If you are pregnant and it was unplanned, then chances are you’ve found this page because you are trying to determine your best option. Abortion may be one of the solutions you’ve found in your research
Whatever concerns, anxiety, or fears you have, the emotions you are feeling are normal and expected for women facing unexpected pregnancies. In fact, it’s estimated that 50% of pregnancies in the US are unplanned, so you are definitely not alone.
As you consider a decision that will impact your future, it’s important to understand all your options. Read this article for some of the potential risks associated with abortion.
Short-Term Side Effects of Abortion
Every medical procedure always comes with some potential risk. Not every woman who has an abortion will experience these risks, but they are important to be aware of.
There are two different types of abortion: surgical and medical, and each have their own set of risks to consider.
According to the Mayo Clinic, potential risks of medical abortion (pregnancy ended by medication) 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
If you choose a surgical abortion, here are some other potential risks:
- Bleeding, including blood clots
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Feeling faint
- Fever
- Cramps lasting more than 48 hours
- Pain that gets worse instead of better
- Foul-smelling discharge from the vagina
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
Long-Term Risks of Abortion
Physical risks depend on the type of abortion as well as how advanced you are in your pregnancy.
If you want to be pregnant eventually, just not right now, it’s important to know that abortion can possibly affect your future fertility. A surgical abortion can sometimes cause uterine scarring, which can make it difficult to get pregnant again or cause complications in future pregnancies, such as a low birth rate or premature birth.
Infants who are born prematurely are more likely to have severe metabolic dysfunction, experience autism, social or intellectual impairment, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities.
Psychological Risks of Abortion
Now that we have covered the physical risks of abortion, it’s important to take your mental health into consideration as well, a factor often underreported for women considering an abortion.
Not every woman will experience these (although some women have reported it affected them several years after the fact), but the risks can be severe and are worth considering.
Some potential psychological risks after an abortion include:
If you are currently struggling with mental health, this places you at risk for increased mental health challenges of depression and low self-esteem.
Before Scheduling An Abortion
Deciding whether or not to continue with your pregnancy is a personal decision that should be made after scheduling an ultrasound. This painless scan can help eliminate health risks by detecting early warning signs like an ectopic pregnancy (located outside the uterus) and help accurately date your pregnancy.
If you would like to schedule your no-cost ultrasound to discuss your options, contact us today!