Are you pregnant? Do you think you may be pregnant? If so, you may find yourself wondering what your options are. There is a lot of information out there, but how do you sort through it? The decisions you’re facing are stressful enough as it is. Our goal is to equip you with the facts about abortion so you can make an informed decision about your pregnancy.
So how do we start? Well, first things first. You’ll want to confirm whether you’re pregnant or not.
Not Ready? Educate Yourself with Abortion Information
There are many young women who go through the steps already mentioned and for one reason or another, do not feel ready to continue the pregnancy. The most important thing at this point is to gather all the abortion facts you can so you can make an educated decision. We’re talking about questions like what abortion is, what it involves at each stage of pregnancy, and whether there are any risks associated with abortion. Let’s take a look at some information on abortion to get a clearer picture.
Abortion Information and Facts
What is Abortion?
Clearly, this is a hot topic and it can be difficult to find the abortion information you really need. So let’s take a look at what a federal government agency has to say. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “a legal induced abortion is defined as an intervention performed by a licensed clinician (e.g., a physician, nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant) that is intended to terminate an ongoing pregnancy.” That said, there are several types of possible abortions. While there are different ways to break these types down, we’ll simplify it here.
Miscarriage
Miscarriage, also known as spontaneous abortion, can be defined as “a pregnancy that ends on its own, within the first 20 weeks of gestation.” This is the most common way a pregnancy is lost, with 10-25% of all clinically recognized pregnancies ending in miscarriage. This usually occurs during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy and is obviously quite different from the other information about abortion covered here.
Chemical Abortion
The Guttmacher Institute states that “medication abortions accounted for 39% of all abortions in 2017, up from 29% in 2014.” The United States Food and Drug Administration approved the drug mifepristone in 2000. This is a first trimester abortion, something that occurs within the first 10 weeks of gestation. The intent with this method is to end a pregnancy in women who have experienced their last period in the past 10 weeks, or 70 days.
Surgical Abortion
One method of surgical abortion is called an aspiration abortion. This is another type of abortion that occurs in the first trimester. Normally, the patient’s cervix will need to be dilated well before the procedure takes place. The abortion practitioner then uses either a plastic cannula or a hand-held syringe to pull the baby out of the uterus. Early-stage aspiration abortions are done between 5-9 weeks, but can be done up to 16 weeks if using a machine-operated pump.
Another method of surgical abortion is known as dilation and evacuation. This is the method used during the second trimester. It involves vacuum aspiration as well as utilizing forceps to remove the baby from the uterus. If it’s been more than 13 weeks since your last menstrual period, a dilation and evacuation is most likely the type of abortion you’d be having. While this is typically an outpatient procedure, risks increase as your pregnancy progresses.
Risks Associated with Abortion
We just mentioned the fact that risks increase as your pregnancy progresses. That brings up an important topic many women are looking for when seeking abortion information. So what are the risks?
- Chemical abortions, often called medical abortions, may seem simple but can have physical, emotional and psychological consequences.
- According to the Mayo Clinic, “Women who have multiple surgical abortion procedures may also have more risk of trauma to the cervix.” This can pose problems for future pregnancies.
- As with any medical procedure, surgical abortions can have complications and although not common, can pose a threat to a mother’s life.
- There may be emotional side effects related to abortion, whether the abortion was planned or not. There may be increased risk of mental health problems following an abortion.
- Another infrequent yet serious complication of induced abortion is pulmonary thromboembolism.
So What’s Right For You?
An unplanned pregnancy can leave you feeling stressed and scared, with no one to turn to. It’s important for you to gather accurate pregnancy and abortion information so you can make an informed decision. At PLL, we can discuss your options and help you feel more knowledgeable and comfortable with your situation. We want you to make an informed decision about your pregnancy and know all the resources that are available to you.
Our woman-centered approach to unplanned pregnancy helps clear the clutter, giving peace of mind and confidence when it’s needed most. Click here to set up an appointment at your convenience. We’re here to help you choose the best next steps for your life. Please note, our office doesn’t provide or perform abortions but can provide the abortion information you need.
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