The Difference Between Medical and Surgical Abortion

February 4, 2025

The two main types of abortions performed in the first trimester are surgical abortion and medical abortion.   Both types of abortions may end a pregnancy, but the risks and side effects vary greatly.

Medical Abortion

The most common method is the abortion pill, or medical abortion.  First, for the health and safety of the woman, the pregnancy needs to be confirmed with a pregnancy test and ultrasound.

The pregnancy must be in the uterus for the drugs to work.  Mifepristone stops the embryo or fetus from growing and separates it from the uterus.

Then hours or even days later, misoprostol is taken which causes the uterus to contract and empty.  The pills only work if there is a progressing pregnancy in the uterus.

Possible Problems with the Abortion Pill

There can be issues with the abortion pill. The pills are only approved by the FDA for up to 10 weeks gestational age, and sometimes it can be difficult to know exactly how far along the pregnancy is.

If bought online, the pills could be fake.  They could be something else, or the dose may be incorrect, causing complications like bleeding.

If the appointment was telehealth, there may be no one to go to if problems come up after taking the pills.  Getting questions answered could also be difficult.

Even when the abortion pills are given under physician supervision, the failure rate can be up to 10% that need to have a surgical abortion to remove the rest of the pregnancy tissue.   If it is not all removed, it can cause a serious infection.

Surgical Abortion

The surgical abortion in the first trimester can be either suction aspiration or dilation and curettage (D&C).  Both are performed by health professionals in a clinical setting.

First the cervix needs to be opened. This process can include either drugs or metal tools.  Then suction empties the contents of the uterus.

If needed, a large looped shaped knife, known as a curette, scrapes the fetus and placenta away from the lining, and then it may be suctioned again.  This is known as D&C.

These procedures, like the abortion pill, should not be done without first confirming there is a progressing pregnancy in the uterus.

Possible Problems with Surgical Abortion

These can be similar to the abortion pill, like bleeding, infection, and allergic reaction to drugs, but also include risks caused by using sharp tools.  There can be damage to the cervix from forced dilation, along with scarring and puncture of the uterus.  If scar tissue results, it could cause miscarriages in the future.

Remember the only real choice is an informed choice.  Contact us today for free pre-abortion testing that includes a pregnancy test and ultrasound.

References

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Medical Abortion (Abortion Pill): What to Know. Retrieved September 25, 2024, from https://www.webmd.com/women/abortion-pill-medical-abortion-overview

Mifepristone. Retrieved September 25, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557612/

Mifepristone: Side Effects, Interactions, Warnings and More. Retrieved September 25, 2024, https://www.msn.com/en- us/health/drugs/in-mifepristone/in-mifepristone

Misoprostol: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings. Retrieved September 25, 2024, https://www.Drugs.com/misoprostol.html

Research, C. for D. E. and. (2025). Information about Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation. FDA. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information-about-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation

What Are the Types of Abortion Procedures? Retrieved September 25, 2024, from https://www.webmd.com/women/abortion-procedures Zhang J, Zhou K, Shan D, Luo X. Medical methods for first trimester abortion. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 May 24;5(5):CD002855. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002855.pub5. PMID: 35608608; PMCID: PMC9128719.