If you are thinking about abortion, please contact us before you make a final choice. We are here to help you sort through all of your questions and concerns. There is a lot to educate yourself on before you make a decision, and we are here to help you every step of the way.
Methods of Abortions
RU486, Mifepristone: (Abortion Pill)
Within 4 to 7 weeks after LMP
This drug is only approved for use in women up to the 49th day after their last menstrual period. The procedure usually requires three office visits. On the first visit, the woman is given pills to block the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy. Two days later, if the abortion has not occurred, she is given a second drug which causes cramps to expel the embryo. The last visit is a follow up ultrasound to determine if the procedure has been completed.
RU486 will not work in the case of an ectopic pregnancy. This is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the embryo lodges outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. If not diagnosed early, the tube may burst, causing internal bleeding and in some cases, the death of the woman.
Manual Vacuum Aspiration:
Up to 7 weeks after last menstrual period (LMP)
This surgical abortion is done early in the pregnancy up until 7 weeks after the woman’s last menstrual period. A long, thin tube is inserted into the uterus. A large syringe is attached to the tube and the embryo is suctioned out.
Suction Curettage:
Between 6 to 14 weeks after LMP
This is the most common surgical abortion procedure. Because the baby is larger, the doctor must first stretch open the cervix using metal rods. Opening the cervix may be painful, so local or general anesthesia is typically needed. After the cervix is stretched open, the doctor inserts a hard plastic tube into the uterus, and then connects this tube to a suction machine. The suction pulls the fetus’ body apart and out of the uterus. The doctor may also use a loop-shaped knife called a curette to scrape the fetus and fetal parts out of the uterus. (The doctor may refer to the fetus and fetal parts as the “products of conception.”).
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.
Post Abortion
If you have chosen an abortion and are having difficulty coping with this decision, you are not alone. Many women (and men) struggle with guilt and shame and are not informed about the physical, emotional, and spiritual impact that an abortion experience can bring. No matter how long it has been, many years or just a few months, there is hope for healing and restoration.
New Hope has compassionate caregivers that will help you talk about your experience in a confidential and non-judgmental atmosphere.
Know that it is okay for you to feel regret, anxiety, sorrow, or depression from your abortion. You may have been told that this quick and painless procedure would solve your problems. For many women it may take months or even years to come to terms with these feelings. By acknowledging the connection between your abortion and your current emotions, you have taken the first step in healing.
Our center does not offer or refer for abortion services, but we are a state-licensed medical clinic, staffed with caring and well-trained peer and professional counselors as well as medical personnel. This should be your first stop if you are considering abortion or questioning your pregnancy options.