Pregnancy Options
We know that each set of circumstances is unique. Our desire is for you to leave our centers knowing the facts and being fully informed.
Abortion
Are you looking for information on different types of abortion?
Contact Pregnancy Ministries, Inc. to ask all of your questions.
Abortion providers offer both medical and surgical abortions. The types of abortion that may be available depends on factors like how far along a woman is in her pregnancy and what kinds of procedures an abortion provider offers.
It may seem like abortion is the solution to moving on with your life or getting back on track. No matter what you choose, your life is forever changed. This pregnancy will always be part of your story.
Abortion carries the potential for physical complications. Surgical and later term abortions are associated with an increased risk of emotional and psychological complications such as depression, anxiety and relationship difficulties. (1-7) Women are not the only ones who may be in distress after an abortion. Men can suffer too. (8-10)
Some women who struggle with past abortions say that they wish they had been told all of the facts about abortion and its risks before they made that choice. If you or someone you know is experiencing regret from an abortion, pregnancy centers offer confidential, compassionate support designed to help men and women work through these feelings. You are not alone.
Medical Abortions
Medical abortions use drugs, instead of surgical instruments, to end a pregnancy.
Early Medical Abortion – up to 10 weeks from the last menstrual period (LMP).
“The Abortion Pill” (mifepristone plus misoprostol) is the most common form of medical abortion. It was approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for use in women up to 10 weeks after LMP. (11) It is even used beyond 10 weeks LMP, despite an increasing failure rate. (12, 13, 14) It is done by taking a series of pills that disrupt the embryo’s attachment to the uterus and causes uterine cramps which push the embryo out. (15)
Things to consider: (16)
– Bleeding can be heavy and last an average of 9-16 days.
– One woman in 100 need a surgical scraping to stop the bleeding.
– Pregnancies sometimes fail to abort and this risk increases as the pregnancy advances.
– For pregnancies 8 weeks LMP and beyond, identifiable parts may be seen. (17)
– By 10 weeks LMP, the developing baby is over one inch in length with clearly recognizable arms, legs, hands and feet. (18)
– Methotrexate is FDA-approved for treating certain cancers and rheumatoid arthritis, but is used off-label to treat ectopic pregnancies and to induce abortion. (19, 20) Given by mouth or injection, it works by stopping cell growth, resulting in the embryo’s death.
Medical Methods for Induced Abortion (21, 22) – 2nd and 3rd Trimester. This procedure induces abortion by using drugs to cause labor and delivery of the fetus and placenta. Drugs may be injected into the fetus or the amniotic fluid to stop the baby’s heart before starting the procedure to avoid a live birth. There is a risk of heavy bleeding and the placenta may need to be surgically removed.
Surgical Abortions
Surgical abortions are done by opening the cervix and passing instruments into the uterus to suction, grasp, pull and scrape the pregnancy out. The exact procedure is determined by the baby’s level of growth.
Aspiration/Suction (23, 24) – Up to 13 weeks LMP.
Most early surgical abortions are performed using this method. local anesthesia is typically offered to reduce pain. The abortion involves opening the cervix, passing a tube inside the uterus and attaching it to a suction device which pulls the embryo out.
Dilation and Evacuation “D&E” (25, 26) – 13 weeks LMP and up.
Most second trimester abortions are performed using this method. Local anesthesia, oral or intravenous pain medications and sedation are commonly used. Besides the need to open the cervix much wider, the main difference between this procedure and a first trimester abortion is the use of forceps to grasp fetal parts and remove the baby in pieces. D&E is associated with a much higher risk of complications compared to a first trimester surgical abortion.
D&E After Viability (27-29) – 24 weeks LMP and up.
This procedure typically takes 2-3 days and is associated with increased risk to the life and health of the mother. General anesthesia is usually recommended, if available. Drugs may be injected into the fetus or the amniotic fluid to stop the baby’s heart before starting the procedure. The cervix is opened wide: the amniotic sac is broken and forceps are used to dismember the fetus. The “Intact D&E” pulls the fetus out legs first, then crushes the skull in order to remove the fetus in one piece.
What if I change my mind?
Sometimes it just doesn’t hit you until you are there and the procedure is about to start. You suddenly realize that you don’t want to do this! What can you do?
