Side Effects of a Medical Abortion

If you’re young or if your pregnancy is unexpected, one of the most difficult things for many is telling your parents. The thought of their reaction, what they might say, and how they’ll handle the news can be pretty stressful. It’s completely normal to feel nervous but remember that no matter how daunting this conversation seems, your parents may surprise you with their support and understanding. In this blog, we’ll discuss some tips for telling your parents that you’re pregnant, from preparing for the conversation to handling their reactions. 1. Take Time to Reflect and Prepare Yourself Before telling your parents, it’s important to reflect on your feelings and prepare yourself for the conversation. Take some time to understand what this pregnancy means for you. Are you ready for it? Have you thought about your options (keeping the baby, adoption, or abortion)? Being clear about your own thoughts and emotions will help you approach the conversation with confidence and clarity. Know What You Want to Say: Think about how you want to frame the conversation. Are you going to tell them the details right away, or would you prefer to ease into it with a simple, direct statement? Preparing your thoughts will help you communicate clearly. It can be helpful to write down what you are feeling and thinking and you can refer to what you have written when you have the conversation. Anticipate Their Reaction: While you can’t control how they’ll respond, it’s helpful to prepare for various reactions. Some parents may be shocked or upset at first, while others may surprise you with support. Being mentally prepared for different responses can help you stay calm. 2. Choose the Right Time and Setting Timing and location are key when delivering important news. Choose a time when your parents are not distracted, stressed, or preoccupied with other matters. If possible, try to avoid telling them in the middle of a hectic situation. The setting should be private and comfortable. You want to ensure that you’re able to have an honest and uninterrupted conversation. A quiet, calm space can help both you and your parents stay focused on the conversation. 3. Be Honest and Direct Honesty is crucial when you tell your parents that you’re pregnant, so be as direct as possible. You can start by saying something like, “I have something really important to tell you,” or “I’ve been feeling a lot of emotions lately, and I need to share something with you.” Once you’ve got their attention, tell them the news clearly. Saying something like, “I’m pregnant,” may seem simple, but it’s effective. After that, be prepared to share details about how you’re feeling, what you plan to do next, and any support you may need from them. 4. Remain Calm and Be Patient No matter what your parents’ initial reaction is, try to remain calm. Remember, you will be getting their first reaction to the news. They haven’t had time to process the news so it will likely take them some time, and they may need space to understand the situation. They may have questions, concerns, or feelings they need to express, and that’s okay. Give them time to digest the news and don’t be discouraged if they don’t immediately react the way you hope. If they react with anger, confusion, or sadness, try to avoid arguments or hurtful words. They will need time to think about what they feel. Feel like you need additional guidance on how to approach this important conversation? We can help. Our case managers can provide you with the resources you need to think through your options and share the news with loved ones. Schedule your free appointment today by calling or texting us at (818) 626 - 9400. .

