When facing an unexpected pregnancy, uncertainty can feel like your new normal. Questions swirl, decisions feel heavy, and clarity seems out of reach. If you’re considering abortion, understanding what actually happens during the process can bring that clarity back.
Let’s walk through what abortion involves and what you should know for your health and safety.
Medical Abortion (The Abortion Pill)
A medical abortion—sometimes called the abortion pill—uses two drugs to end a pregnancy. The first drug, mifepristone, blocks progesterone, the hormone that supports pregnancy growth. Without it, the pregnancy will not develop.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue through the vagina. This process typically happens at home over several hours or days and involves cramping and heavy bleeding, often with large clots.
Some women also experience fever, chills, nausea, diarrhea, or headache. In some cases, not all the tissue passes, leading to an incomplete abortion that requires further medical treatment to prevent infection or heavy bleeding.
Surgical Abortion
Surgical abortion is performed in a clinic setting. It involves dilating (opening) the cervix and using suction, surgical instruments, or both to remove the pregnancy from the uterus.
This procedure can be done later in pregnancy and may require anesthesia. Risks can include infection, uterine perforation (a small hole caused by surgical tools), cervical injury, and scarring inside the uterus.
Regaining Clarity Starts With Knowing
When everything feels uncertain, knowledge can steady you. Before any abortion procedure, it’s vital to confirm how far along you are and whether the pregnancy is viable and located in the uterus.
An ultrasound provides that clarity—it shows how many weeks pregnant you are and rules out complications like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
At the Pregnancy Help Center in Torrance, we offer no-cost pregnancy testing and ultrasounds (for qualified individuals) to help you make an informed, confident decision about your next step. Our services are confidential and designed to help you understand your options without pressure or judgment.
Schedule your free and confidential appointment today to learn more about your pregnancy and your options.
The Pregnancy Help Center does not perform or refer for abortions. All medical information cited in this blog was accurate at the time of publishing.
