Abortion is a major medical procedure, and your body and mental health may take some time to recover afterward. While every woman’s journey is unique, many women struggle with the aftermath of abortion.
If you haven’t decided on abortion yet, you should be aware of the procedures, risks, and side effects to expect. Keep reading to be fully informed.
What to Expect After Abortion
Here are the risks of each type of abortion procedure that you may want to be aware of before making up your mind.
Medical Abortion
For medical abortion (also known as the abortion pill), there are serious physical risks, including:
An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection, especially if parts of the pregnancy remain inside
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Some side effects to expect are vaginal bleeding, abdominal cramping, nausea (with or without vomiting), fever, chills, diarrhea, or a headache.
Surgical Abortion
Surgical abortion is a major medical procedure that ends a pregnancy by removing the pregnancy through the vagina using surgical tools and anesthesia. Common risks of surgical abortion include the following:
- Damage to the womb or cervix
- Uterine perforation (when a surgical instrument pokes a hole through the uterus)
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes
- Scarring of the inside of the uterus
- Reaction to the medicines or anesthesia, such as problems breathing
- Not removing all of the pregnancy tissue which may require another procedure
Mental Health After Abortion
A study done recently on mental health and abortion reveals the following conclusions from observing women and their mental health after abortion:
- Abortion is consistently associated with elevated rates of mental illness compared to women without a history of abortion
- The abortion experience directly contributes to mental health problems for at least some women
Before Deciding on Abortion
Ensure you have verified your pregnancy with a free pregnancy test and free limited ultrasound at A Choice for Women. These steps will safeguard your health and determine what your options are.
We are here to fully inform you about abortion and its risks. Schedule an appointment with us to learn more.