Abortion can be a difficult subject to talk about. It is pretty obvious to state that many people have differing opinions about the subject. It can be hard to find the truth when you google abortion facts as well. The first 10 links are from an either anti-abortion or pro-choice site.
Nonetheless, it is important to learn the facts about the matter. Whether you one day pass the information along to someone else, or just want to be a more educated person, it can’t hurt to know what is really the truth.
There are two different types of abortion.
The type of abortion a woman can get depends on how long she has been pregnant, as well as some medical conditions.
The first is called the abortion pill, mifepristone. It works by blocking the hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, the lining of the uterus breaks down and the pregnancy cannot continue. Most women are able to carry on with their usual lives after taking this pill, but there may be some bleeding and period-like cramps. Either right after orally taking the pill or on a different day, misoprostol tablets are placed in the vagina, this can either be done by the women herself, or by a healthcare professional. This makes the womb contract, causing cramping and bleeding similar to a miscarriage. If you read stories online from women who have experienced this part, they describe it as quite painful. Doctors typically prescribe pain medication for the remainder of the abortion, which can be completed at home. It normally takes 4 to 5 hours to pass the pregnancy, but it can sometimes take a few days. For most places, the abortion pill can be used up to 10 weeks after the first day of the woman’s last period but this varies from state to state. Medication-based abortions account for 36% of all abortions in the first nine weeks of pregnancy.
For in-clinic abortions, there are two types. The first is vacuum aspiration, also called suction abortion. This procedure uses a gentle suction to remove the pregnancy. This method is usually used until about 12-16 weeks after a woman’s last period (varies by state). It can usually be done with local anesthetic and has a quick recovery time. The second type is dilation and evacuation, which can be done at 16 weeks or longer since last period (varies by state). This is carried out under general anesthesia. The pregnancy is removed using narrow forceps through the neck of the cervix.
Are Abortions Safe?
Like all medical procedures, there is risk. The chance of infection or complications are present. Although, medical abortions are one of the safest medical procedures someone can undertake. Less than .05% of first trimester abortions result in a complication that requires hospital care and less than 1 in 100,000 women die from a medical abortion. The biggest risk factor for medical abortions is being allergic to the medication.
Abortions do get riskier the further a women gets in her pregnancy. Since a more invasive surgery is required for second and third term abortions, they can have more intense side effects. Potential complications for dilation and evacuation can include infection, sepsis, heavy bleeding or a ruptured uterus. These complications are still rare, and it is medically considered a low-risk surgery. From 16-20 weeks of pregnancy the risk of death is 1 in every 29,000 procedures and after 21 weeks it is 1 in every 11,000 procedures. It is also important to note that 1.2% of abortions are performed after 21 weeks of pregnancy.
Are there long term effects?
For first trimester abortions, there are no found long-term risks to future infertility. Research has shown that if you get pregnant without meaning to, you’re no more likely to struggle with depression or other mental health problems.
Research on late-term abortion varies and I am no statistician so it can be difficult to figure out what is real or not. There is no studying linking abortion and fertility. There a few studies that have correlated late term abortions with preterm birth, low-birth weight, and placental problems. Correlation is not causation, so I am honestly not sure about the reliability of those claims.
Some women experience psychological effects from abortion, including guilt, anxiety, and depression. So it is important to discuss abortion with a counselor before and after a procedure.
I am obviously not an expert, just a college student. However, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to find information that is not flooded with bias. That being said, if someone going through this they should consult a doctor to get all of the information they can.