Surgical vs. Medical Abortion

What is a Medication Abortion?

Medical abortion is also known as “the pill abortion.” It is used for between 5 and 10 weeks of pregnancy. You receive two different pills—the first--Mifiprex—blocks the action of progesterone and causes the pregnancy to die; the second—Cytotec—causes the uterus to cramp and expel the pregnancy. This can take hours to several days. The failure rate of a Medical Abortion where the pregnancy continues is 8% or 800 in 10,000. The only way to be confident that a Medical Abortion has successfully terminated the pregnancy is to follow up with your provider at 2 weeks for an ultrasound of the uterus.

What is a Surgical Abortion?

Surgical abortion is better known as a “ Suction D and C”. IT DOES NOT INVOLVE CUTTING or any actual surgery. The word “surgical” is used to explain that it is a procedure performed by a physician. It is used for pregnancies between 5 and 13 weeks. A Suction D&C is performed by gently opening up the cervix (the mouth or opening of the uterus), inserting a special sterile plastic straw and suctioning the pregnancy out of the uterus. Most Suction D&Cs take 1-3 minutes. The physician examines the tissue to be sure the pregnancy was successfully terminated before the patient goes home. The failure rate of a Suction D&C where the pregnancy continues is less than 1 in 10,000.

Abortion Q&A

Have questions or concerns about the abortion pill or surgical abortion? Explore answers to common questions in our FAQ section below.

It’s Your BODY, It’s Your CHOICE, And You Have OPTIONS.

Contact Buffalo Womenservices to speak with our friendly staff to schedule an appointment or request an immediate appointment online. 

Resources

At Buffalo Womenservices, we understand that navigating healthcare can sometimes be challenging. That’s why we offer a range of resources to support you every step of the way.

Counseling Services

Before making the decision to have an abortion, we provide comprehensive options counseling to support you. Our compassionate counselors are here to listen, answer your questions, and help you explore all available options. We believe in empowering you with the information and support you need to make the best decision for your health and well-being.

Financial Assistance

We offer various financial assistance options to help alleviate the burden of abortion care costs. Our goal is to ensure that financial concerns do not hinder you from accessing the care you need. Please reach out to our team to discuss the options available and find the best solution for your situation.