If you’re considering an abortion, we can help.
There are two questions you need answers to right now.
1. Am I really pregnant?
It is possible to have a negative test at home and still possibly be pregnant. The best way to confirm your pregnancy is to have a medical quality pregnancy test. If you are within our guidelines a fast, free and confidential ultrasound may be performed. Call one of our locations for an appointment.
2. What am I going to do if I am?
We know that an unplanned pregnancy can create a lot of questions. What should you do? Let us help you understand your options in a safe and respectful environment. The resources you receive will help you make an informed decision. You do not have to make a decision alone — we are here to help support you.
All our services are fast, free and confidential. Walk-ins welcome!
Abortion Procedures
Morning After Pill
The most common brand of morning-after pill sold in the United States is called Plan B®. It is reported to work within 72 hours after sex and can lower your chance of pregnancy by up to 89%. The Morning-After Pill (MAP) Plan B is an extremely high dosage of chemical hormones. It contains the same chemical hormones found in some types of birth control.
Typically, there are about three to five days a month in which a woman can get pregnant; therefore, you may not even need this drug. You can only get pregnant on certain days of the month – around the time you ovulate. Many women looking for the morning-after pill are concerned because they believe the clock is ticking, and as a result they don’t take the time to evaluate their situation. If you were not fertile when you had sex because you were nowhere near ovulation, this drug would not be needed. It will only subject you to the possible side effects of nausea and vomiting and put a a high dosage of unnecessary hormones in your body.
If you have questions regarding Plan B® please call us for additional information.
RU486: 4 to 10 weeks after last menstrual period (LMP)
Also known as the Abortion Pill, this medical abortion is used for women who are up to 10 weeks pregnant. This procedure usually requires three office visits. The RU486 or mifepristone pills are given to the woman who returns two days for a second medication called misoprostol. The combination of these medications causes the uterus to expel the fetus.
Early Vacuum Aspiration: 7 weeks after LMP
This surgical abortion is done early in the pregnancy up until 7 weeks after the woman’s last menstrual period. The cervical muscle is stretched with dilators (metal rods) until the opening is wide enough to allow the abortion instruments to pass into the uterus. A hand held syringe is attached to tubing that is inserted into the uterus and fetus is suctioned out.
Suction Curettage: 6 to 14 weeks after LMP
In this procedure, the doctor opens the cervix with a dilator (a metal rod) or laminaria (thin sticks derived from plants and inserted several hours before the procedure). The doctor inserts tubing into the uterus and connects the tubing to a suction machine. The suction pulls the fetus’ body apart and out of the uterus. One variation of this procedure is called Dilation and Curettage (D&C). In this method, the doctor may use a curette, a loop-shaped knife, to scrape the fetal parts out of the uterus.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E): 13 to 24 weeks after LMP
This surgical abortion is done during the second trimester of pregnancy. Because the developing fetus doubles in size between the thirteenth and fourteenth weeks of pregnancy, the body of the fetus is too large to be broken up by suction and will not pass through the suction tubing. In this procedure, the cervix must be opened wider than in a first trimester abortion. This is done by inserting laminaria a day or two before the abortion. After opening the cervix, the doctor pulls out the fetal parts with forceps. The fetus’ skull is crushed to ease removal.
Make an Informed Decision.
Abortion is not just a simple procedure; it may have many side effects. Abortion has been associated with preterm birth, emotion and psychological impact, and spiritual consequences. Please contact our center so that you can make an informed decision. Note: Our centers offer peer counseling and accurate evidence-based education about all pregnancy options.
Medical (RU-486) vs. Surgical Abortion: What You Need to Know
Medical abortions are less invasive than surgical ones. They involve the use of medicine such as the RU-486 pill to terminate the pregnancy but can only be used up to the ninth week of pregnancy. Medical abortions are not always successful and often result in bleeding that can last for up to four weeks. Women will need to make three office visits for a medical abortion to be completed.
Surgical abortion can be performed from the onset up until birth (if allowed in the state where you live). It is shorter, more successful but also more invasive. What is more, women who have a surgical abortion are more likely to have uterine damage, scarring, infection and/or perforation than women who opt for a medical abortion. Some women also have a serious allergic reaction to the anesthesia used during the procedure.
| Failure Rate | Time to Completion | Need for Anesthesia | Bleeding | Requires Surgery | Provider Present for Entire Procedure | |
| Medical | Higher | Longer | Unlikely | Heavier & Longer | Unlikely | No |
| Surgical | Lower | Shorter | Common | Shorter | Yes | Yes |
Are there other risks?
There are both short-term and long-term risks associated with having either a medical or surgical abortion.
Short Term Risks of Abortion
- Heavy Bleeding
- Infection
- Incomplete Abortion
- Allergic Reaction to Drugs
- Tearing of the Cervix
- Scarring of the Uterine Lining
- Perforation of the Uterus
- Damage to Internal Organs
- Death
Long Term Risks of Abortion
Future Pregnancy Problems
Abortion leaves a woman vulnerable to problems with future pregnancies. These include a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy, pre-term delivery and placenta previa.