Having an abortion is a major medical decision, so you want to learn as much as possible about the methods, side effects to expect, and potential risks.
Abortion providers use the terms chemical abortion or the abortion pill method as other names for a medical abortion. This method is medical because it uses abortion drugs to terminate a pregnancy.
Surgical procedures use various techniques based on how far along you are in your pregnancy. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between the two.
Medical Abortion (Also Known as the Abortion Pill)
Many women assume that because this method is known as the abortion pill, they only take one pill to terminate their pregnancy. In fact, it is two different drugs.
The FDA highly regulates the first drug, mifepristone. Only certified providers can prescribe it. The FDA recommends that you not purchase the drug online because many online companies are from foreign countries and don’t follow quality standards.
Mifepristone blocks progesterone from reaching the pregnancy. Progesterone is a vital hormone that a pregnancy needs to develop. Without it, the pregnancy cannot survive.
The second drug is misoprostol. This drug causes bleeding and cramping to remove the pregnancy from the body.
Today, women perform most medical abortions in their homes without professional medical oversight, so it’s vital to recognize the side effects that could lead to physical complications.
Surgical Abortion
Abortion providers perform surgical abortions in a clinic or hospital. The number of weeks you have been pregnant determines the type of surgical procedure used.
Providers use vacuum or suction aspiration in the early weeks. As the pregnancy progresses, they add instruments such as a curette, which is a spoon-shaped scraping tool, or forceps to remove larger parts.
A surgical procedure may require dilating (opening) the cervix, which leads to the uterus. Once again, the number of weeks of pregnancy determines the need for dilation. You might also require local or general anesthesia. These additional steps often make a surgical procedure more expensive.
How Can Ramona Women’s Clinic Help?
Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we can give you factual, medically based information about each procedure. You can also learn about the usual side effects to expect, and we’ll tell you about the risks you should be aware of.
If you’re facing an unexpected pregnancy, get as much information as possible. You can make a more confident decision about your pregnancy with the facts.
Schedule a free and confidential appointment at Ramona Women’s Clinic. We care about you and your future.
