HomeHealth TopicsPregnancy ReproductionAbortion
Back to Pregnancy Reproduction
Abortion
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Pregnancy Reproduction

Abortion

An induced abortion is a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy, which is distinct from a spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage.

An induced abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy. It can be done two different ways:

  • Medication abortion (also called medical abortion)
  • Procedural abortion

An induced abortion is different from a spontaneous abortion. That is the loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week of pregnancy. It is more commonly known as a miscarriage.

If you are thinking of having an induced abortion, talk with your health care provider. Your provider can explain how the procedures are done, as well as the risks and benefits of each.

Frequently Asked Questions

medication abortion typically involves two medications approved by the FDA for use up to 10 weeks (70 days) of pregnancy. The first pill, mifepristone, blocks progesterone, the hormone needed to sustain the pregnancy. Twenty-four to 48 hours later, a second medication, misoprostol, is taken to cause uterine cramping and bleeding that empties the uterus. In some clinical settings, misoprostol-only regimens are used based on local availability.
Cramping and bleeding heavier than a normal menstrual period, often accompanied by passing small- to medium-sized blood clots, are expected within a few hours of taking misoprostol. Patients should seek immediate medical care if they soak through two or more heavy-duty maxi pads per hour for two hours in a row, have a fever above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit lasting more than 24 hours, experience severe pain not relieved by ibuprofen, or notice foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
No. Having an uncomplicated induced abortion—whether medication or procedural—does not increase the risk of future infertility, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or birth defects. Fertility returns quickly, and ovulation can occur as early as 8 to 14 days after an abortion, meaning pregnancy is possible again before the next normal menstrual period arrives.
Most forms of contraception can be started immediately. Oral contraceptive pills, patches, vaginal rings, and hormonal injections can be started on the day of a procedural abortion or on the day the first pill of a medication abortion is taken. Hormonal implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs) can be placed immediately following an uncomplicated procedural abortion, or placed as soon as the completion of a medication abortion is confirmed.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

kontakt@hittavard.se

Ⓒ 2024. Alla rättigheter förbehålls av juxt ab

Sök
Om ossVillkor och policyVanliga frågorKontakta oss