Pregnancy Information Center
Abortion Education
Pregnant? You Have Options.
Relax. You have come to the right place. There is help available. Take the time to research and educate yourself on all your options.
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 Abortion
RU486, Mifepristone (Abortion Pill): Within 4 to 7 weeks after LMP
This drug is only approved for 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 cause the death of the embryo. 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 potentially life-threatening condition happens when 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 seven weeks after last menstrual period (LMP)
This surgical abortion is done early in the pregnancy up until seven 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.”)
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E): between 13 to 24 weeks after LMP
This surgical abortion is done during the second trimester of pregnancy. At this point in pregnancy, the fetus is too large to be broken up by suction alone 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 numerous thin rods made of seaweed a day or two before the abortion. Once the cervix is stretched open the doctor pulls out the fetal parts with forceps. The fetus' skull is crushed to ease removal. A sharp tool (called a curette) is also used to scrape out the contents of the uterus, removing any remaining tissue.
Abortion is not just a simple procedure; it may have many side effects. Abortion has been associated with preterm birth, emotional and psychological impact, and spiritual consequences. Please call us so that you can make an informed decision.
Deciding To Parent
Please contact us and we can talk with you about referrals, financial assistance and parenting classes. We provide peer counselors to help you through every step of the process.
Adoption
Have you ever considered adoption? It may be the best choice for you and a loving choice for your baby. Realize that you are not alone! Each year over 50,000 women in America make this choice.
Please contact us. We can help you talk through all of your options.
Our Center offers peer counseling and accurate information about all pregnancy options. This center does not offer abortion services or abortion referrals.
