How Does Abortion End My Pregnancy?

If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may wonder how an abortion works. There’s so much information out there and different ways to describe it, but what’s actually happening? 

Continue reading for the answers, and know that you can visit Baywater Women’s Clinic for no-cost and confidential support and pregnancy services. We’re here to help you by giving you important information on your options and pregnancy.

Two General Types of Abortion

There are two general types of abortion: medical and surgical. Each method ends a pregnancy differently. While a medical abortion uses drugs to end and expel your pregnancy, a surgical abortion involves an abortion provider surgically ending and removing your pregnancy.

More Details About Medical Abortion

Medical abortion—commonly referred to as “the abortion pill”—uses two drugs to end and expel a pregnancy during the first ten weeks of gestation. The first drug blocks the hormone progesterone. This causes the lining of the uterus to thin and the embryo or fetus to detach. Without enough progesterone, the pregnancy will end.

The second drug is taken 24 to 48 hours later to cause the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. 

There is a chance of a pregnancy continuing even after these drugs, and there’s also a chance of an incomplete abortion, where the pregnancy ends but the uterus doesn’t completely empty, leading to complications if not treated.

More Details About Surgical Abortion

Surgical abortion is typically performed in a clinic or hospital later in pregnancy. An abortion provider dilates the cervix using drugs or instruments and then uses suction or tools like a curette and forceps to remove the pregnancy from the uterus.

This is a more invasive procedure and often involves sedation or anesthesia. Because this procedure involves inserting sharp tools into the uterus and scraping, it comes with risks like poking a hole in the uterus (uterine perforation), scar tissue on the wall, damage to the cervix, and infection.

Read more about the side effects and risks of abortion in this article.

You Deserve to Make an Informed Choice

Abortion ends a pregnancy by stopping development and removing or expelling the pregnancy from the uterus. Knowing how the process works, the side effects, and the risks allows you to make a confident, informed choice.

If you’re unsure what to do next, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our caring team is here to answer your questions and provide the support you need in a safe and confidential setting.

Schedule an appointment today to confirm your pregnancy and learn details that can safeguard your reproductive health.