Abortion

Should I Choose Abortion?

The decision to have an abortion is yours and yours alone. No one can legally force you or pressure you to have an abortion.

Before seriously considering abortion, you should confirm your pregnancy with a free lab-quality pregnancy test and an ultrasound exam. You may not need an abortion. An estimated 26% of all pregnancies end naturally in a miscarriage.

What Are The Types Of Abortion?

There are two main types of abortion, medical and surgical. Which procedure you have is determined by how far along you are in your pregnancy.

Medical Abortion

Abortion providers refer to medical abortion by many names, including chemical abortion, RU-486, and the abortion pill. This type of abortion uses drugs to terminate a pregnancy.

The FDA has approved this method through 70 days or less since the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period. It uses two drugs over a 24 to 48-hour period.

The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the pregnancy hormone progesterone. Without progesterone, the pregnancy cannot survive. The second drug, misoprostol, stimulates the uterus to contract to expel the fetus through the vagina.

To learn about side effects and the potential risks of taking the abortion pill, read more about this method.

Surgical Abortion

Several types of surgical abortion depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy.

Suction Aspiration

Suction or Vacuum Aspiration is the most common type of surgical abortion and usually takes place in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The abortion provider inserts a long plastic tube attached to a hand-held syringe or vacuum machine. The vacuum sucks the fetus and placenta out of your uterus. The time the procedure takes depends on how far along you are, the need to dilate (open) your cervix, and manage your pain.

Dilation and Curettage (D & C)

This procedure is similar to suction-aspiration. The abortion provider still uses the suction tube but relies on a loop-shaped steel knife called a curette. The curette is inserted into the uterus, scraping out the fetus and placenta. Bleeding can be heavy with this method.

Dilation and Evacuation (D & E)

This type of abortion is performed after the third month of pregnancy. First, the cervix is dilated (opened) by inserting laminaria sticks (made of sterilized, compressed seaweed). These sticks absorb moisture and expand.

Once dilated, a pliers-like instrument called forceps is inserted through the cervix into the uterus and used to tear away parts of the fetus.

Side Effects and Potential Risks of Surgical Abortion

The Mayo Clinic lists the following as side effects and risks of surgical abortion:

• Perforation of the uterus
• Damage to the cervix
• Scar tissue on the uterine wall
• Infection
• Bleeding that’s heavy enough that you need to change pads every hour
• Lasting dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fever
• Cramps lasting more than 48 hours
• Pain that gets worse instead of better
• Foul-smelling discharge from the vagina

In addition, many women have feelings of guilt, shame, and confusion following abortion. We offer post-abortion support… please contact us for details.