If you’re faced with an unplanned pregnancy, you may be feeling fearful and confused. Our goal is for you to have all the facts so that you can make an informed choice. Same-day or next-day appointments are usually available. Make your appointment now.
Medication Abortion
A medication abortion uses two powerful drugs over a 24 to 48-hour period to terminate a pregnancy. The first drug is mifepristone. Until very recently, this drug was highly regulated by the FDA because of the risks associated with it. The second drug is called misoprostol.
Currently, Texas law prohibits prescribing abortion pills online and banned the distribution of abortion pills through the mail.
The FDA cites the following possible and reasonably likely side effects of these drugs:
- Cramping and bleeding. Bleeding or spotting can be expected for an average of 9-16 days and may last up to 30 days. You may see blood clots and tissue.
- Other common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, back pain, and fatigue. These side effects lessen after Day 3 and are usually gone by Day 14.
- More serious side effects include heavy bleeding or fever. Fever may be a symptom of a serious infection or another problem, including ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy requires immediate medical attention.
The FDA provides a guide to give you more information.
It is important for you to know that drug companies are no longer required to report adverse effects that result in hospitalization such as hemorrhages and ectopic pregnancies, unless these complications resulted in death. Because of a lack of required reporting, the actual rate of serious complications from taking abortion pills is unknown.
By studying hospital records, however, it has been shown that complications due to medication abortions are 4 times as high as for 1st-trimester in-clinic abortions.
Surgical Or In-Clinic Abortion
As with a medication abortion, a surgical abortion will end your pregnancy. There are different surgical methods depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy. Each method requires dilation (opening) of the cervix, and some also require anesthesia. The most common method for an early abortion is called vacuum aspiration. It is more invasive than a medication abortion. It is a procedure that ends a pregnancy by removing the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus (or womb).
Normal side effects of a first-trimester surgical abortion include:
- Abdominal cramps
- Light vaginal bleeding
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sore breasts
- Fatigue
Although rare, if a major complication happens to you, it is significant. These complications may include:
- Infection. The chance of infection increases if you have a sexually transmitted infection.
- Uterine perforation or cervical tears or lacerations.
- Hemorrhaging can result in bleeding sufficient enough that a blood transfusion or hospitalization is required.
Schedule An Appointment
Before you schedule an appointment for an abortion, it’s important to make sure you’re really pregnant. We offer no-cost medical-grade pregnancy tests to confirm your pregnancy.
If you have a positive pregnancy test at our center, most clients qualify for a complimentary ultrasound to assess the viability of your pregnancy. Once you’ve determined how far along you are, we can then talk about your options. Schedule a free appointment to get information about abortion and your other options.