If you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may be exploring the option of abortion. It’s important to have your pregnancy confirmed by a medical professional and know the risks involved with abortion procedures. Our medical team can confirm your pregnancy through a verified pregnancy test and ultrasound at no cost to you. They can also answer questions you may have about abortion.
TYPES OF ABORTION
Abortion is a medical procedure that terminates a pregnancy and has health risks that can include emotional and psychological consequences. If you are considering an abortion, be sure you understand what it entails including side effects, possible risks, complications, and alternatives. There are two types of abortion procedures to be aware of. You will need to get consent from a parent for either procedure if under the age of 18.
ABORTION PILL
Ending a pregnancy by taking the abortion pill (medical abortion) is a three-step procedure. The first step is to take a prescribed medication in the form of a pill that stops the heartbeat. This is typically taken at an abortion clinic, but is sometimes prescribed to take at home. You will then take a second pill a few days later at home. This pill creates a hostile environment in your uterus to cause the pregnancy to detach and then be expelled. This process includes cramping and bleeding. The third step is a follow-up appointment with your healthcare provider to ensure that all the contents of your uterus have been expelled. If anything is left over, you may have to have a surgical abortion to remove the rest of the contents.
SURGICAL ABORTION
A surgical abortion is performed through either a manual procedure, also known as a vacuum aspiration procedure or a Dilation/Evacuation procedure that combines dilation, forceps, curettage, and vacuum aspiration.
THE RISKS OF ABORTION
Understanding the risks of abortion is vital to making an informed decision. The abortion process can be challenging and lengthy. Due to the seriousness of the procedure, there are many health risks and side effects you should know about before proceeding. Some side effects of both medical and surgical abortion options include (mayoclinic.org):
- Heavy bleeding
- Infections
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Plan B
Plan B, also known as the Morning After Pill, taken within 48 hours of having unprotected sexual intercourse, will delay or prevent a non-fertilized or a fertilized egg from being released or implanted into the uterus.
Confirm Your Pregnancy
Before proceeding with any option, confirm your pregnancy even after taking an at-home pregnancy test. While we do not perform or refer for abortions, you will want to verify your pregnancy and we can do this for you through medical-grade pregnancy testing and an ultrasound. An ultrasound can provide accurate dating of your pregnancy and make you aware of any health concerns that could potentially affect your abortion procedure options. All of our services are completely free.
Our Bright Hope Centers have Options Counseling if you would like to talk. All our services are free and confidential.
Schedule your free appointment with us today.
