Early Pregnancy Abortion

In our previous post on Abortion Myths, we answered some of the most commonly asked questions about abortion, helping you discover the truth about them. In our current post, we’ll talk about the methods of abortion that a woman or a couple can choose if they want to terminate a pregnancy. There might be several reasons for abortion, however, knowing about the early abortion options, and understanding the various stages of abortion, can help you make a well-informed decision.

Thus, if you are looking for information on how to get an abortion, then this article can help you, as it not only explains the different abortion procedures but also its various stages.

Two Common Methods of Abortion

1. Medical Abortion [Abortion Pill]

• Process: Medical termination of pregnancy using pills, is one of the safest options for women seeking early abortion at 6 weeks to 9 weeks. There are two pills you need to take; mifepristone and misoprostol. The first pill need to be taken at the clinic. After taking the pill, some might feel nausea. The second pill, misoprostol, need to be taken 24 hours later at home. Following this, you’d experience cramping and heavy bleeding in about 3 to 6 hours. This is your body expelling the pregnancy.
• Advantages: Being a non-surgical and non-invasive procedure is one of the major advantages of medical abortion. It feels similar to a natural miscarriage and limits the risk of health complications. You can also do this at home, and its success rate is quite high (98% to 99%).
• Side Effects: Compared to surgical abortion, the side effects of medical termination using abortion pills is less severe. The common side effects are fatigue, nausea, and diarrhoea.
• Pain Control: Following the heavy bleeding, you might experience lighter bleeding for a few weeks. Your healthcare provider will prescribe pain medication to be taken at home. For pain control, you can also use a heating pad or hot water bottle and apply it to your lower stomach. Also, taking a few days off from work and resting is recommended.
• Follow-Up: The abortion pill is very effective, however, if the pills fail, you can try again, or opt for an aspiration abortion procedure.

2. Aspiration Abortion [Surgical Abortion]

• Process: While medical termination is recommended for early stage abortion, for abortion at 13 weeks or less, aspiration (surgical) abortion is ideal. In this abortion procedure, the gynaecologist uses medical instruments to dilate/open your cervix to remove the pregnancy. The entire procedure is safe and can be done under local anaesthetic. Click here to know more.

• Advantages: This procedure takes up to 15 minutes max. Compared to medical abortion, there is less bleeding, quicker recovery, and the success rate is 99%. You also have expert help at hand (doctor & the medical staff), which is another advantage of surgical abortion.

• Side Effects: As an invasive procedure, the common side effects of aspiration abortion are severe cramps and pelvic infection. There also might be a minimal risk of scar tissues.

• Pain Control: You may experience vaginal bleeding, and cramps similar to periods for 2-4 days. Medication will be prescribed for pain control.

• Follow-Up: A visit to the clinic is required, only if you experience any problems.

Conclusion

Be it terminating an unplanned, or unwanted pregnancy the decision is always a hard one to make. The above are just a few methods of abortion that one can consider. However, there are several other abortion procedures available, which you can discuss with a professional gynaecologist. As seen from the various stages of abortion, early pregnancy abortion is less risky, when compared to more advanced stages of pregnancy.

Hope this early abortion options guide helped, and if you have any further questions like what happens in an abortion or how many abortions can you have, then feel free to get in touch. We’ll be happy to assist you.

Neha Goel

Neha Goel, a Psychology alumna and MBA graduate from CASS Business School, London, brings together her expertise as a Reiki Practitioner and Practice Manager. She integrates psychology and business strategies to foster holistic well-being and personal development.