Things to Consider Before Opting for Abortion Pills - Family Planning the Safe way

by Emily Scott Emily Scott

birth control clinic ob-gyn discussing ultrasound reports

People know what’s best for their bodies and their lives. Many families consider abortion due to several reasons. Whatever they may be, due to the advancement in medicine, abortion is now a safe and secure procedure. Focusing on family planning and women’s health is crucial. Thus, you need to be well-informed about the multiple abortion procedures available and which is the best option for you.

In this article, we will discuss different ob-gyn services regarding abortion and women’s health.

Things to Ask Yourself Before Scheduling an Abortion

Abortion is a major life-changing event, and you need to be sure you are making the right decision. It’s important to ask yourself personal and financial questions before scheduling an abortion.

Will my Health be Affected?

Before scheduling your abortion, you need to know how far along you are and what risks you can face during an abortion. There are different abortion methods available, such as in-clinic and abortion pills, used at different stages of pregnancy and carrying various risks. Non-surgical procedures are used before fourteen weeks, and you can experience side effects like nausea, excessive bleeding, dizziness, etc. In contrast, surgical methods can be more physically stressful on women’s health.

What Options Do I Have?

In an unplanned pregnancy, abortion is not your only option. You can consider becoming a parent. It’s going to be hard and life-changing but also rewarding in many ways. Adoption is also an option. But ultimately, the choice depends on you. So consider all your options and make a well-informed decision.

How Much Will it Cost?

We know this might not be an immediate thought or thing to worry about, but abortions can cost anywhere from $500-$1500. The final cost depends on the procedure type, health insurance, and location.

Types of Abortion Procedures

There are several abortion procedures available and are generally divided into surgical and non-surgical. Let’s discuss some in detail.

Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)

D&E is usually performed when pregnancy reaches the second trimester. It is a commonly performed and effective method for terminating a pregnancy.

It is a surgical procedure and can take over a few hours to 2 days to complete. A combination of vacuum aspiration and D&C techniques are used, along with forceps to perform the procedure.

First, the doctor widens the cervix to remove the pregnancy tissues and then uses forceps to remove the fetus and placenta. And lastly, a tube to suction out the remaining tissue and lining.

Side effects involve nausea, bleeding, and cramps.

Induction Abortion

Rarely used, the induction abortion procedure is used when the patient is 24 weeks pregnant, and D&E is not possible.

In this procedure, the birth control clinic gives you a pill to induce labor. Mild contractions occur that get stronger over time. As the amniotic sac breaks, most of the pregnancy tissue is expelled, but a vacuum suction is used to get out the excess lining and tissues.

Vacuum Aspiration

Vacuum aspiration is another surgical abortion procedure performed at around 3 to 12 weeks. This is a pain-free and simple procedure and lasts only 10 minutes.

The doctors enter a speculum in your vagina and cervix to observe the area. Then a tube, attached with a syringe, is inserted into your uterus through the cervix, and gentle suction pressure is applied to remove the pregnancy tissue.

Side effects involve cramps, bleeding, and spotting.

Medical Abortion –Abortion Pills

abortion pills

pills

The only non-surgical procedure to terminate a pregnancy is using abortion pills. This procedure can be done in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.

A birth control clinic provides 2 abortion pills; mifepristone and misoprostol. First, the birth control clinic will do a pelvic ultrasound to check if this procedure is right for you. For example, if you are allergic to the pills, have a lung or kidney disease, etc.

The first pill, mifepristone, is taken at the birth control clinic. It blocks the hormone progesterone, necessary for pregnancy. The second pill is taken at home, 24 to 48 hours after the first one. It is used to induce cramps and push out the pregnancy tissue from your uterus.

Side effects involve nausea, sweating, tiredness, dizziness, etc.

Follow-Up for Medical Abortion

After taking the second abortion pill, misoprostol, you will get cramps and bleed after 1 to 4 hours; if not, you need to contact your birth control clinic. The bleeding and cramping process is very painful and similar to an early miscarriage. It can last for a few hours to 2 days, so don’t be alarmed and keep your ob-gyn informed.

An ultrasound or blood test is performed as a follow-up to see if the abortion was successful and no harm was done.

Are Abortion Pills Effective

The effectiveness of the abortion pill depends on how far your pregnancy has progressed. For example, for women who are less than 8 weeks pregnant, it works 98 times out of 100. Generally, the procedure is effective up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. But if it doesn’t work, you might need to go for a surgical abortion procedure.

Are Abortion Pills Safe to Use

Abortion pills are extremely safe to use and offer a cheaper and quicker alternative to the surgical approach. According to a study, only 1 in 625 women faced abortion-related complications when taking abortion pills.

An abortion pill does not even affect your chances of getting pregnant again in the future. Your fertility remains intact, and you can actually get pregnant a few weeks after having an abortion. But it’s best to remain in contact with your birth control clinic and stay informed about your health and options.

As mentioned above, there are several abortion procedures available. The choice depends on your preference. If you want to complete the procedure in your doctor’s clinic, go for surgical options. Or you can go for abortion pills and terminate the pregnancy in a comfortable environment. There are many clinics that offer ob-gyn services and family planning consultation, such as FPA Chicago and more.