Before we talk about side effects, let’s first go over what a surgical abortion is. While you likely know that it’s the process of ending a pregnancy, many don’t understand what happens during a medical abortion. The Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic does not perform or refer for abortion. We’re here to help you understand the procedure and all of your pregnancy options. Surgical abortions involve surgical removal of the fetus from the uterus. There are several types of surgical abortions each varying based on the stage of the pregnancy. Regardless of the stage of the pregnancy, a surgical abortion will entail some form of dilation of the cervix to give the abortion provider access to the pregnancy and provide a way for the pregnancy to pass from the uterus. The fetus will either be removed through suction or scraping. WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS AND RISKS OF ABORTION? When considering any medical procedure, it’s important to do some research on the potential side effects and risks you might experience. The same can be said about abortion. Whether you’re looking into abortion as an option for your pregnancy, researching for a friend, or you have a confirmed appointment for an abortion, gaining knowledge about the procedure is an important step in making an informed decision. Although serious physical complications are infrequent in early abortions, they do increase with later abortions 1 These side effects and risks include: HEAVY BLEEDING 2 Although bleeding after an abortion is normal, there is a risk of severe bleeding which is known as hemorrhaging. This severe bleeding can occur due to cervical tears, retained tissue, punctures in the uterus, or the uterus failing to contract after being emptied. Depending on the cause of the hemorrhage, a scraping of the uterus (D&C) or other surgical procedure may need to be done to stop the bleeding. The scarring that can occur from sharp curettage (D&C) may lead to infertility. Though rare, if these subsequent procedures do not stop the hemorrhage, a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) may be required to stop the bleeding. INCOMPLETE ABORTION 3 When fetal tissue remains in the uterus after an abortion is over, this is referred to as an incomplete abortion. It can cause severe bleeding and infection, and a D&C may be required to remove any remaining fetal tissue. INFECTION 4 Insertion of instruments during the procedure or retained fetal tissue may lead to infection. Although infrequent, whole body infection, or sepsis, may occur and can be life-threatening. Pelvic infection can lead to the scarring of pelvic organs which could create complications such as infertility and increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. 5 ANESTHESIA COMPLICATION 6 Known risks of certain anesthesia include heart complications, convulsions, anaphylactic shock (which can be life-threatening). I’M PREGNANT — WHAT DO I DO? Are you experiencing an unplanned pregnancy? You’re not alone. In fact, many women experience unintended pregnancies each year. While it’s normal to feel worried or scared, remember that you have options. Here at Open Arms, we’re passionate about guiding women through unplanned pregnancies by providing clinical pregnancy testing, an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy, resources, options education, and much more. Contact us today. 1.1 Paul, E. S. Lichtenberg, L. Borgata, D. A. Grimes, P. G. Stubblefield, & M.D. Creinin (Eds.), 2009. Medical abortion in early pregnancy in Management of unintended and abnormal pregnancy: Comprehensive abortion care (pp.135-92). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781444313031 1.2 Paul, E. S. Lichtenberg, L. Borgata, D. A. Grimes, P. G. Stubblefield, & M.D. Creinin (Eds.), 2009. Medical abortion in early pregnancy in Management of unintended and abnormal pregnancy: Surgical complications: Prevention and management (pp. 224-51). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781444313031 2.1 Paul, E. S. Lichtenberg, L. Borgata, D. A. Grimes, P. G. Stubblefield, & M.D. Creinin (Eds.), 2009. Medical abortion in early pregnancy in Management of unintended and abnormal pregnancy: Surgical complication: Prevention and management. (pp.243-44). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781444313031 2.2 Smikle C, Yarrarrapu SNS, Khetarpal S. Asherman Syndrome. [Updated 2022 Jun 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL):StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448088/ 2.3 Cleveland Clinic. (2022, January 8). Asherman’s Syndrome: What is it, symptoms & treatment. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16561-ashermans-syndrome 3 Paul, E. S. Lichtenberg, L. Borgata, D. A. Grimes, P. G. Stubblefield, & M.D. Creinin (Eds.), 2009. Medical abortion in early pregnancy in Management of unintended and abnormal pregnancy: Surgical complications: Prevention and management. (pp.228-32). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781444313031 4 Paul, E. S. Lichtenberg, L. Borgata, D. A. Grimes, P. G. Stubblefield, & M.D. Creinin (Eds.), 2009. Medical abortion in early pregnancy in Management of unintended and abnormal pregnancy: Surgical complications: Prevention and management. (pp.234-39). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781444313031 5 Stevenson MM, Radcliffe KW. Preventing pelvic infection after abortion. Int J STD AIDS. 1995 Sep-Oct;6(5):305-12. doi:10.1177/095646249500600501. PMID: 8547409. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8547409/ 6.1 Paul, E. S. Lichtenberg, L. Borgata, D. A. Grimes, P. G. Stubblefield, & M.D. Creinin (Eds.), 2009. Medical abortion in early pregnancy in Management of unintended and abnormal pregnancy: Pain management (pp.95-97). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781444313031 6.2 Charles Tacquard, Toshiaki Iba, Jerrold H. Levy; Perioperative Anaphylaxis. Anesthesiology 2023; 138:100–110 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000004419

The mental health effects of abortion can impact your life in various ways. Numerous published studies show that abortion is associated with elevated mental-health risk.1 For instance, a meta-analysis of 22 published studies, which together included 877,181 participants, found that compared to women who carried a pregnancy to term, women who had an abortion had an 81% increased risk of mental-health problems, including the following:2 Anxiety disorders Major depression Alcohol abuse Marijuana abuse Suicide attempts Each woman's emotional response is unique, and the mental health effects of abortion may surface years after the procedure. It's important for your long-term wellbeing to be fully informed prior to having an abortion. Likewise, it's important to seek care and support afterward. We provide personalized, compassionate after-abortion support in Northridge, California, serving clients throughout the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. We do not provide or refer for abortion services. If you’re contemplating an abortion or have already experienced one, we are here for you. Please contact us today to learn more about how we can help. 1 Bellieni CV, Buonocore G. Abortion and subsequent mental health: Review of the literature. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2013 Jul;67(5):301-10 (reviewing 30 studies). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23859662/; Sullins DP. Abortion, substance abuse and mental health in early adulthood: Thirteen-year longitudinal evidence from the United States. SAGE Open Med. 2016 Sep 23. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27781096/. 2 Coleman P. K. (2011). Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995-2009. The British journal of psychiatry: the journal of mental science, 199(3), 180–186. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.110.077230.

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