Abortion, whether medical or surgical, has risks you deserve to be aware of before deciding to get one. Some of those risks include: Fever, infection, incomplete abortion, damage to your cervix, and more.
Keep reading to learn about the risks of both types of abortion so you can make an informed decision about your pregnancy.
What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?
According to Mayo Clinic, the following are risks associated with the abortion pill:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
In addition to these risks, septic shock is a risk that constitutes a medical emergency. If you experience any of the following, seek medical attention immediately:
- Very high or very low body temperature
- Heavy bleeding
- Severe pain
- Cool, pale arms and legs
- Feelings of confusion, restlessness, or fatigue
- Shaking chills
- Low blood pressure, especially when standing
- Inability to urinate
- Heart palpitations
- Rapid, pounding heart rate
- Difficult, rapid breathing with shortness of breath
What Are the Risks of Surgical Abortion?
The following are risks of surgical abortions, regardless of the type of procedure you have:
- Passing blood clots that are larger than a lemon for more than two hours
- Bleeding that is heavy enough that you have to change your pad twice in one hour for two hours straight
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- Fever
- Pain or cramping that gets worse instead of better, especially after 48 hours
- Pregnancy symptoms that persist after one week
Septic shock is also a risk of surgical abortion so if you experience any of the symptoms listed above, seek medical care immediately.
Are There Emotional Risks of Abortion?
While many women feel relief after an abortion, abortion can trigger a series of feelings and be a source of trauma for other women, especially if they were pressured into an abortion.
One quantitative study found that women an 81% increased risk of mental health problems following an abortion. If you have a history of mental health issues, it’s important to take this into consideration prior to making an abortion decision.
Before Abortion
Before choosing abortion, make sure you know the risks associated with each procedure and also receive an ultrasound to ensure your safety.
An ultrasound will confirm you are pregnant with a viable pregnancy and also reveal how far along you are. This is important to determine eligibility for an abortion.
An ultrasound will also reveal where your pregnancy is located. If outside the uterus, the pregnancy is not viable and can pose a threat to your health.
We offer no-cost ultrasounds at Your Loving Choices, so contact us to schedule yours today!