If you are thinking of having an abortion, it’s important to know all of the potential abortion risks. While these risks aren’t common, being aware of them is beneficial so you can make fully informed choices about your pregnancy. One main risk to be aware of is an incomplete abortion.
What is an incomplete abortion?
An incomplete abortion is, well, an abortion that was incomplete. This means that after an abortion, there is pregnancy tissue left in the uterus that, if left untreated, can cause a serious infection. This is a risk for both chemical and surgical abortions at any length of your pregnancy.
Incomplete abortions are more common when women take the abortion pill without knowing how far along in their pregnancy they are. If you take the abortion pill past the approved timeline of up to 10 weeks, you have a higher risk of experiencing an incomplete abortion.
If all of the pregnancy tissue hasn’t been expelled or removed during the abortion, this can cause a serious infection that may lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical treatment.
What are the symptoms of an incomplete abortion?
Common symptoms of an incomplete abortion are:
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Pelvic pain
- Lower back pain
- Low heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Vaginal bleeding (small amounts or large)
- Passing of clots
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after an abortion, see a medical professional and get emergency care as soon as possible. You deserve the best care and treatment, so be sure to disclose to that medical professional which abortion procedure was performed.
What is the treatment for an incomplete abortion?
Treatment varies depending on how bad the situation looks. If it’s more minor, you may be prescribed with a dose of mifepristone to expel the rest of the tissue. Mifepristone works by relaxing your cervix in order to break down the lining of the uterus. This causes any left over pregnancy tissue to be expelled. Mifepristone is also one of the two pills taken for a chemical abortion.
If your condition is worse and there is an infection in your uterus, you may have to be treated through a surgical procedure to remove the rest of the tissue and clear out the infection.
What should I do first if I’m considering an abortion?
If you are pregnant and considering abortion as your next step, it’s important that you know and understand all of the information regarding that decision. One of the most important pieces of information you need is how far along you are in your pregnancy. Our professional medical staff can help answer that question with an ultrasound, as well as education on your options at no cost to you. Schedule an appointment with us today by clicking here, calling us at (530) 272-6800 or texting us at (530) 802-0858.
Tanya Wonderly, RN
Clinic Nurse
The content on this page has been reviewed and approved by one of our clinic nurses.
