You took a pregnancy test, and the results came back positive. Now what? Your pregnancy was totally unexpected, and you definitely didn’t plan on becoming pregnant anytime soon. You feel your only choice is abortion, but abortion is one of the three options you have.
Abortion is a serious medical procedure. Before you schedule yours, you need to learn about the physical, emotional, and psychological consequences.
Don’t rush to make an appointment out of fear. Get all of the facts and make an informed and empowered decision. We can help answer your questions.
There are two main abortion methods, medical, and surgical. Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy determines what type of abortion procedure you can have. If you are less than 9 or 10 weeks into your pregnancy, you may qualify for a medication abortion. Anything past 10 weeks will require you to have a surgical abortion.
There are a couple of names for a medication abortion. The pill, RU-486, and self-managed abortion are all considered medication methods. “The pill” isn’t just a “one-pill-and-you’re-done” process. It uses two very powerful drugs.
The first drug, mifepristone, blocks the supply of progesterone needed for your pregnancy to continue. The second drug, misoprostol, causes labor-like contractions to empty the uterus.
There are several different types of surgical abortions, depending on how far you are in your pregnancy. All are strictly in-clinic procedures. The most common surgical abortion procedure is the Vacuum Aspiration method. This procedure involves using a syringe or vacuum to suck the pregnancy out of your body.
If you are over 15 weeks pregnant, you could have a Dilation & Evacuation (D & E) or Dilation & Curettage (D & C) procedure. They involve dilating the cervix and removing the pregnancy.
For these procedures, forceps are used to remove the large sections of the fetus. A curette is then used to scrape the lining of the uterus while suctioning any remnants from your body.
As you can see, there are several physical risks with each abortion procedure. Common reactions after abortion might include anger, guilt, and denial. You could also experience anxiety, fear, shock, and depression. It’s important that you have someone to talk to.
If you choose abortion, you will need all the love, guidance, and support you can get. Before you make the appointment, come to Metro Women’s Center for a no-cost pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy. Afterward, we will give you a limited ultrasound referral. An ultrasound verifies how long you have been pregnant.
Plus, we can talk about all of the options available to you.
Before you decide, please review the Women’s Right to Know Handbook. It has additional important information.
Contact us to schedule a free appointment.
