Time Frame

Abortion Procedure

Risks

Before 14 Weeks

Medical Abortion/Non-Surgical

RU486 is used up to 49 days after the first day of your last period. This is a non-surgical/medical abortion. This medication must be taken very early in the pregnancy. There are 2 steps to Ru-486.

Step 1: you are either given an oral dose or an injection of either of the following drugs:

• Methotrexate-stops pregnancy in the uterus. It can also stop pregnancy in the fallopian tubes (ectopic pregnancy).
• Mifepristone - blocks the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone the lining of the uterus breaks down, ending the pregnancy.

Each drug affects the body differently. Your care provider will decide which is best for you.

Step 2: You will receive the drug Misoprostal - in pill or suppository. Misoprostal cases the uterus to contract and expel the contents. About 90% to 95% effective. If the drug regimen is in- effective, a surgical abortion must be performed.

What you can expect:

• strong cramping
• nausea and/or vomiting
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain.

Call a Doctor if:

• You experience overly heavy bleeding - soaking more than two max-pads per hour, more than two hours in a row.
• Bleed too heavily for over 12 hours. Pass clots larger than lemons.
• Run a fever.
• Feel nausea or throw-up for over 4 hours.
• Pain continues after the used of a pain reliever.
• Have an allergic reaction to the medication.

Medical Abortions are not available from all abortion providers. Follow-up visits are important for women seeking medical abortions. Candidates for medical abortions must be able to complete the regimen of drugs and to make between one and two visits to the care provider.

Physical Risks to Medical Abortions

Severe Bleeding

Severe Cramping

Allergic Reaction to Medication

Infection

Incomplete abortion requiring surgical abortion

Up to 10 Weeks

6 to 14 Weeks

After14 Weeks

Manual Vacuum Aspiration - Used up to 10 weeks after your last period. The Manual Vacuum Aspiration empties the content of the uterus with suction. It is used for very early pregnancies.

Dilation and Curettage (with suction aspiration). Used from about 6 to 14 weeks after the last period. For this procedure you lie on your back with your feet in stirrups, and the care provider applies a shot anesthetic to your cervix to reduce pain. Your cervical muscle is stretched with cone-shaped rods until the opening is wide enough to allow surgical tools to pass into your uterus. A suction machine is used to remove the contents of the uterus. This is a blind procedure and the medical practitioner is unable to see inside the uterus. When dilation and curettage is combined with the procedure, a looped shaped knife is used to scrape the wall of your uterus. This helps free the fetus and the placenta from the wall. Through the this process, it reduces the size of the contents and enables them to pass more easily from your body.

Dilation and Evacuation after about 14 weeks from your last period.

Because the the fetus is more developed and cartilage is turning to bone, the care provider introduces another medical instrument. It reduces the size of the fetus so that it may pass through the cervix. The procedure requires that your cervix be opened in the same fashion as the Suction or D and C methods only wider. There is a greater risk to your reproductive organs with a D and E.

If an abortion procedure is delayed beyond 16 weeks other medications will be used to insure a complete abortion. Please speak to an counselor at 1st Choice to discuss these advanced procedures.

Physical Risks to Surgical Abortions

Hemorrhage - Sometimes women will bleed too heavily during an abortion or a few days afterwards. Occasionally it is necessary to give a transfusion to replace the lost blood. Sometimes it is necessary to do a second curettage procedure or a hysterectomy to stop the bleeding.

Infection - A uterus is susceptible to infection right after an abortion. Infections are even more of a risk if you have Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. This is generally treated with antibiotics but sometimes another curettage procedure must be used. If untreated a very serious infection can develop and could be life threatening or lead to infertility.

Perforation - Sometimes the medical instruments used during an abortion accidentally put a tear in the wall of the uterus. If the instrument damages one of your internal organs, it may be necessary to do major surgery to repair the damage.

Organ Injury - An instrument can go through the wal of the uterus and cause organ damage. Surgery or in some cases (though not many) hysterectomy may be needed.

Allergic Reaction - to the drugs.

Blood clots in the uterus.

Effects on Later Pregnancy - Severe injury to the cervix may occur and may result in the early loss of a later wanted pregnancy. The risk of miscarriage in later pregnancies is higher if a woman has had two or more abortions.

Continued Pregnancy - The fetus may be growing in your fallopian tube rather than in your uterus. An abortion procedure would miss this and the continued growth of the fetus in your tube is extremely dangerous. If pain persists on either side, contact your care provider immediately.

*Though extremely rare, death has occurred after abortion. When an abortion is done after the first three months of pregnancy, the risks increase. The cause of death is usually from heavy bleeding or from complications with anesthesia.

Emotional Risks

Some women experience an immediate feeling of relief following an abortion, but many find themselves later coping with feelings they did not expect. They may have a difficult time talking about these feelings. Some Psychologists have labeled these problems as Post Abortion Stress. The symptoms of PAS span a wide range and can affect men who have lost children to abortion as well as women.

Sadness

Long Term Grief Reactions

Anger

Sexual Dysfunction

Guilt

Flashbacks

Memory Repressions

Anniversary Reactions

Hallucinations

Suicidal Ideas

Increased Alcohol and Drug Use

Difficulty Keeping Close Relationships

Spiritual Risks

If you are a spiritual person, you may question your spiritual risks. Since spirituality is so personal, please come in and discuss these concerns with one of our caring counselors at 1st Choice.