Understanding your choices: Surgical vs. Medical Abortion

Medical Abortion

Understanding your choices: Surgical vs. Medical Abortion

Choosing to have an abortion may be difficult, and deciding which abortion technique is appropriate for your situation might add to the complexity. This post will examine the distinctions between Surgical Abortion and Medicinal Abortion to help you better understand your options.

Abortion through surgery

In the USA, Surgical Abortion is one of the most popular and safest medical operations, with up to 80,000 women receiving the surgery annually.

Surgical Abortion is most typically performed in the first trimester, up to 14 weeks gestation, and has a low complication risk when done at this time. While Surgical Abortion is possible in the second trimester (up to 20 weeks in most states and up to 24 weeks in some states), it is a more sophisticated medical operation.

Surgical Abortion in the first trimester is often performed under ‘twilight sedation’; however, a local anesthetic is an alternative. After the anesthesia has taken effect, the doctor inserts a tiny tube into the uterus and gently suction out the contents and lining. This is why a Surgical Abortion is often referred to as a suction curette.’

The process itself takes around 10 minutes, but from the time you arrive at the clinic to the time you are prepared for surgery and recover from the anesthesia, a Surgical Abortion may take 4 – 5 hours. You will need to be transported home when the anesthesia has gone off, and you have received your aftercare instructions.

The Consequences of Surgical Abortion

Surgical Abortion is one of the safest procedures performed in the USA, yet, any surgery has some risk. Although difficulties occur in around 3% of instances, serious complications are uncommon. The following are some of the hazards linked with Surgical Abortion:

  • The most frequent consequence (up to 2 percent) is incomplete abortion, which happens when a little bit of the pregnancy or lining remains in the uterus. This may cause significant bleeding or cramps, necessitating repeat surgery.
  • Ongoing pregnancy is rare (1 in 500), although it is more prevalent in treatments done under 6 weeks.
  • Infection is infrequent (less than 1%). You will typically be given or prescribed antibiotics along with surgery to lessen the danger.
  • Cervical damage is infrequent and seldom causes long-term consequences.
  • The most dangerous consequence, perforation of the uterus, occurs when the surgical tools produce a hole in the wall and are, luckily, uncommon with a skilled surgeon.
  • It is uncommon to have bleeding after a Surgical Abortion in the first trimester.

Women who endure significant bleeding, fever, or extreme pain or discomfort after a Surgical Abortion should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Why would you choose Surgical Abortion?

Overall, Surgical Abortion is a relatively safe and effective method of terminating a pregnancy in the first trimester. The following are the benefits of having a Surgical Abortion:

  • It is possible to conduct it later in the pregnancy than a Medical Abortion.
  • The operation itself takes just a few minutes, and it typically only requires one visit to the clinic.
  • Generally, there is less blood and cramping than with a Medical Abortion.
  • Throughout the operation, medical personnel is present.
  • It is possible to execute it under twilight anesthesia, which lowers consciousness and discomfort.
  • It has a low risk of complications and a high percentage of success.
  • You may continue to nurse, but a Medical Abortion would require you to stop.

Medical Abortion

Since 2012, Medical Abortion has been more commonly offered in the USA. It is a non-surgical Abortion option that is available to most women up to 77 days gestation. Your circumstances and personal preferences heavily influence the decision between a Medicinal and Surgical Abortion.

The availability of Medical Abortion in the USA has meant more privacy and less invasiveness in obtaining a termination for many women. In addition, the recent introduction of Medical Abortion through teleconsultation has also made early termination more accessible to women who live in rural and regional locations or who do not have access to an abortion facility.

Once a pregnancy is diagnosed by ultrasound (typically about 5 weeks), up to 11 weeks (77 days) gestation, Medical Abortion is possible. Abortion is performed with a combination of two drugs that act together to end a pregnancy.

  • The initial drug is Mifepristone, which is given to you by your doctor or taken at home by you. This medicine is an anti-hormone that works by suppressing the effects of progesterone – the hormone required to maintain a pregnancy.
  • The second pill is Misoprostol. You take the second drug buccally 24 to 48 hours after taking the first (which means you place the tablets between the cheek and gum for 30 minutes before swallowing any remaining fragments with water).

