Abortion Services

A woman who decides it is in her best personal interest to terminate an unplanned pregnancy has a few different abortion services available to her. If it has been less than nine weeks since the first day of a woman's last period, she will be advised to pursue a medical abortion. This kind of abortion uses a combination of the medications mifepristone and misprostol and can be done from home. This abortion is not necessarily a provided service and does not require a woman to be in the clinic. However, she will need to see a health care provider about a week later for a check-up.

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According to data reported by the Guttmacher Institute, about 38.2 percent of abortions are performed after the woman has been pregnant for nine weeks. This suggests that 38.2 percent of all abortions in 2006, when the data was collected, were done in a clinical setting. In-clinic procedures and abortion pills average around the same fees, beginning around $300 with the potential to cost over $800. Late-term abortions performed well into the third trimester will cost significantly more and fewer clinics offer that service.

The type of in-clinic abortion services available depend on the length of pregnancy. Aspiration is the most common, according to the Planned Parenthood website, and can be performed up to 16 weeks of pregnancy. After the period in which aspiration can be used has passed, health care providers will use dilation and evacuation, or D&E, to abort the pregnancy.

Many women are not aware of the complications of such procedures, but need to be prepared to discuss them with health care professionals prior to, or while visiting the abortion services clinic. Risks and side effects will vary per individual but can include, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, spotting and bleeding. Periods usually return within 4-6 weeks so birth control or contraceptives should be used.

In addition to the abortion, a woman should also seek abortion counseling services to work through the emotional changes that this kind of decision and procedure can bring. Some women may undergo a type of post partum depression that if left untreated can be very detrimental to recovery and their emotional well being.