Having an abortion is a deeply personal decision. It not only causes physical changes, but it can also impact your mental health. If you’re considering an abortion for your unplanned pregnancy, you’re wise to get more information. It isn’t a simple procedure; you owe it to yourself to get the facts first.
To get a pre-abortion screening or speak to someone in person, schedule a no-cost appointment online or call the center at (816) 793-0051. We’re available to answer your questions and provide the information you need.
The Two Types of Abortion
There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. A medical abortion is also known as a medication or chemical abortion. You may have heard it called the abortion pill. This method of abortion uses drugs to end a pregnancy.
Abortion providers perform surgical procedures in a clinic or hospital. The number of weeks you have been pregnant usually determines the type of abortion you have.
The Abortion Pill
The abortion pill method uses two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. The FDA highly regulates the first drug, mifepristone. It blocks progesterone from reaching the pregnancy. Without progesterone, the pregnancy can no longer continue.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes cramping and bleeding to remove the pregnancy from your body. The FDA approves the use of these abortion drugs for pregnancies that are ten weeks or fewer.
It is essential to know how far along you are in your pregnancy because the further along you are, the less effective the drugs are. Every woman’s experience with these drugs is unique. Some women report extreme pain after taking misoprostol.
There are also physical and emotional risks to be aware of. Some of the risks include the following:
- The body does not release all of the pregnancy tissue (this is known as an incomplete abortion)
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Fever
- Infection
Surgical Abortion
Surgical procedures often include dilating (opening) your cervix (which leads to the uterus). You may also have local or general anesthesia.
Early in pregnancy, the provider might use suction or vacuum aspiration to end the pregnancy. Later pregnancies require adding a scraping tool called a curette or forceps to remove larger parts.
Some risks to be aware of with a surgical procedure include:
- Perforation of the uterus (perforation happens when a surgical instrument pokes a hole in the uterus)
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
Pre-Abortion Screening at No Cost
At Clara Women’s Center, we believe you deserve answers before making a major medical decision like abortion. That’s why we provide a no-cost pre-abortion screening.
The screening includes no-cost pregnancy testing. If your test is positive, we’ll do an ultrasound scan. Ultrasound determines if your pregnancy is developing or if you have miscarried (experts estimate that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage).
Ultrasound can also determine how far along you are in your pregnancy. Plus, we’ll provide no-cost testing and treatment for an STI to further protect your health and safety.
Before choosing abortion, get a pre-abortion screening at Clara Women’s Center. It costs you nothing.
Conveniently book your appointment online or call (816) 793-0051. We’re here for you.
Clara Women’s Center does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
