While abortion is often promoted as a quick and convenient solution for an unplanned pregnancy, it is a medical procedure, which almost always carries its own set of risks. Some are mild side effects while others are more serious.
Read this article to understand the types of risks associated with medication and surgical abortion, as well as the mental health risks that can be associated with the abortion procedure.
What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?
The abortion pill, also called a medication abortion, is a regimen of two different drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol, that work to end fetal development (thus ending the pregnancy) and induce cramping so the uterus expels the pregnancy remnants.
If you are experiencing fever, severe abdominal pain, or very heavy bleeding, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Potential risks of medical abortion include:
- 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
- Septic shock
What Are the Risks of a Surgical Abortion?
Here is a list of possible risks that can be caused by a surgical abortion:
- Internal damage from one of the surgical instruments
- Excessive bleeding that gets worse instead of better
- Infection
- Scarring
- Reaction to the medicines or anesthesia used
- Incomplete abortion