What Are the Risks of Abortion?

Abortion, like any other major medical procedure, has certain potential risks that you should consider. You can expect bleeding and cramping from all abortion methods, but other health risks include incomplete abortion, hemorrhaging, and severe infection. 

Learn about the many risks of abortion and how they might affect you at A New Generation. We provide only factual abortion information free of charge. 

What Are The Risks of Medical Abortion?

The abortion pill method is a form of medical or chemical abortion because it uses two drugs over a 24 to 48-hour period to terminate a pregnancy. The FDA has approved the use of the abortion pill through the first ten weeks of a woman’s pregnancy only (70 days after the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period).

Risks of the Abortion Pill

According to the Mayo Clinic, the following are the risks of medical abortion:

• Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
• An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• Fever
• Digestive system discomfort

What Are The Risks of Surgical Abortion?

Surgical abortions can happen during all three trimesters of pregnancy. An abortion provider uses various surgical abortion procedures depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy. 

Surgical procedures can range from Vacuum Aspiration for early pregnancies to the use of suction, sharp surgical scraping instruments, and possibly forceps for later-term abortions. 

Risks of Surgical Abortion

In addition to bleeding and cramping, the following are potential risks of surgical abortion as listed by the Mayo Clinic:

• Perforation of the uterus
• Damage to the cervix
• Scar tissue on the uterine wall
• Infection

In a study by The National Institutes of Health regarding the mental health effects of abortion, they reported, “…abortion is consistently associated with elevated rates of mental illness compared to women without a history of abortion.” The study also concluded, “… the abortion experience directly contributes to mental health problems for at least some women.”

Get a Free Pre-Abortion Screening

Before scheduling an abortion, confirm your pregnancy with a pre-abortion screening. A positive pregnancy test result is only an indication of a possible pregnancy. You need an ultrasound to verify if your pregnancy is viable (growing with a detectable heartbeat) or if you’ve had a miscarriage.

One study estimates that “as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage.” Ultrasound can confirm if your pregnancy is viable, how far along you are, and if it is implanted in the uterus. If located outside the uterus, you need to see a healthcare provider, not an abortion provider.

At A New Generation, our pregnancy tests are lab quality, and ultrasounds are provided and reviewed by licensed medical doctors.