With any medical procedure or medication, there are risks. One potential risk of both medical and surgical abortions is that the procedure will be incomplete.
An abortion is incomplete if fetal or placental tissue remains in the uterus. This can lead to a serious infection, which requires medical action to treat it.
Medical Abortion
There are two drugs used during a medical abortion, which is also known as the “abortion pill.” Mifepristone is the first drug, and it blocks the hormone progesterone to end the pregnancy.
The second drug, misoprostol, is taken hours or days later. It causes the uterus to contract, leading to abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. This action should completely expel the contents of the uterus.
If it does not expel the pregnancy and tissue completely, a woman may experience signs and symptoms of an incomplete abortion. These can include heavy bleeding, abdominal pain, and cramping. If infection sets in, a woman may also have a fever and a foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
An incomplete abortion can be treated with either more doses of misoprostol or to have a surgical procedure.
Surgical Abortion
Under certain circumstances, or if a woman does not qualify for a medical abortion, she may choose a surgical abortion. One type is a dilation & curettage (D&C) abortion.
During a D&C, the cervix is dilated (opened), and a physician scrapes the uterine contents out with a surgical instrument called a curette. Sometimes, a physician may also use suction.
Women should contact their healthcare providers after a D&C if they experience lasting dizziness or lightheadedness, fever, cramps lasting more than 48 hours, pain that gets worse instead of better, and foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
How Can We Help You
If you have had an abortion and are struggling with your emotions, we provide a program to help you find healing. We care about you!
If you think you might be pregnant and are considering an abortion, schedule an appointment. Our team can provide a pregnancy test and an ultrasound referral at no cost to reveal important health information.
Contact us today for more information on our program or to schedule a no-cost appointment.