Every medical procedure has the potential for physical risks, and abortion is no exception. One of the risks of the abortion pill method and a surgical procedure is an incomplete abortion (also known as retained products of conception). Knowing the signs and symptoms of an incomplete abortion is vital to protect your health and safety. Read on to find out what to look for.
How Can an Abortion be Incomplete?
When a pregnancy is terminated either by abortion drugs or surgery, it and the rest of the pregnancy tissue must leave the body completely. Incomplete doesn’t mean the pregnancy didn’t end. It means the woman’s body didn’t fully expel the pregnancy and tissue from her body.
Retained tissue in the body can lead to infection, which needs to be removed immediately.
What Are the Symptoms?
The following are some of the symptoms to watch for:
- Moderate to severe vaginal bleeding
- The possible passage of tissue
- Lower abdominal cramping and pelvic pain
Unfortunately, it can be challenging to determine how much bleeding is considered moderate to severe, and all abortions involve cramping in the lower abdominal area.
Experts say a woman should seek immediate medical attention if she experiences any of the following issues after an abortion:
- Difficulty breathing
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- High fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe pelvic pain
How Is an Incomplete Abortion Treated?
Having an in-person visit with your abortion provider a couple of weeks after your abortion is vital. To guarantee that the abortion was complete, your provider checks for any symptoms and gives you another pregnancy test.
Treatments can include taking additional abortion drugs to cause more contractions or having a surgical procedure known as a D&C. A D&C surgically removes the contents of the uterus using suction and a scraping tool.
Protect Your Health by Visiting SouthWest Options First
Before any abortion, you should get additional information about your pregnancy that only an ultrasound can provide. An ultrasound determines how many weeks you have been pregnant, if your pregnancy is developing or you have miscarried, and if the location of your pregnancy is safe.
SouthWest Options for Women provides free and confidential limited obstetrical ultrasounds when you receive a positive pregnancy test result from us. Don’t skip this critical step. Get as much information about your pregnancy as possible.
You can conveniently schedule a free and confidential appointment online or call (952) 938-4496.
SouthWest Options for Women does not perform or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.