Surgical vs. medical abortions—what should a woman choose?
Discover surgical vs. medical abortion: weigh the pros, cons, costs, and success rates for an informed choice. Trust expert insights!
When a woman is considering having an abortion, she could do so for various reasons. These aspects might be psychological, social, or even physical. Sometimes, all three come into play. Two different approaches to terminating a pregnancy have been developed after doing great research in the medical and biochemical fields. Abortion can be accomplished using either surgical or medical means. A woman should be required to choose between surgical and medicinal abortions. The lady’s health and the pregnancy stage play a role in this decision. At the end of the second trimester of pregnancy, the only alternative is to terminate the pregnancy via the surgical method, and in some countries, removing the pregnancy after the second trimester is illegal.
A woman who discovers she is pregnant but does not want the baby has two options for terminating the pregnancy during the first trimester: a surgical abortion or a medicinal abortion. Later in this article, we will go over some of the pros and cons of having an abortion performed surgically as opposed to having one performed medically.
Abortion rate of surgical and medical abortion: Statistics
It is important to note that medical and surgical abortions are not legal in all regions globally. Since abortion is allowed in certain states, we’ll focus on that country’s statistics. Human beings make choices depending on the information available to them at the time. The abortion rate can tell us a lot about the cultural norms around the decision to have an abortion in a specific area. Recent studies have shown that Florida will have the highest abortion rate in the United States (74,868) by the year 2020, while Wyoming will have the lowest (less than 100). Unwanted pregnancies account for around 4 per cent of all abortions performed worldwide. You can make better choices confidently after reading this article on surgical vs. medical abortion.
A medical examination is required as an individual is not feeling well and has some symptoms. After taking the medications the doctor prescribes, the patient will fully recover from this disease. In rare cases, the doctor may recommend surgical treatment for the illness. In the same way, if a lady carrying an unwanted pregnancy decides to have an abortion, her doctor will investigate the stage of the pregnancy and will recommend either a medical abortion or a surgical abortion, depending on the state of the lady’s health. The fact that not every woman chooses to go through with the surgical abortion process must be brought up here for discussion. If a woman desires to make her abortion private, her doctor may suggest that she go for a medical abortion, which does not include any surgical procedures. Alternatively, the doctor may recommend her medical procedure, which will not disclose the details of her abortion to anyone other than her partner and a close friend if she so desires.
Authentic Information on Surgical Abortion vs. Medical Abortion:
When a person intends to buy something or seek medical care for an issue related to their current state of health, they often look into the company they intend to buy from or the medical treatment options available for their illness. The sick person needs access to reliable information to help them make educated decisions and become well again. In this article, we compare two methods of abortion: surgical and medicinal. Let’s take a closer look at the specifics.
| Medical Abortion | Surgical Abortion |
|---|---|
| If you are less than six weeks into your pregnancy, roughly equivalent to one and a half months, then you are qualified for a medical abortion. | If you’re well into your second trimester of pregnancy, you can go for a surgical abortion. |
| A medical abortion requires the pregnant lady to take medication to expel the pregnancy-related organs and tissues. | A woman who has an undesirable pregnancy and chooses to have an abortion by surgical means will have to undergo the surgical process, which involves mild suction. |
| The gynaecologist will provide you with Ibuprofen and other medications to prevent nausea while undergoing surgical abortions. This would help avoid any discomfort that may occur to you either during the surgery itself or after it has been completed. | This abortion will involve a surgical procedure that should be performed in an operating room. The doctor will use different tools to remove the pregnancy materials. |
| This process may be carried out in the comfort of one’s home, and after consulting with a medical professional, you are free to proceed independently. | On the other hand, if you decide to get a surgical abortion, a licenced and skilled surgeon will remove your pregnancy in an operating room. |
| On the other hand, if you decide to get a surgical abortion, a licensed and skilled surgeon will remove your pregnancy in an operating room. | In situations requiring surgery, the consultation and operating process will take around 3 to 4 hours, and the examination will take 30 minutes. |
| If there are 100 pregnant women, about 97 will have a successful medical abortion, and the remaining 3% will have weird cases. | The success rate of surgical abortion is around 98%, greater than that of medicinal abortion. Suction that did not operate well or apply the necessary amount of pressure was the cause of incomplete abortions for 2% of the women who sought medical termination of pregnancy. |
| It does not involve using any anaesthetic; your doctor will advise you to take certain medications, such as ibuprofen syrup. In addition, several medical professionals often suggest taking Tylenol. | During a surgical abortion, the physician will conduct surgery on you and then use suction to remove the pregnancy-related materials. You will have cramps and bleeding during the process. |
| It does not involve using any anesthetic; your doctor will advise you to take certain medications, such as ibuprofen syrup. In addition, several medical professionals often suggest taking Tylenol. | After a certain amount of time has passed after you have taken the drug, you should anticipate feeling quite crampy and bleeding heavily. Which can last for roughly two weeks. During that time, it is the same as having a regular period. |
Surgical versus medical abortion: 5 Pros and Cons
Now, let’s review the pros and cons of surgical versus medical abortion, which could be handy information when deciding between surgical and medical abortion.
