Pain is a real side effect of abortion, but some women may experience it more than others. As with any medical procedure, pain levels depend on various factors, including your body’s pain tolerance. No matter what type of abortion procedure, discomfort often comes with each.
Is Abortion Painful?
While every woman’s experience with abortion is unique, some find abortion painful, while some women may only feel mild signs of discomfort. Whether or not an abortion is painful is determined by several different factors, including:
- The type of abortion procedure done
- Your pain tolerance
- The anesthesia and pain medications used
- Complications
Pain with Different Types of Abortion
The pain you may feel during an abortion can vary based on the type of procedure done. Here are some things to expect during a medical and surgical abortion.
Medical Abortion
Medical abortion involves taking mifepristone and misoprostol to block the pregnancy hormone and cause uterine contractions to expel the pregnancy out of the vagina. The process can take around 4 or 5 hours and may be painful.
This type of abortion is especially painful for women with a history of painful and heavy menstrual cycles. Some more side effects could include:
- Nausea
- Vaginal bleeding
- Abdominal cramping
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Surgical Abortion
Surgical abortion is quite invasive as it’s usually done later in pregnancy. There is often a combination of suction, curettage (with a scraping tool), and extraction using forceps to remove the contents of the pregnancy.
Many women experience uterine cramping and experience bleeding right away, which may continue for several weeks. Other side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Dizziness
Free Options Counseling
We offer a safe place to learn more about abortion and your other pregnancy options if needed. Before you consider any of your options, confirm your pregnancy. We at Alpha Women’s Center can provide you with a lab-quality pregnancy test and an ultrasound to determine whether you are pregnant and identify how far along you are.
This information is vital before seeking an abortion because the type of abortion procedure available will depend on how many weeks you have been pregnant.
Schedule a free, confidential appointment to get the clarity you need to move forward in your decision-making journey. We’re here for you!