Considering Abortion?
Abortion is a significant medical decision and it should not be conducted until all the relevant information has been presented. If you are considering abortion, we recommend obtaining a pregnancy screening and ultrasound for your health and safety. All our appointments are no-cost, confidential, and do not require insurance.
What Should I Do Before My Abortion?
The first thing you need to do if you are considering an abortion is to get a lab quality pregnancy test done at a medical facility like Waterleaf. At-home pregnancy tests can lead to false results. Confirming at a clinic is the first step.
After a clinic test has confirmed the pregnancy, it is also important to schedule an ultrasound and an STD test to minimize abortion related risks. You should also learn more about abortion procedures, recovery time, laws and regulations, risks and side effects and anything else you may need to know. It is also important to slow down. Rushing into a decision could lead to long-term negative mental health effects.
The best way to determine if abortion is the answer is to learn about your other options. You can choose between having an abortion, creating an adoption plan, or parenting. You would be surprised at the many resources available to you. Set up a no-cost, non-judgmental pregnancy consultation at Waterleaf. Our goal is to ensure every woman, like you, feels confident to make an informed decision regarding her pregnancy following her visit with us.
Do I Need an Ultrasound Before an Abortion?
It is always highly medically recommended that you receive an ultrasound before an abortion. Like any medical procedure, abortions come with risks, and those risks increase in both likelihood and severity if the abortion is performed without an ultrasound beforehand.
An ultrasound can date a pregnancy, which helps determine medically available and appropriate abortion options. It can also screen for an ectopic pregnancy, which is life threatening if left untreated or if the abortion pill is administered.
Our clinic provides ultrasounds free of charge. No insurance is required.
What is the Abortion Pill?
The abortion pill is a series of two drugs to end an early viable pregnancy. The first pill blocks the hormone progesterone to terminate the pregnancy. Typically taken 24-48 hours later, the second drug causes uterine contractions to expel the pregnancy from the uterus.
The abortion pill is only available in early stages of pregnancy and should only be administered after the patient has received a pregnancy test, ultrasound and STD test in order to minimize risks.
What is a Surgical Abortion?
A surgical abortion is usually performed later in pregnancy. Earlier-term procedures (around 6-12 weeks) are often done with suction or vacuum aspiration. Later procedures (after 12 weeks) involve additional scraping instruments using Dilation and Curettage or Dilation and Evacuation methods.
Typically, women will also have bleeding and cramping following a surgical abortion. But the risks of a surgical abortion can be pretty serious (though your chances of developing them are low):
- Cramping, nausea, sweating, and feeling faint
- Irregular or heavy prolonged bleeding, blood clots
- Damage to the cervix and perforation of the uterus
- Tissue remaining in the uterus
- Infection
What are After Abortion Risks?
After any abortion procedure, if you feel something is wrong, seek immediate medical attention. Your health matters. It is never illegal to receive medical treatment for abortion related issues, even if abortion is illegal in your state.
Many studies document psychological issues following abortion, including grief for male partners even many years later. One study says pressure to abort is a “Significant abortion-related predictor” of “adverse” psychological difficulties.
If you are having a difficult time after an abortion, know that hope and healing are possible. Post-abortion support is available at local pregnancy resource centers like Waterleaf Women’s Center. This confidential service is offered at no cost to you. Studies show abortion increases the risk of having a premature delivery in the future.
Many peer-reviewed and published medical studies describe a link between induced abortion and increased risk of breast cancer.
Is Abortion Right For Me?
Only you can answer this question. No one should ever force you to make a decision you do not want to make. If you feel pressured into an abortion, please contact our clinic for help.
Waterleaf Women’s Center Does Not Perform Nor Refer For Abortions, Nor Administers The Abortion Pill.