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Abortion

Many women with unplanned pregnancies may consider abortion as an option. The most important thing you can do is gain as much information about abortion that you can. You may be asking yourself questions such as:

Will I be able to continue my schooling and/or career?

How will I afford to support the baby?

What are the procedures and the cost of an abortion?

What are the risks of an abortion to me and my baby?

I am in an abusive/destructive relationship, how will I protect myself & my baby?

These concerns are understandable. The decision to abort your baby is a decision that cannot be changed once it has occurred. This is something to keep in mind if you are unsure of what you want. If you are feeling pressured to make a decision based on the opinions of others, keep in mind that you are the person who will live with whatever choice you make. This is why it is important to gather information, evaluate the risks and consequences, and make an informed decision.

If you have not taken a pregnancy test, contact us today to schedule an appointment for a free test with same-day results. When considering abortion, it can be helpful for you to educate yourself on the different abortion procedures that may be used at different stages of your pregnancy. Precious Life can give you factual information of the types of abortion, the risks that they may pose to your health, questions to ask the abortion provider, and the symptoms to look for if something goes wrong after the abortion.

If you should decide to have an abortion and face physical or emotional struggles afterward, our doors are always open to help you work through those issues.

Click on each of the different types of abortion to learn more*:

Medical abortion also known as “The Abortion Pill” is a 2-step, non-surgical process involving the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol. The process starts with taking mifepristone, which blocks progesterone from continuing to produce. Progesterone is the main hormone needed for your baby to grow. Blocking the progesterone will abrupt the growth of your baby. Twenty-four to forty-eight hours after taking mifepristone, you will be instructed to place two misoprostol tablets in your mouth which will begin cramps that will then expel your baby.

Be informed of the risks:

  • Bleeding can last up to 16 days. Some women (1 in 100) require a dilatation & curettage (D&C) to stop the bleeding.
  • The abortion pill does not always work. This increases the further along in the pregnancy.
  • Increase chance of fetal malformations can occur if the pregnancy continues after taking misoprostol.
  • The abortion pill does not work for women experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, so a woman taking the abortion pill with an ectopic pregnancy could be risk for experiencing tubal rupture, internal hemorrhage, and future infertility.
  •  Signs of serious complications: fever, severe abdominal pain, prolonged heavy bleeding, or fainting.

Methotrexate is another medication sometimes used during 1st trimester medical abortions. This drug is an off-label medication to treat ectopic pregnancies and to induce abortions. It may be used up to 49 days of pregnancy. It is given either orally or by injection. Similar to the abortion pill, misoprostol is taken afterwards which will induce cramping to expel the baby. Bleeding typically lasts 2-3 weeks. Side effects may include diarrhea, mouth ulcers, nausea, abdominal distress, fatigue, chills, fever, and dizziness.

If you’ve taken the first dose of the abortion pill (Mifeprex or RU-486) and you regret your decision, you may be able to reverse the effects. There could still be a chance to continue your pregnancy with a process called Abortion Pill Reversal. To find out more information and/or to connect with a medical provider in your area visit www.abortionpillreversal.com

In the state of Pennsylvania, abortions can occur up to 24 weeks gestational age. Depending on how far along the woman is in her pregnancy, will depend on which exact procedure will be used to abort the baby.

  • Aspiration/Suction: The most common procedure used in early (1st trimester) pregnancy is aspiration/suction. The procedure consists of the women receiving a local anesthetic at which then a long, thin tube is inserted into the uterus and the baby is removed by suction. Further along in the 1st trimester, the cervix needs to open wider due to the size of the growing baby. This may require the cervix to be softened by using a medication the day before that is placed in the vagina. Other tools may also need to be used during the procedure to open the cervix enough to remove the baby via suction.
  • Dilation & Evacuation (D&E): Most 2nd trimester abortions are completed by a D&E and occur 14 weeks and up gestational age. This procedure is completed similarly to a 1st trimester abortion; however, the cervix must be open more widely due to larger baby and forceps are used to remove the baby. The D&E pose more risks than a 1st trimester abortion.

Precious Life does not offer or refer for abortions or abortifacients but are committed to offering accurate information about abortion procedures and risks.

To receive more information or to make an appointment, please contact us.

What are my options?

Adoption
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Abortion

*Source: B4YouDecide.org