Considering Abortion?

An unexpected pregnancy can raise many questions at once. You may feel pressure to make a quick decision, even if you’re not ready.

Before moving forward, it is important to have accurate medical information about your options and what each one involves for your body.

At Her Choice Women’s Health, we do not perform or refer for abortions. We do provide evidence-based information in a confidential, compassionate setting, so you can understand your options and what to expect.

Why Gestational Age Matters

How far along you are plays a major role in what options may be available. It also affects what each procedure involves and what your experience may be like.

This is why a pregnancy test and, if eligible, a limited ultrasound can be an important place to start.

Medical Abortion

Medical abortion, commonly referred to as the abortion pill, involves two drugs taken in sequence and is FDA-approved through 10 weeks of gestation.

The first drug, mifepristone, works by blocking progesterone, the hormone essential for sustaining a pregnancy. Without it, the pregnancy cannot continue to develop.

The second drug, misoprostol, is taken 24 to 48 hours later and causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy and related tissue through cramping and vaginal bleeding.

Common side effects include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Fatigue

Potential risks include:

• Heavy or prolonged bleeding
• Infection
• An incomplete abortion requiring follow-up surgical treatment
• In rare cases, the drugs may not work, and the pregnancy continues

Surgical Abortion

A surgical abortion is an in-clinic procedure in which medical instruments and suction are used to manually remove the pregnancy from the uterus. It is typically performed under local anesthesia or sedation and varies in method depending on how far along the pregnancy is.

Cramping and bleeding afterward are common.

Possible risks include:

• Perforation of the uterus
• Damage to the cervix
• Scarring of the uterine lining, which may affect future fertility or cause painful periods
• Infection

You Can Ask Questions

You deserve space to ask questions and think through your options without pressure.

At Her Choice Women’s Health, we are here to talk through your situation and provide information so you can decide what is right for you.

Schedule your confidential appointment today and take the next step at your own pace.

Her Choice Women’s Health does not perform or refer for abortions.