Every medical procedure has the potential for complications, and abortion is no exception. One of the risks is an incomplete abortion. Incomplete doesn’t mean the pregnancy wasn’t terminated. It means a woman’s body didn’t expel all the pregnancy tissue from her body.
When pregnancy tissue remains inside, it can cause severe bleeding and an infection. Make sure you recognize the signs of an incomplete abortion so that you are prepared to seek care if needed.
What Are the Symptoms?
An incomplete abortion is possible with both a surgical procedure and the abortion pill method and can happen for a variety of reasons. The following are some of the symptoms to watch for:
- Moderate to severe vaginal bleeding
- The possible passage of tissue
- Lower abdominal cramping and pelvic pain
Experts say a woman should seek immediate medical attention if they experience any of the following issues following an abortion:
- Difficulty breathing
- Heavy vaginal bleeding
- High fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe pelvic pain
How Is an Incomplete Abortion Treated?
Treatments for incomplete abortion include taking a drug called misoprostol or getting a surgical procedure known as dilation and curettage (D&C). Misoprostol is the second drug taken in the abortion pill method. It helps to induce labor by causing the uterus to contract.
Some women have reported extreme pain from the contractions after taking misoprostol.
D&C surgically removes the contents of the uterus. The procedure uses suction and a scraping tool to remove tissue.
Both misoprostol and D&C carry the risks of heavy bleeding and infection. Scheduling a follow-up visit with the abortion provider is vital to determine if an abortion was completed.
Protect Your Health With a Visit to Charis Center
Although we do not provide or refer for abortion, we can give you medical-based information about your pregnancy. Before any abortion, you need the information that only an ultrasound can provide.
Our nurse manager provides limited ultrasounds to verify pregnancy, determine if it’s healthy and developing, and detect how far along you are. Ultrasound also determines if your pregnancy is growing in the correct location. If not, it could be a life-threatening situation.
We provide a no-cost, confidential, limited ultrasound if you receive a positive result from one of our pregnancy tests.
You can conveniently schedule an appointment online, call us at (580) 786-6000, or text (405) 757-4673. We’re always here for you.