If you’re considering abortion, you may have questions about the two main types: medical and surgical. While both procedures end a pregnancy, they differ in how they are performed, when they are used, and the risks involved. Knowing these differences can help you make a more informed choice.
If you haven’t confirmed your pregnancy yet, the best first step is to get pregnancy testing and an ultrasound. At First Choice Women’s Center in LaGrange, we provide these services at no cost. Schedule your free appointment today.
The Abortion Pill (Medical Abortion)
Medical abortion, commonly called the abortion pill, is only FDA-approved up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. It involves two drugs taken in succession.
- Mifepristone, which blocks the hormone progesterone and causes the pregnancy to stop progressing. This will end the pregnancy.
- Misoprostol, taken hours or days later, causes the uterus to contract and empty through vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping.
In addition to abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding, women can also experience vomiting, nausea, fever, chills, headaches, and/or diarrhea. The risks include incomplete abortion, heavy bleeding, hemorrhage, and sepsis.
Sometimes, the pills do not work, and a pregnancy can continue.
Surgical Abortion
Surgical abortion is more invasive and involves emptying the uterus through surgical means. The procedure starts when drugs or medical instruments are used to dilate (open) the cervix.
An abortion provider will then use suction or surgical tools to end and remove the pregnancy from the uterus. This procedure usually takes place in a clinic or hospital setting, often under local anesthesia or sedation to ease the pain.
Side effects can include spotting and abdominal cramping for several days. The risks include infection, uterine perforation (poking a hole in the uterus), cervical damage, and scar tissue on the wall of the uterus (which can impact fertility).
Comparing the Two Abortion Procedures
- Timing: Medical abortion is limited to early pregnancy within ten weeks, while surgical abortion can occur later, with limits based on state laws.
- Process: Medical abortion uses drugs taken over a couple of days, while surgical abortion is a one-time procedure performed by a provider.
- Risks: Both have risks, but surgical abortion involves instruments inside the uterus, while medical abortion is 4 times riskier and has a significantly higher risk of hemorrhage and incomplete abortion.
Because every woman’s health and situation is unique, an ultrasound is a critical step before either procedure. It confirms how far along you are, checks the location of the pregnancy, and rules out complications like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
At First Choice Women’s Center, we’re here to provide answers and support. Contact us today to receive early pregnancy services and answers to your questions.
FAQs
Which type of abortion is more painful?
Pain levels vary. Medical abortion often causes hours of abdominal cramping and heavy bleeding, while surgical abortion involves anesthesia but may cause soreness afterward.
What happens if I’m farther along than I thought?
If you are past 10 weeks, medical abortion is no longer FDA-approved. An ultrasound will help determine your gestational age and available options. Georgia law also bans abortion after the detection of a heartbeat (around six weeks), which means abortion won’t be available in the state.
Why do I need an ultrasound before an abortion?
An ultrasound measures how far along you are and checks for ectopic pregnancy, which abortion procedures cannot treat.