How Does Abortion End My Pregnancy?

If you are considering abortion, you may have read about the abortion pill or different procedures without knowing exactly how each one ends a pregnancy.

Medical and surgical abortions work differently, and the method used depends in part on how far the pregnancy has progressed. Learning how each process works can help you understand what you may physically experience and which questions you want to ask beforehand.

North Care Women’s Clinic offers a free pregnancy confirmation appointment where you can learn more about your pregnancy and ask questions before making a decision.

Schedule your visit today to speak with us and learn more.

How Does the Abortion Pill Work?

Medical abortion typically uses two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol.

Mifepristone [1] is taken first. It blocks progesterone, a hormone the body needs for the pregnancy to continue. Misoprostol [2] is taken later and causes the uterus to contract and empty. Abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding occur as the pregnancy is expelled.

The FDA [3] has approved mifepristone, when used with misoprostol, to end an intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks of gestation, or 70 days from the first day of the last menstrual period.

Possible side effects can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, and chills. Risks can include heavy bleeding, infection, an incomplete abortion requiring additional treatment, or an ongoing pregnancy if the drugs do not work as intended. [1] [2]

How Does a Surgical Abortion Work?

A surgical abortion physically removes the pregnancy from the uterus.

In this method, the cervix is dilated, or opened, and a small tube is inserted into the uterus. Suction is then used to remove the pregnancy tissue. [4] Depending on gestational age and the type of procedure, additional medical instruments may also be used.

Potential risks can include excessive bleeding, infection, injury to the cervix, uterine perforation, or pregnancy tissue remaining in the uterus and requiring another procedure. [4]

Why Pregnancy Confirmation Matters

Before researching which abortion procedure could apply to you, first make sure you have accurate information about your pregnancy and health.

Pregnancy tests detect hCG, the hormone produced during pregnancy. Cleveland Clinic [5] notes that urine and blood pregnancy tests measure this hormone to determine whether pregnancy could be present. A positive test shows that hCG is present, but it can’t confirm how far along the pregnancy is or whether the pregnancy is developing inside the uterus. Both details matter: the FDA has approved the abortion pill only for intrauterine pregnancies through 10 weeks, and it should not be used for an ectopic pregnancy. [3]

Ask Questions Before Making Your Decision

Abortion involves more than choosing between a pill and a procedure.

Schedule a free appointment with North Care Women’s Clinic to confirm your pregnancy and get your questions answered before deciding what to do.

North Care Women’s Clinic does not provide or refer for abortions.

All abortion information in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.

Sources

1. Mifepristone (Mifeprex): MedlinePlus Drug Information. Updated February 15, 2026. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600042.html
2. Medical abortion. Mayo Clinic. June 28, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
3. Questions and Answers on Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation
4. Abortion – procedure. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002912.htm
5. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG): Purpose & Levels. Cleveland Clinic. Updated April 21, 2025. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22489-human-chorionic-gonadotropin