Considering Abortion?
How much do you know about abortion? The news media and politicians are quick to talk about laws and regulations, but you never hear them talk about procedures, side effects, and possible risks. Abortion can be a life-changing event with potential physical, emotional, and psychological effects so you owe it to yourself to get all the facts. You have the right to know.
Medical Abortion
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes to our lives. One of those is the rise of medical abortions. If the length of your pregnancy is less than 10 weeks and 0 days, you qualify for a medical abortion. If you’ve been pregnant for longer than 10 weeks, you’ll most likely have a surgical abortion.
The Abortion Pill
You may know medical abortions by another term, “the abortion pill.” The name makes it sound so easy, take a pill and your unplanned pregnancy is gone, but that can’t be further from the truth.
The Mayo Clinic writes, “Having a medical abortion is a major decision with emotional and psychological consequences. If you’re considering this procedure, make sure you understand what it entails, side effects, possible risks, complications and alternatives.”
The Actual Procedure
This method is called a medical abortion because the pregnancy is terminated with a series of drugs. The abortion pill procedure begins when you take a dose of a drug known as mifepristone.
When a woman is pregnant, the lining of her uterus thickens with a hormone called progesterone. This lining is what the pregnancy attaches to in order to survive and grow. Mifepristone blocks the uterus from absorbing progesterone so the pregnancy can no longer stay attached.
The second drug, misoprostol, is taken 24 – 48 hours after the first drug. This drug causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through the vagina.
The Side Effects
Side effects of the procedure include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
The Potential Risks
Potential risks of the procedure include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Life Choices Center Services Are Free and Confidential
In addition to offering free pregnancy testing and referrals for free on-site ultrasounds, we offer free consultations to provide evidence-based information about all your pregnancy options.
At Life Choices Center, we offer a non-judgmental, listening ear and provide you with evidence-based information and resources to help you make the best, most informed choice possible.
Before you choose abortion, make sure you know:
- Are you pregnant?
- Is your pregnancy normal?
- How far along are you?
In addition, we’ll give you information on:
- What kinds of abortions are available
- How much an abortion costs
- What your rights are with abortion providers
- Other risks you should consider