The second medicine helps the uterus release the pregnancy by opening the cervix. This should happen between 30 minutes and 24 hours after taking the second medicine, although most women might anticipate some vaginal bleeding, cramping, and the passing of some pregnancy tissue within 4 hours.

Before being provided Medical Abortion medicine, you must undergo an ultrasound to ensure you are no more than 11 weeks (77 days) pregnant and to rule out ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in the tubes).

Almost all women are candidates for Medical Abortions, while a few medical issues may exclude you from being a candidate. For example, Medical Abortion is inappropriate if you have a bleeding disease or are using blood thinning drugs if you, have adrenal gland problems, or are taking corticosteroid treatments such as prednisone.

Your doctor will take a medical history to ensure you qualify for a Medical Abortion. You will also need to be able to receive emergency medical care while undergoing the Medical Abortion.

Medical Abortion’s dangers

Medical Abortion is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy up to 11 weeks gestation; nonetheless, Medical Abortion, like Surgical Abortion, has certain risks:

  • The most prevalent complication is incomplete abortion (1-4 percent ). It happens when a pregnancy is not fully evacuated from the uterus, resulting in cramps or profuse bleeding. Surgical treatment may be necessary if the bleeding or cramping does not stop.
  • In fewer than 1% of instances, there is an ongoing pregnancy. A Surgical Abortion is frequently advised.
  • Infection is rare (less than 1 percent ).
  • Excessive bleeding severe enough to need a blood transfusion happens in around one out of every 1,000 episodes.

What to Expect Following the Misoprostol

Normal vaginal bleeding and cramps occur within a few hours after taking the second medicine (Misoprostol). However, the quantity of bleeding and cramps differs amongst patients.

Bleeding lasts an average of 10 to 16 days3 and is often heavier than a regular period of 2 to 3 days.
The medicine may also cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and chills or fever, although symptoms are typically moderate and temporary.

If you have any of the following problems, please get in touch with your physician or the USA’s aftercare service:

  • You soak more than two maxi pads every hour for more than two hours;
  • You experience significant cramps or discomfort that is not managed by pain medication;
  • You have a fever, chills, severe pain, or other side effects which continue more than 24 hours after taking Misoprostol;
  • You have any concerns after taking the medication.

Do you have any worries about the medication?

If no bleeding occurs, some people may need another Misoprostol dosage, or another mode of termination may be considered. If this happens, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Why should you get a Medical Abortion?

If your pregnancy is less than 11 weeks old and you choose not to have surgery, Medicinal Abortion is a viable choice. Other reasons women choose therapeutic abortion over Surgical Abortion are as follows:

  • There is no need for anesthesia.
  • The treatment is painless.
  • There is more privacy than with a Surgical Abortion.
  • Medical Abortion has no surgical hazards since it is a non-surgical method.
  • You are at home and have the option of enlisting the help of friends and/or relatives.
  • Finally, it may feel more natural since it is akin to having heavy menstruation or having a miscarriage.

What works best for you?

Above all, the choice to undergo a surgical or Medicinal Abortion is entirely yours, and it must consider your unique circumstances, medical history, and personal preferences. If you are undecided about which option is best for you, speak with your doctor or schedule a telephone consultation with one of our pre-care nurses.

Surgical vs. Medical Abortion

Surgical vs. Medical Abortion

SUMMARY

Surgical Abortion is one of the safest and most popular procedures performed in the USA. A Surgical Abortion may take 4-5 hours from arrival at the clinic to post-surgery recovery. Up to 80,000 women in the U.S. receive the surgery annually. A Surgical Abortion is a relatively safe and effective method of terminating a pregnancy in the first trimester. The most frequent consequence (up to 2 percent) is incomplete abortion, which happens when a little bit of the pregnancy or lining remains in the uterus after surgery.

A Medical Abortion is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy up to 11 weeks. Both work by suppressing the effects of progesterone – the hormone required to maintain a pregnancy. Misoprostol causes heavy bleeding, which lasts an average of 10 to 16 days and is often heavier than a regular period. The medicine may also cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and chills or fever, although these symptoms are typically mild and temporary.