The topic of abortion is a complex and sensitive one, and the decision to terminate a pregnancy is deeply personal. In recent years, medical abortion, often referred to as the abortion pill, has become a common choice for terminating pregnancies within the first ten weeks. While this method is depicted as a simple way to end a pregnancy, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks and complications associated with it. In this blog, we’ll delve into the risks of taking an abortion pill and provide information to help individuals make a healthy informed decision.

Understanding At-home Abortion
At-home abortion involves the use of two different medications: mifepristone (RU-486) and misoprostol. The process typically spans a few days and should be supervised by a healthcare provider. Here’s a brief overview of the two medications:

1. Mifepristone (RU-486): This medication is taken under the supervision of a healthcare provider and works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is essential for maintaining a pregnancy. It causes the lining of the uterus to break down, detaching the pregnancy.
2. Misoprostol: Taken at home 24 to 48 hours after mifepristone, misoprostol causes uterine contractions, which expel the pregnancy. This step completes the medical abortion process.

Risks and Complications

1. Incomplete Abortion: One of the primary risks associated with medical abortion is an incomplete abortion. This occurs when not all pregnancy tissue is expelled from the uterus, leading to the need for a surgical procedure to remove the remaining tissue.
2. Heavy Bleeding: It is common to experience heavy bleeding after taking misoprostol. While bleeding is expected during this process, if it becomes extremely heavy, it can be a cause for concern and may require medical attention.
3. Infection: Infection of the uterus or other reproductive organs is a rare but serious risk. Signs of infection may include fever, chills, abdominal pain, and a foul-smelling discharge.
4. Allergic Reactions: Some individuals may be allergic to the medications used in an at-home abortion, leading to allergic reactions such as rash, itching, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
5. Ectopic Pregnancy: An at-home abortion is not effective in terminating pregnancies outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancies). An untreated ectopic pregnancy can lead to a medical emergency and must be addressed promptly.
6. Emotional and Psychological Impact: While not a physical risk, it’s important to acknowledge that abortion, like any significant medical procedure, can have emotional and psychological effects on individuals. It’s crucial to have a support system in place and consider counseling or therapy if needed.

The decision to have an abortion is a deeply personal one, and it’s important to consider all the available information and risks before proceeding. While abortion pills are easily accessible, taking them has certain risks and potential complications. If you are considering taking abortion pills, we encourage you to make an appointment at Choices Women’s Clinic to discuss options, receive proper guidance, and ensure you are making the best choice for your specific circumstances. It’s also crucial to have a support system in place, including friends, family, or counseling, to navigate the emotional aspects of your decision. We are here to provide information to help you make a healthy informed decision.

Since January, 1973, with the legalization of abortion in the US, the primary decision a woman makes in choosing abortion parenting, or adoption has been centered on “a woman’s right to choose.”   Does the father have rights and what about men and abortion?  The Supreme Court says the father does not have any legal rights. [Planned Parenthood of Missouri v. Danforth (1976)].  This means that, though he may have influence as a result of his relationship with the woman, legally, he has no rights at all regarding the decision to carry and parent or terminate.  There’s no requirement that he even be informed.

The decision-making process that precedes an abortion, complicates how the abortion ultimately effects a man.  He may not know about the pregnancy, and so the abortion may happen without his knowledge or input.  He may oppose the abortion, and state that clearly and emphatically.  He may know about the pregnancy, but in trying to be loving, supportive and affirming of the woman’s rights, he may withhold his feelings or beliefs about abortion.  He may have not formed an opinion, and may simply go along with whatever the woman chooses.  He may support and even encourage her choice to terminate.  He may pressure her, using coercion and threats to leave her if she doesn’t agree to abort.  Or, he may completely abandon her, walking away from the relationship and the responsibility for the pregnancy, leaving her to cope and decide on her own.

These different reactions will have different levels of impact on the man, both in terms of his own emotional responses and his relationship with the woman.  If he pressures, encourages or even actively supports the abortion because he is fearful or complacent, he can have a significant emotional response later when he lives with the reality of abortion and how it may affect him and the woman.  If he abandons her, either literally, or by withholding his feelings and beliefs, he may find himself in the same boat.

The most common initial responses after an abortion to which he agreed to or maybe did not agree to are:

1. Relief – relief the abortion is over and the decision to have an abortion. Relief the relationship can possibly get back to “normal”.
2. Anger – anger he did not express his desires for this baby to be born or anger he had no rights. Anger he felt he had no control over the decision-making process.
3. Denial – beginning to deny the experience or decision, to lock away the emotions and not deal with them, and to keep silent about it all thinking it will go away. All of which could lead to other destructive and complicated behaviors if not dealt with.

So, what is the long-term impact of abortion on the men involved?  There are as many as 28 studies which indicate most men feel overwhelmed, and many have disturbing thoughts about the abortion.  Often men generally are not very comfortable expressing vulnerable emotions like grief, guilt and shame.  They tend to go silent and withdraw, or become angry leading to hostility and sometimes aggression.  They may struggle with depression and anxiety.  They may wrestle with feelings of helplessness and powerlessness.  They may suppress their emotions, or become angry and belligerent. Whether they remain in relationship with this particular woman or not, their relationships going forward can be negatively impacted by the abortion experience.

Sometimes when a couple faces an abortion decision, a genuinely caring man feels he is trying to be supportive of the woman he loves, stay silent for the express purpose of making her feel empowered, of not pressuring her, and making sure she knows she can make the best decision for her own life.  Yet often the end result is what she most needs, his stabilizing presence and his opinion, his silence causes her to feel alone and abandoned.  The destabilizing of the relationship often begins in the silence and the distance that results.  Statistics show that most relationships end after abortion in spite of often believing this will save the relationship it can end it.

The loss of an unborn child through abortion leaves most men at some point trudging through grief, confusion, guilt, and trauma.  His choices are to forge on, trying to deny the undeniable impact of his loss, or to accept his responsibility, grieve the loss and work through his feelings.  If you are such a man, or you are in relationship with one, reach out to someone who can walk with you through the process.

Here at Choices Women’s Clinic we care about women and men and the choices you make.  We are here for you and invite you to consider our ongoing care programs like life coaching or abortion recovery to begin a healthy process of working through difficult decisions.  We believe there is always a way back!