterus. 

Risks of Surgical Abortion

Health risks of surgical abortion include but are not limited to:

• Perforation of the uterus
• Damage to the cervix
• Scar tissue on the uterine wall (which could lead to infertility)
• Infection

Pre-Abortion Consultation

For the sake of your health and future, it is important to understand how abortion works and the potential health risks. 

Before choosing to have an abortion, learning more about your pregnancy can help you understand your risks and possible options. 

Alpha Pregnancy Care Center can provide pregnancy testing, a follow-up ultrasound, and an opportunity to talk with the trusted staff about your questions and concerns, all at no cost to you. 

Contact us today for your free and confidential appointment.