Why Do I Keep Getting UTIs?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are relatively common, especially for women. While most infections clear up with medication, other infections are more stubborn. Here’s why chronic UTIs happen and what we can do to help.
What to Know About Medical Abortion
Medical abortion is the most common type of abortion, helping women take control of their health, their lives, and their future without surgical intervention. Yet many women don’t know what medical abortion is and how it works.
In this post, DeShawn Taylor, MD, MSc, FACOG, and the team at Desert Star Institute for Family Planning, offer a brief overview of medical abortion to help women feel confident about the treatment and its benefits in helping them choose their destiny.
Medical abortion basics
Also called the “abortion pill,” medical abortion uses a combination of two medications to end a pregnancy within roughly the first 10 weeks following conception. Specifically, a medical abortion uses the medications mifepristone and misoprostol taken in a specific sequence to end a pregnancy in a method similar to a miscarriage.
Medical abortion is a popular alternative to surgical abortion, in part because it avoids the potential risks of surgery and because it can be performed in the comfort of your own home. Many women find that medical abortion also feels less stressful than a surgical abortion and allows for greater privacy and discretion than abortions performed in a hospital or clinic.
Dr. Taylor offers medical abortions under guidelines established by the State of Arizona. Given the shifting landscape of women’s healthcare, it’s important to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Taylor as soon as possible to ensure you have the greatest range of options.
How the process works
The first step in a medical abortion is a medical evaluation. Once Dr. Taylor determines medical abortion is an appropriate choice for your needs, she provides you with complete instructions to guide you through the process.
The process begins with mifepristone, a medication that blocks the production of progesterone, a hormone that’s essential for maintaining pregnancy. Once progesterone production declines, the uterine lining becomes thinner so that it can no longer support pregnancy.
Within 24-72 hours after taking the first pill, you take the second medication, misoprostol. This medication is available as both a pill and as a vaginal medication. Misoprostol causes contractions that lead to uterine emptying.
What to expect during treatment
While the first pill begins the medical abortion process, you probably won’t have noticeable effects until shortly after using the second medication. For most women, cramping and bleeding begin within 1-4 hours of using the second medication, so it’s important to plan and have a quiet, comfortable area where you can rest and relax during this stage.
You can expect bleeding to be heavier than a normal period, and it’s also common to pass blood clots as your uterus expels its contents. Cramping may also feel stronger than a regular period, as well.
Most women complete the process within about 2-6 hours. During this time, it’s important to have someone with you who can help you stay comfortable and relaxed.
If your bleeding is unusually heavy or lasts longer than six hours, or if you notice other symptoms, call Dr. Taylor for guidance. You should also call the office if bleeding hasn’t started within 24 hours of taking the second medication.
What to expect afterward
After a medical abortion, it’s perfectly normal to feel tired and emotionally drained for a day or two as your body recovers. You might have a low-grade fever during this time, along with mild nausea or diarrhea. Most women have light bleeding or cramping for several days as the body returns to its non-pregnant state.
It’s important to know that medical abortion is not the same as emergency contraception, which also uses medication. Emergency contraception works by preventing ovulation, and so it’s only effective before pregnancy occurs, not afterward.
Confidential, compassionate care
Medical abortion helps women get the care they need and want with maximum care and discretion. To learn more about medical abortion or surgical abortion, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Taylor and the team at Desert Star Family Planning in Phoenix, Arizona, today.
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