Abortion
Learn about abortion procedures, side effects, and potential risks beforehand.
Are You Considering Abortion?
What do you know about abortion methods, side effects, and potential risks? At Life’s Choices Women’s Clinic, we believe the more you know, the more confident you’ll feel about your decision.
You deserve accurate information in a safe environment where you can ask questions. Before you make an appointment at the abortion clinic, let’s sit down and talk.
Before Scheduling The Abortion
Confirm your pregnancy first. There are many reasons why you could have missed your period or you’re experiencing symptoms of pregnancy.
Start by taking a lab-quality pregnancy test. Even if you’ve taken a home test, it’s wise to take another to confirm the results. We offer no-cost, confidential pregnancy tests.
If your test is positive, it’s crucial to have an ultrasound, especially before an abortion. An ultrasound helps determine the health of your pregnancy, how far along you are, and if your pregnancy is viable or you’ve had a miscarriage.
Types of Abortion
There are two main types of abortion, medical and surgical. How far along you are in your pregnancy determines the kind of abortion.
Medical Abortion
The abortion pill is a chemical or medical form of abortion. It’s not the same as emergency contraception (i.e., Plan B, ella, or the “morning-after” pill).
The abortion pill terminates an existing pregnancy. Emergency contraception tries to prevent pregnancy.
The FDA has approved this method through 70 days of gestation (70 days or less since the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period).
Medical abortion involves taking two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol. The first drug blocks the hormone progesterone from the uterus. Without progesterone, a pregnancy cannot survive.
The second drug, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract to expel the pregnancy.
Side Effects and Risks
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- An incomplete abortion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Infection
What If You Change Your Mind?
Some women, after beginning the abortion pill procedure, suddenly regret their decision. You might be able to save your pregnancy by choosing Abortion Pill Reversal (APR). Learn more about APR and how to begin the reversal process.
Surgical Abortion
There are several different types of surgical abortion. If you are still in your first trimester, you would most likely have a vacuum or suction aspiration. This method uses a tube to suction out the pregnancy.
Depending on the number of weeks, you may need to have your cervix dilated (opened) along with anesthesia.
Dilation and curettage (D & C) involves suction and a sharp instrument to scrape out the contents of the uterus. Dilation and evacuation (D & E) requires forceps to remove larger parts of the pregnancy.
Side Effects And Risks
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
Learn More About All Of Your Options
We’re here to help you no matter what decision you make. As with any other serious medical procedure, it’s vital to understand the possible complications and alternatives.
Call us, and we can provide you with confidential help at no cost.
We do not offer, recommend or refer for abortions or abortifacients, but we are committed to offering accurate information about abortion procedures and risks.
Pregnancy Tests
If you have had unprotected sex or missed your period, you might wonder if you are pregnant. The first thing you should do is take a pregnancy test. We offer lab-quality pregnancy testing at no cost.
Ultrasounds
If you are pregnant, an ultrasound will help determine how far along you are, if the pregnancy is viable (growing), and if it’s located in the correct place. We offer limited obstetric ultrasounds at no cost.
STD Testing
When a person engages in sex or sex-like activity, there’s a chance of contracting an STD. Most people with an STD don’t have immediate symptoms. Regular testing helps prevent later physical risks. We offer no-cost and confidential STD testing to women and men.
Men MENtoring Men
Our fatherhood program, Men MENtoring Men, begins during the first medical appointment. Men MENtoring Men is the opportunity for you to meet with a male advocate to discuss your feelings about becoming a dad.
Pregnancy Tests
If you have had unprotected sex or missed your period, you might wonder if you are pregnant. The first thing you should do is take a pregnancy test. We offer lab-quality pregnancy testing at no cost.
Ultrasounds
If you are pregnant, an ultrasound will help determine how far along you are, if the pregnancy is viable (growing), and if it’s located in the correct place. We offer limited obstetric ultrasounds at no cost.
STD Testing
When a person engages in sex or sex-like activity, there’s a chance of contracting an STD. Most people with an STD don’t have immediate symptoms. Regular testing helps prevent later physical risks. We offer no-cost and confidential STD testing to women and men.
Men MENtoring Men
Our fatherhood program, Men MENtoring Men, begins during the first medical appointment. Men MENtoring Men is the opportunity for you to meet with a male advocate to discuss your feelings about becoming a dad.
