Early in pregnancy, a medical abortion is one of the options available to you. However, before seeking the procedure, it’s crucial that you get informed about the side effects and potential risks to your health.
You can get this information by talking with us at Heartbeats Women’s Center. We’re here to give you accurate details about abortion and your pregnancy. Contact us to get started.
About Medical Abortion
A medical abortion is the process of ending a viable pregnancy through drugs. Commonly referred to as the “abortion pill,” this procedure uses two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol.
Typically, you will be prescribed these drugs at an abortion clinic to take home. You may take the first pill, mifepristone, at the office. Mifepristone blocks the pregnancy hormone progesterone.
24-48 hours later, you will take misoprostol to cause uterine contractions and expel the pregnancy from the uterus.
What Are The Side Effects?
Some of the first side effects you’ll notice are vaginal bleeding and cramping in the stomach area. You also may experience:
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
What Are The Risks?
Though medical abortion uses drugs to terminate a pregnancy, it is still considered a serious medical intervention and, like any procedure, has potential risks to your health.
The risks of a medical abortion include:
- The body not releasing all pregnancy tissue in the uterus, also called an incomplete abortion. This may require surgical treatment.
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work.
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding.
- Infection.
- Fever.
- Digestive symptoms such as upset stomach.
Access Quality Care
Before a medical abortion, it’s crucial that you confirm your pregnancy and get key details that will unlock your options.
Heartbeats Women’s Center offers free pregnancy services, such as pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and more, so you can access quality care and make an informed decision.
Make a confidential appointment today.
