Abortion
Comparison Between Surgical Abortion and Medical Abortion with Mifeprex™, or Methotrexate, with Misoprostol
PregnancyOptions.info: A Workbook of Options including Abortion, Adoption and Birth.
11. What are the disadvantages of each method?
Mifeprex™ with misoprostol:
• It takes several days to end a pregnancy.
• It is not completely predictable. There is some uncertainty about when you will bleed and pass the pregnancy.
• Bleeding can be very heavy and lasts longer than with surgical abortion.
• There may be restrictions if you live more than an hour away from the clinic or a hospital, in case of very heavy bleeding, depends on dr.
• Cramping can be severe and lasts longer than with surgical abortion.
• 2-3 visits are required.
• It fails more often than surgical abortion but is more successful than Methotrexate.
• It cannot end an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.
• It may cost more than other two options.
• Not good method if you are trying to conceal abortion.
• Advisable to have support.
Methotrexate with misoprostol:
• It takes days and sometimes weeks to end a pregnancy.
• It is not completely predictable. There is more uncertainty about when you will bleed and pass the pregnancy.
• Bleeding can be very heavy and lasts longer than with surgical abortion.
• There may be restrictions if you live more than an hour away from the clinic or a hospital, in case of very heavy bleeding, depends on dr.
• Cramping can be severe and lasts longer than with surgical abortion.
• At least 2-3 visits are required, sometimes even more.
• It fails more often than surgical abortion and has a lower success rate than Mifeprex™.
• It takes longer to complete than either Mifeprex™ or surgical abortion.
• Not good method if you are trying to conceal abortion.
• Advisable to have support.
Vacuum Aspiration:
• A doctor must insert instruments inside the uterus.
• Anesthetics and drugs to manage pain during the procedure may cause side effects. (Serious problems are rare.)
• There are possible complications, although they occur in less than 1% of cases.
• You may have less control over the abortion process and who is able to be with you during some parts of the process.
• The vacuum aspirator makes a noise. If available, a manual aspirator is silent.
• It may not be done as early in the pregnancy as with the other methods depending on doctor.
• It cannot end a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy.