What to Know If You’re Considering an Abortion

If abortion is something you’re weighing right now, you deserve clear, accurate information before you decide anything, not pressure in either direction. Alpha Clinics offers free, confidential appointments where you can ask questions and discuss your concerns with an advocate.

Begin with pregnancy testing and a limited OB ultrasound performed by a nurse at no cost. Schedule a visit today.

How Medical and Surgical Abortion Differ

The abortion pill, also referred to as medical abortion, commonly uses two drugs: mifepristone followed by misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone needed for pregnancy to continue. Misoprostol causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through vaginal bleeding and cramping.

The two-drug regimen is FDA-approved for an intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks. Because the drugs are often taken at home, patients need access to follow-up and emergency medical care if complications occur.

A surgical abortion is performed in a clinic, surgical center, or hospital. It uses suction, surgical instruments, or both to remove the pregnancy from the uterus. The method used generally depends on gestational age and other medical considerations.

Side Effects and Possible Complications

Expected effects of the abortion pill include vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fever, and chills can also occur.

Possible complications of medical abortion include:

• Heavy or prolonged bleeding
• An incomplete abortion that may require a surgical procedure
• An ongoing pregnancy
• Infection

Possible complications of surgical abortion include:

• Heavy bleeding
• Infection
• Injury to the cervix
• Perforation of the uterus
• Pregnancy tissue remaining in the uterus
• Complications related to anesthesia or sedation

Discuss your health history, any drugs or supplements you currently take, and possible complications with a qualified healthcare professional.

What an Ultrasound Can Tell You

A pregnancy test detects hCG but cannot determine how far along you are or where the pregnancy is located.

A limited OB ultrasound can estimate gestational age, identify whether the pregnancy is located in the uterus, and look for cardiac activity when detectable. These details provide a fuller picture of the pregnancy before you make a decision.

An ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus and cannot be treated with the abortion pill or an abortion procedure intended for a pregnancy inside the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy can become life-threatening if it ruptures, therefore requiring separate medical care.

Learn More at Alpha Clinics

Alpha Clinics offers free, confidential pregnancy testing, limited OB ultrasounds, and peer-to-peer conversations with advocates in Vacaville.

Learn more or request an appointment online, or call (707) 449-8991.

Alpha Clinics does not provide or refer for abortions.

All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.