Your experience after an abortion depends on your health and situation. While there are specific side effects all women will have after the procedure, your risk of complications and long-term effects will vary.
North Care Women’s Clinic wants you to know the facts about your pregnancy options. We’ll help you gather information about your health and learn about abortion procedures. We don’t provide or refer for abortions, but we’ll supply the pregnancy information you need.
What You May Experience
Abortion looks different for every woman in terms of recovery. But there are concrete facts about the procedure that are important to know.
The two main abortion procedures are medical abortion and surgical abortion. Medical abortion, which is FDA-approved through ten weeks gestation, terminates an early pregnancy by using medications. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, and misoprostol causes uterine contractions that expel the pregnancy tissue.
With medical abortion, you’ll experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. You could also have a headache, diarrhea, fever, chills, nausea, or vomiting.
The chances of developing a medical abortion-related risk are low but possible. These include:
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
- Heavy, prolonged bleeding
- Incomplete abortion (which may require surgical treatment)
- An ongoing pregnancy (if the medications don’t work)
A surgical abortion is a more complicated procedure that uses medications, surgical instruments, suctioning, or a combination of these to end a pregnancy. If you have this procedure, you will also experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding.
The risks, while rare, can be severe. They include:
- Infection
- Damage to the cervix
- Uterine perforation
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
Emotional Impacts
Some women feel relieved after an abortion, while others struggle with adverse mental health effects. The National Library of Medicine found that abortion can directly impact some women’s mental health, and it can create problems like depression, anxiety, and grief.
If you struggle emotionally after an abortion, know you aren’t alone. Other women have been in your shoes but found community and support.
North Care Women’s Clinic’s caring client advocates provide free and confidential after-abortion support. You can have healing and peace.
Contact Us Today
Contact us today to schedule a free North Care Women’s Clinic appointment.
We’ll educate you on your pregnancy options, provide honest answers, and more.
