Abortion

Abortion has physical and psychological side effects. Look at the potential risks and get a better understanding of the procedures. You owe it to yourself to get as much truthful information as possible.

There are two main types of abortion, medical (medication) and surgical. Which one you have is determined by the length of time you’ve been pregnant.

Medical Abortion

The abortion pill is a medical abortion method because it uses two drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The FDA approves the first drug for pregnancy no farther than ten weeks and 0 days (70 days).

A hormone called progesterone is necessary for a pregnancy to grow and thrive. To begin the abortion pill method, you take the first drug that blocks the uterus from absorbing progesterone, ending the pregnancy.

The second drug causes cramping and bleeding to get the pregnancy out of your body.

Risks include:

• Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
• Infection
• Fever
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Digestive system discomfort

The use of telemedicine to administer medication abortion is prohibited in Kentucky.

Surgical Abortion

Once you’ve reached the cut-off date for a medical abortion, you may have a surgical abortion. There are several different types of surgical abortions, depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy. Surgical abortion methods often involve opening (dilating) the cervix.

The earliest surgical abortion is Aspiration/Suction. This procedure uses a suction tube, like a vacuum, to remove the pregnancy.

Another surgical abortion procedure is dilation and evacuation (D & E). Most second-trimester abortions use this method and are associated with a much higher risk. A D & E uses suction, an instrument for scraping, and extraction forceps to grasp fetal parts, if necessary.

The last method of surgical abortion is dilation and evacuation (D & E) After Viability. The abortion provider often stops the baby’s heart before starting the procedure.

Risks include:

• Damage to the womb or cervix.
• Uterine perforation (accidentally putting a hole in the uterus with one of the instruments used)
• Excessive bleeding.
• Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes.
• Scarring of the inside of the uterus.

Before Your Abortion

Abortion is a serious medical decision. Before you schedule one, make sure you know how long you’ve been pregnant and if the pregnancy is growing. The best way to find out is with an ultrasound.

We offer free onsite ultrasound exams after a positive pregnancy test from us. Make an appointment today. In addition to our free pregnancy services, we can talk about all of your options.