Abortion

You have options for your unplanned pregnancy, one of which is abortion. People portray abortion as an easy solution to an unplanned pregnancy, but it is not that simple.

You owe it to yourself to learn the facts and risks of different types of abortion. While we do not provide or refer for abortions, you can schedule an appointment with one of our Client Advocates to verify your pregnancy and discuss the facts about abortion.

Types Of Abortion

There are two types of abortion: medication and surgical. Which method you have is determined by the number of weeks you’ve been pregnant.

Medication

The abortion pill is a medical abortion. To qualify for this procedure, you must be ten weeks and 0 days or less into your pregnancy.

Although it’s called the abortion pill, it isn’t only one pill. It uses two powerful drugs to end your pregnancy over 24 to 48 hours. It’s essential to verify your pregnancy with an ultrasound.

Only an ultrasound can tell you how far along you are, if the pregnancy is viable (developing), and located correctly.

With the abortion pill method, the first drug, mifepristone, blocks a particular hormone known as progesterone. Progesterone is essential to keep the fertilized egg attached to your uterus when pregnant.

Mifepristone causes the lining of the uterus to thin, so the pregnancy no longer stays implanted. Some women change their minds at this point. If you’ve taken the first drug and would like to try and reverse the abortion, call 877-558-0333.

The second drug, misoprostol, causes labor-like contractions to remove the pregnancy and tissue from the uterus.

Side Effects and Risks

• Nausea
• Fever and chills
• Headache
• An incomplete abortion
• Heavy bleeding
• Severe contractions
• Infection

Surgical

There are several surgical abortion methods based on the gestational age of your pregnancy. Because surgical abortions are more invasive in the beginning, they are performed in-clinic by medical staff.

The most common surgical abortion procedure is the Vacuum Aspiration or Suction method, which involves using a vacuum to remove the pregnancy from your body.

If you are at the beginning of your second trimester, the doctor dilates (opens) your cervix and uses the Dilation and Evacuation (D & E) method. A D & E involves suctioning out the pregnancy and using a scraping tool or forceps to remove the remaining parts.

Side Effects and Risks

• Bleeding
• Cramping
• Perforation of the uterus
• Scar tissue on the uterine wall
• Damage to the cervix
• Infection

Mental Health Risks

Most women report feeling relief immediately following their abortion. For some, however, feelings of grief and loss surface months or maybe years later. If you are a woman who struggles with mental health issues, watch for some of these emotions:

• Depression/anxiety
• Regret
• Lowered self-esteem
• Substance abuse
• Sexual Dysfunction

A Free Pre-Abortion Examination

Come to Hope Pregnancy Center for a pre-abortion examination. You will receive:

• A free pregnancy test
• A free limited ultrasound
• Verification of viability or a miscarriage
• Determination of how far along you are in your pregnancy
• A free options consultation

Schedule an appointment with us today. We want you to be informed so you can make a confident decision.