The recent Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade has allowed each state to set its own laws regarding abortion.
In Oregon, abortion is still legal with no limitations. This means that both medical and surgical abortion are legal in the state.
Types of Abortion
There are two types of abortion–surgical and medical.
A surgical abortion is a procedure done in a medical clinic. During a surgical abortion, your cervix is dilated and a suction tube is inserted to remove the pregnancy and related tissue from your uterus. Because of the invasive nature of the procedure, there can be complications, including:
- Damage to the uterus or cervix
- Uterine perforation
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes
- Scarring on the inside of the uterus
- Reaction to the medicines or anesthesia
- Not removing all of the tissue, requiring another procedure
A medical abortion uses a series of pills to end a pregnancy. The first pill causes the pregnancy to stop growing and detach from your uterine wall. The second pill then causes your uterus to contract, expelling the pregnancy tissue from your body.
A medical abortion is only approved by the FDA for the first 70 days of pregnancy, so it’s important you confirm with a health care provider how far into your pregnancy you may be. There is also a chance of risks, such as:
- Incomplete abortion (which may need to be followed by surgical abortion)
- An ongoing unwanted pregnancy (if the procedure doesn’t work)
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Digestive system discomfort
- Infection
- Fever
Getting Answers
If you think you might be pregnant or have already taken an at-home pregnancy test, it’s important that you confirm your pregnancy with a lab-quality pregnancy test.
Dove Medical can provide you with a free, lab-quality pregnancy test that is 99% accurate, as well as a confidential consultation with one of our nurses about the results of your pregnancy test. Depending on the results of your pregnancy test, our medical staff may recommend an ultrasound at no cost to you.
An ultrasound will provide important details, such as the age and viability of your pregnancy–which will help you know what options you have available. An ultrasound is used to confirm the location of your pregnancy and rule out an ectopic pregnancy. While an ectopic pregnancy is rare, it is a serious medical condition that requires immediate medical intervention and care to protect your health.
Knowing Your Options
Getting the information you need about your pregnancy is an important first step to take when facing an unplanned pregnancy, and knowing all the options available to you will empower you to make the best decision about your health and future.
The medical professionals at Dove Medical are on hand and ready to provide you with the services you need to start getting you the answers you deserve about your potential pregnancy. Contact us today to schedule a no-cost, confidential pregnancy diagnosis appointment.
This post is for education and information purposes only and does not substitute the advice of a Healthcare Professional.
Dove Medical offers pregnancy diagnosis, decision coaching, and accurate information about all pregnancy options; however we do not offer or refer for abortion services.