Abortion is usually a tabu in society, and women avoid talking about it. Opinions are divided; some are wholly against this method of ending a pregnancy, and some think that women have the freedom to do with their bodies whatever they want. Still, there is a lot of misinformation that is an excellent base for forming myths. Even in the modern technology era, the internet is full of lies that spread fast. Education stagnates and leaves a place for concerns and insufficient knowledge on essential topics. That’s how society made up the term ‘tabu’ and created a vicious circle filled with prejudice. Here is the truth:
Usual Abortion Myths and Facts
Myth: Abortion causes infertility
Fact: There is one rule, and it’s that as you age, your fertility decreases. There are no clues that any type of abortion, either surgical or medical, can help that process. Instead, doctors always prescribe some kind of birth control after having an abortion. After all, you can get pregnant again when you start ovulating, and you don’t want a positive test after abortion, right? It’s recommended for women to refrain from sexual intercourse for some time after getting the procedure done to enable the body to heal. If you are concerned about your fertility, think about your habits like consuming alcohol or drugs or your genetic predisposition that affects fertility.
Myth: The morning-after pill and abortion pill are the same things
Fact: When talking about abortion myths and facts, this is the most common one. We need to disappoint you, but those two pills are entirely different. First of all, a morning-after pill or just a morning pill is an emergency type of contraception. It’s used when you’ve had unprotected sex, and it’s more effective as soon as you take it. It would be great if you take it in the first 72 hours. The main ingredient of this pill is the hormone levonorgestrel used to prevent pregnancy. This is not the combination of hormones you should take as a regular therapy.
However, the abortion pill is a particular type of medicine, given only with a prescription. It’s a medical type of abortion, and it contains two drugs- mifepristone and misoprostol used to induce the effect same as the miscarriage. It can be taken in the first three months of pregnancy. The confusion occurs when women think that the morning-after pill can have the same effect as the abortion pill. Here is the bad news- if you are pregnant, the morning-after medication won’t help you abort.
Myth: Abortion will make me depressed
Fact: It is the truth that abortion is maybe the most significant decision in your life. Every other woman deals with it in her own way because the reasons for having this procedure are entirely different. Absolutely every reason is valid, and you should support her and understand what she is going through. Some of the reasons are:
- She is not ready to have a kid
- She can’t afford it right now
- The pregnancy is bad for her health
- The fetus won’t survive pregnancy
In fact, there is nothing that supports the existence of a post-abortion syndrome. You’ve probably heard that some women experience depression or suicidal thoughts after the procedure. Those are just stories. Still, doctors say that having an abortion is not associated with any long-term emotional distress. That condition should refer to some of the feelings caused by abortion. Every experience is unique, and women may feel sadness, grief, or negative emotions, especially in the short term. But, there is special post-abortion care with the team of psychologists whose job is to support women in that period.
Myth: Medical abortion is very painful
Fact: It’s normal to experience bleeding and pain like typical period cramps when having a medical abortion. You are basically causing the miscarriage effect in your body by using those tablets. It’s individual how much it will hurt, but the feeling will be quite the same for women who suffer period cramps regularly. The pain can last for a few days, and bleeding can be a bit heavier than usual. The doctor will probably warn you by telling you something more about drinking alcohol and abortion. Consuming alcohol with those strong medications may increase bleeding or even affect the effectiveness of the meds.
If you are worried about pain management, contact some of our doctors at the abortion clinic Fort Lauderdale. When you are well informed and physically prepared for everything that will happen in your body, you’ll handle that more easily. After all, reading about abortion myths and facts may help you overcome natural fears that you might be facing if having an abortion.