There are risks when taking any medication or having a medical procedure. All you have to do is hear the long list of possible complications after a drug commercial to know anything is possible, and abortion is no exception.
One of the risks is an incomplete abortion, which means the pregnancy ended but not all of the pregnancy tissue came out of the body. When tissue remains inside, it can cause infection, and other health problems. Here’s what to look for.
Why Would an Abortion be Incomplete?
When you use the abortion pill method, you take two abortion drugs to terminate a pregnancy. The FDA approves the use of these abortion drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The farther along you are in your pregnancy, the less effective the drugs are.
The first drug, mifepristone, ends the pregnancy by blocking the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, a pregnancy cannot survive. Misoprostol, the second drug, causes contractions and bleeding to remove the pregnancy tissue from the body.
What Signs Should I Look For?
An incomplete abortion is also called retained products of conception. The Cleveland Clinic lists the following as common symptoms:
- Heavy bleeding or blood clots.
- Enlarged and tender uterus.
- Fever.
- Pelvic pain.
- Infection.
- Missed menstrual period.
How Do You Treat An Incomplete Abortion?
The National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends a follow-up visit with the abortion provider. They will most likely retake a pregnancy test to measure hCG levels and provide an ultrasound to diagnose the situation.
The provider may recommend a surgical procedure or drugs to remove the remaining tissue. Sometimes, a woman’s body expels the tissue on its own.
What Should I Do Before an Abortion?
Having an ultrasound before an abortion is imperative. First, come to True Women’s Center for a no-cost medical-grade pregnancy test. If your test is positive, we can confirm your pregnancy with a no-cost limited obstetrical ultrasound.
An ultrasound determines how far along you are in your pregnancy. By knowing the exact date, you protect your health. You also learn if your pregnancy is growing or if you have already had a miscarriage. Over one in four of all pregnancies ends in a natural miscarriage.
Ultrasound also determines if your pregnancy is growing in the correct location. If not, it could be a life-threatening situation. Although True Women’s Center does not perform or refer for abortion, we do offer a no-cost confidential ultrasound and medically based information about abortion procedures, side effects, and other possible risks.
Schedule an appointment with True Women’s Center for your no-cost pregnancy test and ultrasound. We value your health and want to provide services and information that ensure you are safe and prepared.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.
