How Will Abortion Affect Me Physically?

There’s no way to know exactly how abortion will affect you physically. It depends on the type of procedure and whether or not you experience the side effects and risks.

We’ll cover what we know happens for sure, and what could happen based on side effects and risks below.

You can also visit Anderson Pregnancy Care to talk in person and learn about every option. We’ll verify your pregnancy with testing and an ultrasound scan to safeguard your health.

Physical Effects Every Woman Would Experience

There are facts we know for sure based on how abortion works.

If you choose a medical abortion, there will be vaginal bleeding, abdominal cramping, and some level of pain. If you choose a surgical abortion, an abortion provider will dilate your cervix and remove your pregnancy with suction and scraping.

Both of these procedures involve recovery time, even if everything goes according to plan.

Abortion Procedure Side Effects

Medical abortion comes with side effects, which are known, usually unwanted or unpleasant effects of taking a drug. These include vaginal bleeding, abdominal cramping, upset stomach, vomiting, fever, chills, diarrhea, and headache.

After a dilation & curettage (D&C) surgical abortion, women will likely experience mild cramping and spotting or light bleeding for a few days after. If women choose anesthesia, they will also need to recover from the effects of this.

Abortion Procedure Risks

As with any medical procedure, there are risks to consider before proceeding.

Medical abortion comes with risks of heavy and prolonged bleeding, infection, incomplete abortion, fever, and digestive system discomfort.

Surgical abortion also includes risks such as uterine perforation (poking a hole in the uterus), damage to the cervix, infection, and scar tissue on ther uterine wall. Developing scar tissue (Asherman’s Syndrome) can cause fertility issues, but it can be treated with surgery.

Protect Your Health

While we covered the side effects and risks of typical procedures, there are additional, preventable risks we did not cover.

For instance, if you have a medical abortion beyond 10 weeks of gestation, you may have more issues. Or, if you miss an ectopic pregnancy because you did have an ultrasound, you could experience a medical emergency later on.

Protect your health at Anderson Pregnancy Care by scheduling a free and confidential appointment today.