What is an abortion?
An abortion is something that ends a pregnancy. There are many different reasons women might have an abortion. In some cases, an unplanned pregnancy happens and they need counseling to discuss their options, including termination through abortion. Some abortions are medically necessary. A woman with a severe chronic illness such as diabetes or a congenital heart defect might be at risk if they go through a full-term pregnancy. If the fetus is developing poorly or not progressing at all, then the physicians at Woman's First Choice may recommend termination.
Is an abortion a surgical procedure?
Generally speaking, the word abortion is usually associated with a surgical aspiration procedure but that is not medically accurate. There are many different kinds of abortions including:
- Induced
- Spontaneous
- Labor Induction
The two most commonly performed at Woman's First Choice is the surgical procedure and induced. With an induced abortion, the patient takes medication that triggers the termination. For women early in their pregnancy, this technique is the safest and most effective. After seven weeks, it may be necessary to consider a surgical approach instead.
What is a spontaneous abortion?
A spontaneous abortion is a miscarriage. It means the mother didn't plan to terminate the pregnancy, it just happened. Woman's First Choice recommends women who know they have had a spontaneous abortion make an appointment even though the pregnancy is over. This allows a doctor to check the uterus for problems and ensure all the tissue has been ejected.
Does an abortion affect future pregnancies?
It is generally believed that an abortion does not cause fertility issues or result in high-risk pregnancies. Complications from a surgical abortion are rare but possible. Damage to the uterus or cervix may impact further pregnancies in some cases. The staff at Woman's First Choice will go over potential risks with each patient when discussing the procedure.
What are the risks of having an abortion?
Abortions are safe when done by a trained medical professional like the specialists at Woman's First Choice. It is a surgical procedure, though, so there are potential complications such as:
- Bleeding
- Infections
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
Most problems resolve themselves over time. It is important that patients follow-up with the practice after either an induced or surgical abortion, though, and right away if there is extreme bleeding or pain. Patients should also plan to spend a few days recovering from the procedure.
