Both medical and surgical abortions come with a certain set of risks and side effects. Many of the common risks 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
Keep reading to learn about other risks associated with abortion before you schedule an abortion appointment.
Medical Abortion Risks
A medical abortion (the abortion pill) is available to women within the first 70 days since the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period.
Risks From Septic Shock
In addition to the risks listed above, septic shock is a serious risk and a medical emergency. If you have taken the abortion pill and experience any of the following symptoms you should seek medical attention immediately:
- Very high or very low body temperature
- Heavy bleeding
- Severe pain
- Cool, pale arms and legs
- Feelings of confusion, restlessness, or fatigue
- Shaking chills
- Low blood pressure, especially when standing
- Inability to urinate
- Heart palpitations
- Rapid, pounding heart rate
- Difficult, rapid breathing with shortness of breath
Risks From Mifeprex
Mifeprex is the first drug taken in the abortion pill regimen and comes with its own set of risks. These include heavy bleeding, a fever of higher than 100.4 degrees (Fahrenheit), and intense abdominal pain.
The FDA says you should contact your healthcare provider right away if your bleeding is heavy enough to soak through two thick full-size sanitary pads per hour for two consecutive hours or if you are concerned about heavy bleeding. Sometimes a surgical abortion is required after heavy bleeding.
Additionally, if you experience abdominal pain after the abortion pill, or you have a fever higher than 100.4 degrees for more than four hours, contact a doctor right away. These can be signs of infection or ectopic pregnancy and require treatment immediately.
Surgical Abortion Risks
According to the NHS, some symptoms following a surgical abortion can be indicators of health-threatening risks. If you experience any of the following after a surgical abortion, you should contact your doctor right away.
- Passing blood clots that are larger than a lemon for more than two hours
- Bleeding that is heavy enough that you have to change your pad twice in one hour for two hours straight
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- Fever
- Pain or cramping that gets worse instead of better, especially after 48 hours
- Pregnancy symptoms that persist after one week
Negative Mental Health Risks from Abortion
Researchers are starting to study the effect of abortion on women’s mental health as well as their physical health. The findings of the research are sobering and should be factored into decision about an abortion.
The 2008 report of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion (TFMHA) concluded that “it is clear that some women do experience sadness, grief, and feelings of loss following termination of a pregnancy, and some experience clinically significant disorders, including depression and anxiety.”
Before An Abortion
In addition to researching the various risks associated with all types of abortion, it’s important to confirm your pregnancy and learn more about it via pregnancy testing and ultrasound.
Not only will an ultrasound determine which type (if any) of abortion you may be eligible for, it will also alert you to any health concerns like an ectopic pregnancy or natural miscarriage.
Contact us to schedule a free pregnancy testing and ultrasound appointment today.