If you’ve recently found out you’re pregnant and you’re considering abortion, you probably have a lot of questions about your options. This is a big decision, and you deserve clear, accurate information before you make it.
This guide walks through the main abortion options available today, the risks and side effects of each, and explores an important first step that’s easy to overlook: getting an ultrasound.
The Abortion Pill (Medication Abortion)
The abortion pill is actually a two-drug regimen, not a single pill. It’s currently the most common form of abortion in the United States.
How it works:
- Mifepristone: The first pill blocks the hormone progesterone, which is necessary to sustain the pregnancy. Without progesterone, the pregnancy cannot continue, and the embryo stops growing.
- Misoprostol: The second pill is taken 24-48 hours after mifepristone. It causes contractions to expel the embryo.
How late can it be taken?
The abortion pill is FDA-approved for use up to 10 weeks gestation (or 70 days or less since the first day of your last menstrual period).[1]
Taking the medication beyond this timeframe increases the risk of complications, and may require further medical intervention, including emergency surgery, to address excessive bleeding or incomplete abortion.[2]
Risks and Side Effects of the Abortion Pill
Common side effects include[3]:
- Spotting or bleeding that can last up to a month
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea and digestive pain
- Chills
- Fever
- Abdominal cramping (caused by the misoprostol)
When to seek medical attention:
- Hemorrhaging: Soaking two full-size sanitary pads per hour for two or more hours indicates excessive bleeding.[4]
- Incomplete abortion: If the embryo is not completely expelled from the uterus, emergency surgery might be necessary to prevent infection.[5]
- Infection: Persistent nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever lasting over 24 hours after misoprostol could signal an infection needing antibiotics or surgery.[3]
Surgical Abortion (In-Clinic Abortion)
There are two main types of in-clinic abortion. Generally, the one used depends on how far along the pregnancy is.
Suction Aspiration (Vacuum Aspiration)
A suction (vacuum) aspiration abortion is typically performed up to 13 weeks of pregnancy.
How it works:
After the cervix is dilated, a thin tube is inserted into the uterus and connected to a suction device. The suction device removes the embryo and contents of the uterus.
The procedure itself typically takes about 5 to 10 minutes, though the full clinic visit — including preparation, pain management, and recovery — takes longer.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
A dilation and evacuation (D&E) is most often performed in the second trimester, between 13 and 24 weeks of gestation.
How it works:
The cervix is dilated more extensively than for a suction aspiration, often over one or more days beforehand using medication or dilating instruments. The provider then uses a combination of suction and specialized surgical instruments to remove the fetus from the uterus.
Because of the greater degree of cervical preparation and the more involved nature of the procedure, D&E typically requires more time and is usually performed with deeper sedation or general anesthesia.
Risks and Side Effects of Surgical Abortion
It’s important to note that surgical abortion becomes increasingly risky the further along you are. Potential physical risks include:
- Uterine Perforation: An instrument may accidentally puncture the uterus, possibly needing surgical repair.[6]
- Asherman Syndrome: Scar tissue inside the uterus from repeated procedures can impact future fertility.[7]
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Bacteria introduced during surgery may cause infection in the reproductive tract.[8]
How Abortion Affects Mental Health
Regardless of the procedure they receive, some women report mental health struggles after abortion, such as[9][10]:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Low self-esteem
- Substance abuse
- Suicidal behaviors
If you’re thinking about suicide, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 right away.
Why an Ultrasound Comes First
Before considering abortion, there are two things you need to know for certain: how far along you are, and whether the pregnancy is viable. An ultrasound is the most reliable way to answer both.
It confirms your gestational age. Every abortion option has a specific time window in which it can legally be used. An ultrasound gives you an accurate measurement, which matters enormously.
It confirms viability. A positive pregnancy test does not guarantee an ongoing pregnancy. A significant percentage of early pregnancies end in natural miscarriage, and some are ectopic (developing outside the uterus), which is a medical emergency and cannot be treated with a standard abortion procedure.
An ultrasound can show whether there’s a detectable heartbeat. If it cannot be detected, that may mean that a miscarriage is occurring or that the pregnancy is growing outside of the uterus.
This information changes your pregnancy options. In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, getting this information quickly can be life-saving.
BsideU for Life provides free ultrasounds to women who receive positive pregnancy tests at our center. Click the button below to schedule your appointment.
*Important note: Please be aware that this article is not meant to substitute for medical advice or treatment. The purpose of our limited ultrasound exams is to identify a pregnancy inside the uterus, detect the fetal heartbeat, and estimate how far along you are. If there is no detectable heartbeat, it may indicate a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy is occurring. If we cannot detect a fetal heartbeat during your appointment, we will provide appropriate referrals for follow-up care and treatment.
Have Questions About Your Options? Get Answers at BsideU for Life.
Learning about your options is only part of the picture. Understanding the risks of abortion and receiving an ultrasound is what turns that general information into something specific and useful to your situation.
If you’re facing this decision, we encourage you to get an ultrasound first, ask questions, and take the time you need before scheduling an appointment at an abortion clinic. You don’t have to figure this out alone. We are here to walk beside you.
BsideU for Life offers free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and pregnancy consultations. Give us a call at 502-589-9400 or schedule your appointment online today.
Please be aware that BsideU for Life does not provide or refer for abortion services.
Sources
- FDA. (2025, February 11). Questions and Answers on Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifeprex
- Redinger, A., & Nguyen, H. (2022, June 27). Incomplete Abortions. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559071/
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2026, February 15). Mifepristone (Mifeprex). MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a600042.html
- Danco Laboratories, LLC & FDA. (2016, March). Mifeprex Label. FDA. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/020687s020lbl.pdf
- Mayo Clinic. (2024, June 28). Medical Abortion. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2024, April 5). Abortion – Surgical. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002912.htm
- Mayo Clinic. (2024, July 6). Elective Abortion: Does it Affect Subsequent Pregnancies? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/expert-answers/abortion/faq-20058551
- Mayo Clinic. (2022, April 30). Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352594
- Fergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Ridder, E. M. (2005, September 22). Abortion in young women and subsequent mental health. Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2005.01538.x
- Coleman, PK. Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009. British Journal of Psychiatry. 2011;199(3):180-186. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21881096/