Abortion Risks and Side Effects
Know what to expect after each abortion procedure.
Abortion Pill Side Effects
According to the Mayo Clinic, expect the following symptoms in addition to vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Abortion Pill Risks
The Mayo Clinic suggests you shouldn’t take the abortion pill if you have any of the following:
- A pregnancy longer than nine weeks
- An IUD
- An ectopic pregnancy
- Certain medical conditions (such as heart, kidney, or lung disease)
- Take a blood thinner
- Can’t make follow-up visits with the abortion provider
- Are allergic to the drugs used
Potential risks include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Surgical Abortion Side Effects
As with any abortion, you can expect bleeding and cramping with a surgical abortion. It may also be necessary to have another procedure to remove parts of the pregnancy that stayed in the uterus.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, these are the side effects you may experience with a surgical abortion:
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Feeling faint or dizziness
- Fever
Surgical Abortion Risks
The Mayo Clinic lists the following as potential risks:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
- Bleeding that’s heavy enough that you need to change pads every hour
- Blood clots
Possible Emotional Side Effects and Risks
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a study that suggested women who struggle with anxiety and depression have a higher possibility of experiencing emotional side effects from their abortion.
The study states, “The association between abortion and higher rates of anxiety, depression, substance use, traumatic symptoms, sleep disorders, and other negative outcomes is statistically significant in most analyses.”
Talk with us about abortion procedures, side effects, and potential risks. We want you to make a confident decision, and we’ll be happy to provide you with the information you need.
