When considering abortion, it sometimes might be challenging for some individuals to decide on what the best abortion option might be since there are several pregnancy termination procedures depending on your gestation period.
First and foremost there are 2 types of abortion procedures. Both medical and surgical abortions are the most effective abortion methods and have been thoroughly researched to ensure they meet the highest standards of safety and care.
Key Point!
A medical termination of pregnancy involves taking medication to terminate the pregnancy and can be performed up to 10 weeks of gestation. Whereas a surgical procedure, performed in a clinical setting. It can be done up to around 24 weeks of pregnancy, depending on the specific method used.
Medical Abortions
Medical abortion, also known as an medication abortion, is a suitable option for women under 12 weeks into the pregnancy.
It involves taking two types of abortion tablets: Mifepristone, which blocks the hormone progesterone needed for pregnancy to grow, and Misoprostol, which helps expel the pregnancy tissue from the uterus.
Who qualifies for a medication abortion?
- Women less than 12 weeks into the pregnancy.
- Women who prefer privacy and need to have the procedure in the comfort of their homes.
- Women afraid of needles because it requires no anaesthetic.
- Women seeking quick and affordable abortion options.
- Women in areas will limited abortion services or transportation.
Risks associated with Medical abortions
- There is a possibility of heavy to excessive bleeding during or even after the termination is completed.
- Some women tend to experience digestive system discomfort during the process.
- There is a high possibility of acquiring infection during recovery if proper hygiene is not practiced.
- There is a possibility of having an ongoing pregnancy or incomplete abortion procedure due to patients being given a less dosage.
Surgical Abortion Procedure
In-clinic abortion procedures, known as Surgical abortions are of two types namely:-
- Suction abortion
- Dilation & evacuation
Both procedures are often recommended for later gestation periods, typically completed in a single visit and involve gentle suction and specialized instruments to remove the pregnancy tissue.
Who qualifies for a surgical abortion?
- Women past 12 weeks into the pregnancy.
- Women with medical related conditions like an ectopic pregnancy must undergo a surgical procedure.
- Breastfeeding mothers do not need to cease feeding their little ones like while using the pregnancy termination tablets.
Risks associated with Surgical Abortions
Surgical procedures carry less risks compared to medication abortions. Unfortunately if complications happen to occur, they can be quite severe and even fatal in some cases for instance:
- There is a high risk of hemorrhage during in-clinic abortion procedure, but but fortunately is rare with an experienced surgeon.
- Some women have adverse reactions to anesthesia.
- Cervix Damage – Is uncommon and rarely has longstanding effects if it does happen.
So what Abortion option is Best?
However, the choice between the different safe abortion alternatives may depend on factors such as personal preferences, gestational age, medical history, and accessibility to the best abortion clinic near you.
Costs involved
Pregnancy termination is not routinely offered through all public hospitals in South Africa, and the vast majority of terminations are performed by private safe abortion clinics and a small number of GPs.
So when searching for affordable abortion options it is advisable to compare abortion prices each women’s clinic provides you with because some centers might have hidden out-of-pocket costs attached, and most will have to be paid upfront.
Accessibility
Depending on where you live, you may have difficulty finding a service that provides your preferred abortion option. Abortion providers can be much more difficult to locate if you are in a rural or remote community.
However medication abortion via telehealth may be an option for women and pregnant individuals who live within an hour of a hospital.
Medical history
There may be medical factors that make one termination method preferable over the other, or make one option unavailable – for example, mifepristone (the drug used in medication abortion) is not recommended for women and pregnant people with high blood pressure or who are taking blood-thinning medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
The price of pregnancy termination depends on several factors like:- the duration of the pregnancy or type abortion procedure to be performed. But generally private abortion providers may charge between R1000 to R2,000 for medication abortions and Surgical procedures cost slightly more ranging from R2500 to R8,000.
When it comes to the safety of abortion, there are many false myths circulating that claim it is dangerous. However, the truth is that pregnancy termination is actually one of the safest and most common outpatient procedures or options.
While all medical procedures do carry some degree of risk, it is advisable to always avoid unregulated abortion procedures of terminating pregnancy.
Many people describe a medical pregnancy termination similar to strong menstrual cramps. However everyone’s experience is different. Before and after the termination is completed, you may feel some abdominal pains like mild cramping.
You might want to take it easy for a while after the procedure to ensure that you heal and recover well without any complications. For most people, things return to normal the next day.
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