Surgical Abortion
For a woman who has decided to have a surgical abortion – whether it is an early aspiration or a later term D&E, she is free to change her mind up until the moment that the surgical procedure begins. Maybe you paid your deposit or you had laminaria placed in your cervix, you can still change your mind. What if you are laying on the exam table and the abortion doctor has numbed your cervix but hasn’t put any instruments into your cervix, you can still say “No” and get up off the table and leave. it is your body and it is still your choice. Once the instruments are in your uterus and the suction is turned on, it is too late.
Medication/Drug Abortion (The Abortion Pill aka Mifeprex, Mifepristone)
You were certain this is what you wanted. You sat in the clinic and swallowed the first set of pills (mifepristone) that will lead to the end of your pregnancy. you leave the clinic with a bag containing the second set of pills (misoprostol) that are to be taken in 24 hours. You were told that these pills cause cramping and bleeding that will expel the pregnancy.
As you get into your car, you are suddenly filled with dread and regret and your mind is saying, “What have I done!” The good news is that it may not be too late to save your baby from abortion.
The first drug is the Abortion Pill Protocol is called mifepristone. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, which is needed to sustain a growing pregnancy. A new protocol, known as the Abortion Pill Reversal, has been developed that uses natural progesterone to reverse the abortion and rescue the pregnancy. Recent studies have shown a success rate above 60% if the progesterone is started within 72 hours of taking the first abortion pill. It may not be too late! For more information and to find a participating medical professional, call 877-558-0333 or visit theabortionpillreversal.
If you’ve recently had unprotected sex or the condom broke, you might be feeling anxious about the possibility of pregnancy.
Emergency contraception is any type of birth control used after unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure (e.g. a broken condom) to attempt to prevent pregnancy.
Commonly sold as Plan B One-Step and ella®, these emergency contraceptives may reduce the chance of pregnancy. These medications are reported to work in several possible ways: Delaying ovulation, blocking sperm from joining with an egg, or preventing a fertilized egg from implanting – some may consider this a very early abortion (1, 2, 3, 4).
Emergency contraception does not prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and there are potential risks and side effects to be considered (4).
Ella® is a form of emergency contraception – a type of birth control to be used within five days after unprotected intercourse or suspected contraceptive failure (e.g. a broken condom) to attempt to prevent pregnancy (1). It is available by prescription only and your doctor should rule out pregnancy before prescribing ella® (2).
Is ella® effective?
If ella® is taken as directed, it will reduce the chance of pregnancy, but it is not effective in every case (3).
Should I take ella® (ulipristal)?
You can only become pregnant on certain days of the month – around the time that you ovulate. Taking ella® during a time when you cannot become pregnant needlessly exposes you to a drug for which there is much that is unknown (4).
Can ella® cause an abortion?
Taking ella® after fertilization has taken place mayprevent the newly formed life from settling into the uterus and continuing to grow, which some consider a form of early abortion (5,6).
There is something else to know about ella®. Unlike Plan B, ella® is a chemical cousin to the abortion pill Mifeprex™. Both have the ability to damage the embryo’s attachment to the uterus, causing its death (7,8).
This effect on growing pregnancies was not tested in wormen, however a higher dose of ella® did cause abortions in pregnant animals, including monkeys and carries the same potential in humans (9,10).
Does ella® have side effects & risks?
There are reports of liver failure among women who have been given ulipristal to shrink their fibroids (11).
The morning-after pill is a form of emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is any type of birth control used after unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure (e.g. a broken condom) to attempt to prevent pregnancy. One of the most common ones is a pill called Plan B One-Step®.
How well does the morning-after pill work?
Not as well as was originally advertised. It is intended for use within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse (1,2). Studies done since it was released over the counter, say that “it is more effective than nothing” (3).
Should I take the morning-after pill?
You can only become pregnant on certain days of the month — around the time that you ovulate.
Taking the morning-after pill during a time when you cannot become pregnant needlessly exposes you to a large dose of hormones and costs you money.
If you are already pregnant from an earlier sexual encounter, taking the morning-after pill is of no value and may cause unpleasant side effects (4).
Can the morning-after pill cause an abortion?
Taking Plan B One-Step® after fertilization has taken place may prevent the newly formed life from settling into the uterus and continuing to grow, which some consider a form of early abortion (5, 6, 7).
What are the side effects & risks?
Like any medication, risks and side effects are not the same for everyone who takes the morning-after pill. Plan B One-Step® can cause nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, heavier menstrual bleeding, and dizziness (8).
This information is intended for general education purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional and/or medical advice.
THIS CENTER DOES NOT OFFER ABORTION SERVICES OR ABORTION REFERRALS