Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Risks of Abortion?
Medical Abortion Risks
Also known as a “medical” abortion, the abortion pill can be used up to 7 weeks from LMP. (This is NOT Emergency Contraception/Plan B/Morning After Pill.)
Possible complications of medical abortion include incomplete abortion, allergic reaction to the medications, painful cramping, nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea, infection, and more.
Surgical Abortion Risks
With a D&C surgical abortion, conscious sedation and/or general anesthesia are also commonly used. The opening of the cervix is gradually stretched with a series of dilators. The thickest dilator used is about the width of a fountain pen. A spoon-like instrument (curette) is used to scrape the walls of the uterus to remove the baby, placenta, and membranes.
With a D&E surgical abortion, the cervix is dilated and medications may be given to ease pain and prevent infection. After a local or general anesthesia has been administered, the pregnancy and placenta are removed from the uterus with medical instruments such as forceps and suction curettage.
Since both surgical abortions are similar, they come with similar risks including incomplete abortion requiring vacuum aspiration, pelvic infection, heavy bleeding, torn cervix, perforated uterus, and more.
Learn more on our abortion page.
How Do I Know if I Am Pregnant?
To be sure of your home pregnancy test results, follow up with lab-quality pregnancy testing at our clinic. You may have taken the pregnancy test at the wrong time, or accidentally missed a step of the process. The Mayo Clinic notes to be sure to take a pregnancy test at least one week after your missed period for the most accurate results.
If your test result is positive at our clinic, we can offer you a free ultrasound to get even more clarity about your pregnancy and your options.
When Should I Get an Ultrasound?
Your first step is lab-quality pregnancy testing at our clinic. Once you receive a medical-grade pregnancy test result, an ultrasound is next.
An ultrasound confirms whether you have a viable pregnancy (healthy & growing), the location of your pregnancy (whether it’s growing within your uterus), and confirms how far along you are (the gestational age).