Every year, thousands of women are shocked and devastated by unplanned pregnancies. Age, finances, lifestyle, and feelings of shame or inadequacy may all be reasons these women contemplate getting an abortion. Within only a few hours, an abortion can rid you of an unborn child, allowing you to get back to your life as you knew it. Right?

Aside from the obvious moral controversy the abortion versus adoption debate has sparked, there are actually physical and medical reasons women should think twice about before having an abortion performed.

Generally, there are side effects with induced abortion (whether surgical abortion or by a pill). These may include abdominal pain and cramping, vomiting, or diarrhea and often vary from woman to woman. However, abortion can carry far more serious and harmful risks like heavy bleeding and infection, or even worse. These complications typically occur in about 1 out of every 100 early abortions, and in about 1 out of 50 later term abortions. Such complications can include:

Heavy Hemorrhaging – though some bleeding is normal after an abortion, if hemorrhaging occurs, often a blood transfusion to be performed, or even surgery to stop the bleeding.

Severe Infection – Damaging infections can begin due to the injecting of medical instruments into the uterus or even from parts of the fetus being accidentally left inside (this is commonly known as an incomplete abortion). Such infections usually require hospitalization and can cause severe scarring of the pelvic organs.

Damage to the cervix and certain internal organs can also occur. The cervix can be damaged (cut or torn) by the medical instruments and organs near the uterus can be torn or punctured. Aside from the physical inflictions abortions can cause, studies have shown there is just as much risk for psychological damage. Severe negative emotions have been known to emerge in women within days of an abortion or after several years. Such a response is a form of post traumatic stress disorder and can manifest itself through a number of physical ailments such as eating disorders, depression, guilt, or even suicidal thoughts.

What is the Abortion Pill?

The Abortion Pill (brand name Mifeprex) is a form of early abortion caused by the combination of two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol. Also known as RU486, medical abortion, or medication abortion, mifepristone was first used safely in Europe.The Abortion Pill is an early abortion option for women who are 8 weeks pregnant or less.

During the first appointment at the clinic you receive the mifepristone pill to take orally. Then 24 to 72 hours later, in the privacy of your own home, you take the misoprostol medication as directed by your clinic (vaginally or buccally). Misoprostol causes contractions resulting in a miscarriage. When used in combination, mifepristone and misoprostol are 95-97% effective within two weeks. Mifepristone and misoprostol are FDA approved.

How Does It Work?

Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy. Because this hormone is blocked, the uterine lining begins to shed, the cervix begins to soften and bleeding may occur. With the later addition of the second medication, misoprostol, the uterus contracts and the pregnancy is usually expelled within 6 to 8 hours.

Use

At your first appointment at the clinic, an ultrasound is performed to confirm you are less than 8 weeks pregnant. You then speak with an experienced counselor who explains how mifepristone and misoprostol work and makes sure you get answers to all of your questions.

What To Expect

Upon taking mifepristone at the clinic you may begin to bleed. As each woman’s body is different, bleeding varies from woman to woman. Some may experience light bleeding much like spotting towards the end of a menstrual period. Others have heavier bleeding like their regular menstrual period, or like a heavy period.