Medical Abortion:
| Pros | Cons |
| You won’t require any sedatives or anaesthetics for this procedure. | Compared to surgical abortion, it has a lower percentage of success in terminating pregnancies. |
| It allows you to keep your privacy. | After taking medication, you risk experiencing excessive bleeding or creeping. |
| You don’t require the help of anybody else to complete this task. | Bleeding can continue for around 14–20 days or approximately 3 weeks. |
| The examination takes around 30 minutes to complete. | Perhaps you will never comprehend the emotional attachment of another person. |
| You won’t require any sedatives or anesthetics for this procedure. | There is no instruction manual on what to do after removing the pregnant things. |
Surgical Abortion:
| Pros | Cons |
| Your gynecologist will provide medications to relieve the creeping or bleeding you have been experiencing. | It takes longer than expected, approximately 3 to 4 hours. |
| Your gynaecologist will provide medications to relieve the creeping or bleeding you have been experiencing. | You require the assistance of a close friend or family member. |
| Higher success rate and a decreased risk of incomplete abortion. | It is less effective if you are pregnant for less than 4-6 weeks (approximately 1.5 months). |
| The risk of bleeding out won’t be increased. | It may necessitate additional clinic visits to obtain a complete abortion. |
How much does an abortion cost? Different perspectives!
When considering abortion, it is necessary to estimate how much an abortion costs. This will give you an idea of the average cost you will be expected to pay for an abortion, regardless of whether it is a medical or surgical procedure. Because of the many variables involved, the cost of abortion will differ from case to case. These elements might be societal, economic, or emotional. Additionally, they can be both. These will all come at a cost to you in their own unique way. Let’s get into further depth about them.
How much does an abortion cost from a financial standpoint?
When deciding between a medicinal abortion and a surgical abortion, it is critical to look closely at the financial implications of terminating the pregnancy. The cost of a medical or surgical abortion varies based on the
- Condition of the patient’s health
- Experience of the physician
- Package your gynaecologist’s offering
- Method or equipment they will employ.
However, the average cost of an abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy is between $500 and $600. You will be charged more if the gynaecologist performs your surgical abortion or prescribes the necessary medications to remove the uterine lining after the surgery. Most of the professionals will advise you to go for a medical abortion if you have a pregnancy of less than about six weeks (about one and a half months) for a complete abortion. In addition, the abortion medications will cost approximately $400. If you incur anomalous costs, you will incur additional expenses.
As your pregnancy progresses, the expense of an abortion will increase due to the need for additional precautions to prevent uterine complications. A second-trimester pregnancy will cost between $1,000 and $1,500. It would be illegal in some nations but not everywhere.
In the absence of severe health complications, most professionals who have conducted extensive research have advised against undergoing a medical or surgical abortion. If social or emotional instability was the cause, you were instructed on how to deal with it. The cost of an abortion in the third trimester is between $1,500 and $2,500, significantly higher than the first and second trimesters.
How much does an abortion affect your emotional state?
There is an additional factor that will cost you more than the monetary factor. This would be an emotional factor. Positive emotions from the people you’re with are the only thing that can help you unwind if you’re experiencing emotional distress. They will provide emotional support to help you bear with the abortion procedure through their honest words, actions, and moral support. Therefore, when undergoing a surgical abortion, you must accompany someone with whom you have a positive relationship to receive emotional support. Thus, the positive vibes of your surroundings will diminish the emotional cost of abortion.
How much does an abortion affect your social relationships?
You will experience sociological duress if you elect to have an abortion. This would be unlawful in certain regions, and most influential religious people do not permit women to have abortions. Sociologically, you will be charged more if you live in an area where people don’t think about the abortion procedure and view this as a negative aspect.
4 common things not to do before an abortion
Common things a doctor will tell you not to do before your abortion procedure
- Don’t eat the night before getting an abortion.
- Do not subject yourself to unnecessary medical procedures that might result in serious problems.
- During the abortion procedure, you should not dress in any way that may cause you to feel uncomfortable.
- You must abstain from alcohol and other addictive substances for a few days before undergoing an abortion.
Exceptional success rate of surgical abortions performed at 5 weeks:
Your gynaecologist will likely recommend a medical abortion over a surgical one if you are 5 weeks pregnant. The success rate of surgical abortions performed at 5 weeks is lower than in the second trimester. At 5 weeks of gestation, the success rate of surgical abortion is 98%. Only 2% of the remaining patients need suctioning the area twice. An abortion conducted after 5 weeks may have a success rate of around 99% and be carried out more effectively. It also eliminates the risk of significant consequences, such as perforation in the cervix.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, every woman has the freedom to choose the approach of abortion that she wishes to pursue, which depends on the stage of pregnancy that she is in. After six weeks, or around one and a half months, from the time you become pregnant or begin your period, it is illegal to get an abortion in a few countries. There is a possibility that your cervix will become perforated. The amount of money needed to get an abortion changes depending on how far along the pregnancy is. You can choose between a medicinal abortion and a surgical abortion, which you can have after discussing your options with your gynaecologist.
References:
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SURGICAL vs MEDICAL ABORTION | Pros and Cons | Clinic 66. (n.d.-a). Clinic66.
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