COMPARE MEDICAL ABORTION TO SURGICAL ABORTION

ASPIRATION (SURGICAL) ABORTION	MEDICATION ABORTION WITH MIFEGYMISO
How does it work? A doctor uses gentle suction to remove the pregnancy and blood from inside the uterus.	How does it work? The first pill, mifepristone, disrupts the pregnancy. Misoprostol, the second medicine,  is used at home 24-48 hours later to make the uterus contract and push out the pregnancy and blood.
How effective is it?  More than 99% success rate.	How effective is it?  A 99% success rate at one-week follow-up.
When can it be done?  An aspiration abortion can be done as early as five weeks from the first day of the last period.	When can it be done?  a medical abortion can be done as soon as there is a positive pregnancy test and up to 9 weeks from the first day of the last period.
How long does it take for the abortion to be complete? The procedure itself usually takes about seven to eight minutes.	How long does it take for the abortion to be complete? About 95% will be completed by the one-week follow-up.  Most will pass the pregnancy tissue within four hours of using misoprostol.
How painful is it? There may be strong cramping for a few minutes during the procedure and for a short time after. Medications, including local anesthetic, painkillers, and/or conscious sedation, are used to help manage pain. Milder cramps may continue for several days to several weeks.	How painful is it? It varies from mild to very strong cramping, with the worst when passing the pregnancy tissue. There are medications to take at home to help manage pain. Milder cramps may or may not continue for several days to several weeks.
Will I be able to get pregnant again in the future and when? The chance of an early aspiration abortion affecting future fertility is extremely rare: one in 10,000 or rarer than that. In fact, fertility returns very quickly and it is possible to be pregnant again right away. The doctor will discuss birth control options at your post-op visit	Will I be able to get pregnant again in the future and when? Medication abortion has no effect on future fertility unless there is an extremely rare complication. In fact, fertility returns immediately; Birth control methods like the pill should be started the day after using the misoprostol pills. An IUD insertion can be arranged once the follow-up confirms the pregnancy is gone.
How much will I bleed? Bleeding afterward varies, but is often less than a period. Bleeding may start a few days after and can continue for up to several weeks. Some won’t bleed at all afterward.	How much will I bleed?  Heavy bleeding and clots are common during the abortion process. Afterward, there may be some spotting and/or bleeding up to the next period.
Can abortion fail? There is about a one in 300 chance of needing the procedure repeated because of blood clots forming or tissue remaining in the uterus. A pregnancy continuing is very rare.	Can abortion fail? There is about a one in 100 chance that the pregnancy will continue and an aspiration procedure may be necessary. About 4 in 100 will require the misoprostol a second time or will choose to have an aspiration procedure to complete the process.
What are the possible complications? Surgical abortion has been formally studied for over 25 years and is very safe. Injury to the uterus is very rare in the first trimester. Excessive bleeding is very rare. Infection or needing a repeat procedure happens in less than one percent of cases. Abortion does not affect future pregnancies unless there is an extremely rare, serious complication. Serious complications are extremely remote.	What are the possible complications?  Medical abortion has been formally studied for over 20 years and is very safe. The risk of excessive bleeding or serious infection is very low. Allergies to the medications are very rare. About 5 percent will need or choose to have an aspiration procedure to complete the abortion. Abortion does not affect future pregnancies unless there is an extremely rare, serious complication.
What are common side effects?  Often there are no side effects. Some have dizziness, nausea, or vomiting for a short time after the procedure.	What are common side effects?  Some have few or no side effects, but it’s normal to have some flu-like symptoms when using the misoprostol. These include mild to strong nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fever, or chills.
Are there emotional issues specific to this method?  Some people feel anxious in a medical setting or getting ready to have a medical procedure.	Are there emotional issues specific to this method?  Some are anxiously waiting for the abortion process to complete. Viewing the pregnancy tissue can also be difficult for some, especially when the pregnancy is over 7 weeks as there may be a visible embryo or fetus.

ADVANTAGES OF AN ASPIRATION (SURGICAL) ABORTION

• It can be done very early in a pregnancy (as soon as something can be seen in an ultrasound) as well as further along – up to 20 weeks 6 days at our facility.
• It is over more quickly – only one appointment is usually necessary, and it often requires less time off work than a medication abortion. The post-operative visit is essential to ensure that the pregnancy is terminated and that things are progressing normally.
• Although it is sometimes known as a “surgical” abortion, it is a very simple, safe procedure that involves gentle suction (there are no incisions/cuts, stitches or scarring).
• Recovery for most people is very fast, with most people returning to most of their normal activities within a day or two.
• It is a more effective method with a lower failure rate than medication abortion.
• There is typically less bleeding with an aspiration abortion than with a medication abortion – with aspiration, bleeding tends to be less than a period; with a medication abortion bleeding tends to be heavier than a period.
• There is typically less pain for less time than with a medication abortion.
• If you have anemia (low iron), this is the recommended procedure as a medication abortion includes more bleeding.
• It can be easier to keep an aspiration abortion private as there is minimal bleeding and cramping at home.
• During the abortion you have on site support from medical staff and counselors.

DISADVANTAGES OF AN ASPIRATION (SURGICAL) ASPIRATION

• Some people feel anxious in a medical setting or having a medical procedure where a doctor inserts instruments into the uterus.
• Anesthetics and drugs to manage pain during the procedure may cause some short-term side effects such as dizziness or nausea (serious problems are extremely rare).
• You will need a ride, a companion on transit, or a taxi to get home from the clinic.

ADVANTAGES OF A MEDICATION (MEDICAL) ABORTION

• It usually avoids a medical procedure where a doctor inserts instruments into the uterus.
• You can be at home instead of in a clinic during the actual abortion, which may feel more comfortable or provide a sense of more privacy and control – in particular, for some survivors of sexual abuse/assault.
• It does not require a ride, a companion on transit, or a taxi to get home from the clinic – you can take transit on your own or drive to and from appointments.
• It seems like a miscarriage, which for some can feel more natural.
• Some people prefer to consciously experience the process of ending the pregnancy at home rather than being sedated as during an aspiration (although sedation with an aspiration is optional).

DISADVANTAGES OF A MEDICATION (MEDICAL) ABORTION

• It can only be done up to 7-10 weeks after the first day of your last period.
• The process takes longer than an aspiration abortion and more appointments are necessary (at least two appointments 1-2 weeks apart) and it often requires more time to rest.
• Failure rates are higher than with an aspiration abortion (although still very low).
• There is typically more pain with a medication abortion. Cramping can be strong and usually lasts longer than with an aspiration abortion.
• Bleeding is typically heavier with a medication abortion – it may be very heavy at times and usually lasts longer than with an aspiration.
• Misoprostol, one of the medications used, can cause flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and body aches.
• During the abortion itself, you will not have on site support from medical staff and counselors.
• It may be harder to keep a medication abortion private, especially from people you live with (because of significant bleeding, cramping and other side effects) and because the medications involved can show up on Pharmanet which can be seen by doctors, nurse practitioners and pharmacists.
• Viewing the pregnancy tissue can be difficult for some, especially when the pregnancy is over 7 weeks and you may see an embryo or fetus.
• Those with anemia (very low iron) and/or severe vomiting are not good candidates for a medication abortion.