If you have an unexpected pregnancy and are considering your options, you’ve likely thought about abortion. Receiving accurate information about this procedure is crucial to making a pregnancy decision that considers your health and well-being.
Abortion is illegal in South Dakota unless a medical provider decides it’s necessary to save your life. An abortion ban means that, in most cases, you can’t have an abortion in this state. You must travel out of state for a procedure that your insurance may or may not cover.
Bella Pregnancy Resource Center’s trained client advocates and medical professionals provide accurate information on all your options. We’re here to be an educational resource; our services are always free and confidential.
Medical Abortion
A medical abortion uses two drugs to end a pregnancy through 10 weeks gestation. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, and misoprostol expels the pregnancy and related tissue from the body through uterine contractions.
When you take these drugs, you’ll have abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. These side effects range from mild to severe. You could also experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or chills.
Medical abortion-related risks are possible, but they occur rarely. These risks include:
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
- Infection
- Heavy, prolonged bleeding
- Incomplete abortion (which may require a surgical procedure)
- An ongoing pregnancy (if the drugs don’t work)
Surgical Abortion
Surgical abortions are typically used later in pregnancy. A provider may use drugs, surgical tools, or suctioning to remove the pregnancy and tissue.
The further your pregnancy, the more involved the procedure will be. You will have abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding with a surgical abortion.
The risks of surgical abortion are also rare, but they can be serious:
- Infection
- Uterine perforation (a surgical tool pokes a hole in the uterus)
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
Free, Confidential Help
Bella Pregnancy Resource Center can help you review your pregnancy options and provide the facts about abortion. We also offer lab-quality pregnancy testing to confirm a potential pregnancy and a limited obstetrical ultrasound to verify essential details.
We don’t provide or refer for abortions, but you’ll receive valuable information to help you decide.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
