Free Medical Screening Before An Abortion
An unexpected pregnancy can be a very emotional time in your life that can leave you feeling worried and confused. If you are considering an abortion, there is important information that you need and have the right to know.
1) Are you pregnant?
2) Is the pregnancy viable? If yes, how far along are you?
3) Do you have any STD's or STI's that need to be treated?
Our free medical verification of pregnancy includes a pregnancy test, an ultrasound exam, STD/STI testing and a consultation to go over your results with our nurse.
Is Your Pregnancy Viable?
A significant percentage of pregnancies will end in miscarriage. Most of these occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If your pregnancy test is positive you may need an ultrasound to confirm viability, determine how far along you are, and what options you have for your pregnancy.
Why is a medical verification of pregnancy important?
Deciding what to do when you are unexpectedly pregnant can be a very overwhelming time in your life. It will help you to talk to a medical professional who cares about you and the specifics of your pregnancy. Going over the results of your testing and being able to ask any questions you might have will help reduce your anxiety and give you the answers that you need.
Abortion
Considering abortion?
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy you might be considering an abortion. Abortion is a medical procedure and therefore it is very important to know as much information as possible about the process before you make a decision. There are a variety of options and our nonjudmental and caring staff can provide the information you need in a safe environment and help with any concerns or questions you may have.
What do I need to know about abortion?
There are several different types of abortion procedures depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy. Medical abortions involve taking an abortion pill (RU486 or Plan B) to terminate the pregnancy. Surgical abortions, which are more invasive, involve surgically terminating and removing the pregnancy at a clinic. Each of these abortions carry its own risk so it is important for you to learn all that you can prior to receiving the procedures.
What are the different types of abortion?
PLAN B
Plan B, often called the "Morning After Pill," is a type of emergency contraception product that can help prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of having sex. It utilizes the same active ingredient found in most birth control pills, just at a higher dosage, and works by delaying ovulation. It may also prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in your womb. This pill can fail even with correct use and it offers no protection against STI's. Some side effects include abdominal pain, nausea, headaches, dizziness and vomiting.
ABORTION PILL/RU-486
RU-486 is a chemical abortion procedure, more commonly known as the abortion pill, taken with in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. It is typically a series of two pills either taken in the abortion clinic or at home, depending on your abortion provider. The first pill is usually taken at the clinic and it terminates the pregnancy by stopping the pregnancy hormone that stabilizes the pregnancy. The second pill is usually taken at home and causes contractions that shed the pregnancy through the vaginal canal. This procedure can cause heavy bleeding, strong cramping, nausea and vomiting.
PLAN C
"Plan C" refers to ordering and purchasing the abortion pill (RU-486) online. The FDA does not regulate these purchases because a medical abortion is still a medical procedure and needs to be overseen by a licensed physician. There are some websites that may have physicians that ask specific questions and give details about how to use the pills, however, it is not the same as having a provider that you know and trust and one that you can contact in case of complications. Another concern is whether or not the pills you receive online and delivered to your home are actually abortion pills.Ordering pills online is risky also because pills may arrive late or that don't work making it more likely that you will need to have a surgical abortion because pills must be taken in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
SURGICAL ABORTION
The most common surgical abortion procedure is the Manual Vacuum Aspiration procedure. This involves using either a syringe or vacuum to suck the pregnancy out of your body. Because it is a surgery you should expect to feel some side effects that may include: cramping, nausea, sweating and feeling faint.
Another procedure is Dilation and Evacuation which combines vacuum aspiration, dilation and curettage, and forceps. This procedure involves giving you a sedative and an injection in your cervix. Forceps are used to remove larger sections of the pregnancy and a curette is then used to scrape the lining of the uterus, while suctioning any remnants out of your body. Some of the risks and side effects that you could experience are nausea, bleeding and cramping which may occur for two weeks folowing the procedure.
What are the additional risks?
Just like any surgery or medical procedure, there are health risks associated with abortion. Some of those risks may include heavy bleeding, damage to the uterus, damage to the cervix, damage to other internal organs, infection, sepsis, fertility loss and death. If you still have questions, our staff can give you the complete information on the risks of these procedures.
To learn more about your options, schedule your appointment today!