Abortion, like any medical procedure, comes with risks to consider. The risks specific to the abortion pill, or chemical abortion, include incomplete abortion, an ongoing pregnancy, heavy and prolonged bleeding, infection, fever, and digestive system discomfort.
Where Do the Risks Come From?
While chemical abortion isn’t an invasive procedure, it still has serious medical risks due to the method it uses to terminate a pregnancy. Before you even consider taking the abortion pill, it’s important to know exactly how far along your pregnancy is and whether or not it is a viable, intrauterine pregnancy through an ultrasound.
The abortion pill works by using two different drugs. The first one, mifepristone, terminates the pregnancy by blocking the hormone progesterone from sustaining the pregnancy. A developing pregnancy needs progesterone to continue. The second drug, misoprostol, triggers uterine contractions. These contractions will cause cramping and bleeding to expel the pregnancy tissue from the uterus.
If the chemical abortion process is not successful, or if your body doesn’t completely expel the pregnancy tissue after taking the second pill, complications can occur.
Mayo Clinic states that a chemical abortion isn’t an option for those who can’t make follow-up visits to a doctor or don’t have access to emergency care.
Evaluating All the Risks of the Abortion Pill
The abortion pill comes with a number of medical risks that should be considered:
- Incomplete abortion
- Abdominal cramping with heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Fever or chills
- Digestive system discomfort such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
Outside of the medical risks, abortion also has the ability to change your life. Any pregnancy decision will. Whether you choose abortion, parenting, or adoption, each decision will impact your life. Now’s the time to ask yourself hard questions and think about your own personal feelings about every choice.
Check out our post on the risks of abortion.
Where Do I Go From Here?
After having a positive at-home pregnancy test, confirm your result at no cost at Alpha Center. We will provide a follow-up lab-quality pregnancy test and conduct an ultrasound scan to tell you how far along you are. The trained medical staff will also screen for miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.
You’re the only one who has the final say in this decision, but we can support you through this challenging time. Schedule your confidential appointment with us today by calling 605-361-3500 or online.