Are You Thinking About an Abortion?

When surprised by an unplanned pregnancy, you may think abortion is the only choice you’ve got, but there are other options.

If you are considering abortion, first learn about the various procedures, side effects, and potential risks. You need to protect your health and safety.

There are two main types of abortion: the abortion pill method and surgical abortion. How long you have been pregnant determines which method an abortion provider can use.

The Abortion Pill

Because the abortion pill method uses two drugs to end a pregnancy, it is considered a medication or medical abortion. The FDA approves the use of these drugs up to 10 weeks of pregnancy only (70 days from the first day of your last period).

The reason there is a time limit is that the drugs pose more risks the farther along you are in your pregnancy.

The Potential Risks:

  • An incomplete abortion which may need to be followed by a surgical abortion (incomplete means the pregnancy ends, but not all of the pregnancy tissue comes out of the body)
  • Heavy and prolonged bleeding
  • Infection
  • Fever

You may also have an ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work.

Learn more about potential risks of incomplete abortions.

Surgical Abortion

The length of your pregnancy determines the type of surgical procedure you have. If you are 12 weeks or under, an abortion provider can do a vacuum or suction aspiration.

If your pregnancy is over 12 weeks, the provider might use a curette, which is a sharp scraping tool, and possibly forceps.

Surgical abortions often require dilating (opening) your cervix (which leads to the uterus) and local or general anesthesia.

The Potential Risks:

  • Perforation of the uterus (poking a hole with a surgical instrument)
  • Infection
  • Bleeding

Learn more about potential risks of surgical abortions: www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/induced-abortion.

In Texas, abortion is currently banned except to preserve the life of the mother. A woman who obtains an abortion cannot be held criminally or civilly liable.  It is also illegal to ship abortion pills into the state of Texas. Additionally, the FDA does not recommend buying the abortion pill online as it bypasses important safeguards.

Schedule a time to meet with one of our client advocates. Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we can give you factual information in a safe and private atmosphere.