What is Abortion?
Abortion is using certain drugs or surgery to end the life of your pre-born baby.
***The ELM Center does not perform or refer for abortions.
Is Abortion Safe?
Abortion laws have recently changed in Thailand, but has that made the procedures safer? It’s essential that you understand abortion procedures, expected side effects, and potential risks.
Types of Abortion
There are two types of abortion, medical and surgical. A medical abortion, often called the abortion pill, uses drugs to end your pregnancy. Surgical procedures require a doctor to perform an abortion in an approved hospital or clinic.
Medical Abortion
There are 2 drugs certified health professionals can prescribe through the 10th week of pregnancy.
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the pregnancy hormone progesterone from reaching the uterus. A pregnancy cannot survive and grow without progesterone, so it is terminated. Misoprostol, the second drug, causes the uterus to contract to expel the pregnancy and tissue.
The Mayo Clinic lists the following as possible side effects and risks of medical abortion:
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- An incomplete abortion may require a surgical procedure
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever and chills
- Infection
To use this method, it is vital to have an ultrasound to determine how far along you are in your pregnancy.
All abortion drugs carry a risk of physical harm to both the mother and the baby. Ordering abortion pills online increases this risk due to the possibility of poor drug quality and inaccurate drug dosages.
Surgical Abortion
In Thailand, it is difficult to locate doctors willing to perform abortions. A surgical abortion must be performed in an approved hospital. The method is determined by how far along you are in your pregnancy. Once again, an ultrasound is essential to determine the number of weeks you have been pregnant.
Early surgical procedures can use suction or vacuum aspiration. Later pregnancies may require a more involved surgical procedure such as dilation and curettage (D & C), where the doctor uses a sharp spoon-shaped curette to scrape the lining of the uterus to remove the pregnancy.
The Mayo Clinic suggests the possibility of the following side effects and potential complications:
- Heavy Bleeding
- Lasting dizziness
- Damage to the cervix, which leads to the uterus
- Infection
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
How an ELM Care Team Can Help You
Our Care Team is available to talk with you about your pregnancy. Our discussions are free and strictly confidential. You never have to worry about someone finding out that you spoke with us.
It’s your story. We’re here to provide the education, support, and care you need during this difficult time. Please reach out and talk with us today. We’re here for you.