What Are the Risks of Abortion?

You deserve accurate information when considering pregnancy options like abortion. Like any medical procedure, abortion has risks you should consider. Protect your health by learning about these risks before deciding. 

If you have an unexpected pregnancy, we’re here to help with non-judgmental and medically accurate information. Ava Health’s licensed medical team offers medical-grade pregnancy testing, and you may be eligible for a limited ultrasound

Keep reading to learn more about the risks of abortion.

Medical Abortion

A medical abortion uses two drugs to end a pregnancy. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, and misoprostol causes uterine contractions that expel the pregnancy and related tissue from the body. 

This abortion method is only FDA-approved through 10 weeks gestation. You’ll always experience abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding from a medical abortion. 

Medical abortion-related risks are rare, but you should still know about them as they can occur:

  • Fever
  • Infection
  • Digestive system discomfort
  • Heavy, prolonged bleeding
  • Incomplete abortion (which may require a surgical procedure)
  • An ongoing pregnancy (if the drugs don’t work)

Surgical Abortion

Surgical abortion involves drugs, surgical instruments, and suctioning to end a pregnancy. The methods used depend on factors like your gestational age (how far along you are).

Like medical abortion, you’ll have cramping and bleeding from this procedure. You may experience more risks or complications the further along you are. 

The risks of surgical abortion include:

  • Infection
  • Damage to the cervix
  • Scar tissue on the uterine wall
  • Uterine perforation (the provider pokes a hole in the uterus)

What To Do Before a Pregnancy Decision

Whether you’re considering abortion, adoption, or parenting, you need factual information on each. This may require confirming key details about your pregnancy’s health. 

Our limited obstetrical ultrasounds are performed by registered nurses with sonography training. You may be eligible for a first or second-trimester ultrasound if you receive a positive pregnancy testing result at our center.

Request a no-cost, confidential appointment with our medical team today.

Scroll to Top