Choosing to have an abortion is a serious decision. You need to understand the different methods as well as the side effects and risks. Whether you qualify for the abortion pill (medical abortion) or need to have a surgical abortion, you risk the possibility of an incomplete procedure with both.
What Is an Incomplete Abortion?
Abortion is a medical procedure to remove all parts of a pregnancy from the uterus. Any time anything is removed from your body, there’s the potential for serious problems. Although rare, tissue from your pregnancy can stay inside your body which is considered an incomplete abortion.
During a surgical abortion, a doctor removes all parts of the pregnancy by using scraping tools and even forceps to ensure all fetal parts are accounted for. Because the abortion pill method is performed by you, there’s no one to ensure the procedure was done correctly.
The Mayo Clinic lists the first potential risk of medical abortion as “Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion.” You have a greater possibility of an incomplete abortion with the medical abortion procedure.
If not taken care of quickly, an incomplete abortion can lead to long-term medical issues like infertility or even death.
Signs of an Incomplete Abortion
Here are some of the symptoms the National Institute of Health (NIH) lists for an incomplete abortion:
Moderate to severe vaginal bleeding lasting days or possibly weeks
Lower abdominal and/or pelvic pain
Cramping
Fever
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Hemorrhagic shock
In addition, the NIH lists the following potential complications:
Uterine rupture
Sepsis from the retained product
Multisystem organ failure
Hysterectomy
Pelvic infection
Cervical damage
Infertility
Death
Before Your Abortion
If you’re considering abortion, come to Mosaic Health first. We provide free and confidential pregnancy testing, as well as ultrasound scanning. You’ll find out which abortion method you qualify for based on how many weeks you’ve been pregnant.
We can review the different abortion procedures, side effects, and risks. Plus, we can take a look at the other options available.
Post Abortion
If you’re experiencing post-abortion complications such as pain, bleeding, fever, or nausea, we encourage you to contact your doctor or go to an emergency room. These symptoms may indicate signs of an incomplete abortion and require immediate medical attention.
If you’re not experiencing physical issues, but you’re struggling emotionally, we can help. Our Hope & Healing program was created by women who’ve experienced abortion for women needing to find peace. Contact Ellen at 618.451.2002 to ask about our healing program.