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Tell Me About Abortion

As healthcare providers, we know that for many folks, abortion is not just a topic of discussion or a debatable political issue, but is rather a part of their reality. We have seen folks in all walks of life come to this decision - such as teens, parents of multiple children, young people early in their careers, people who are not ready/do not want to continue with pregnancy, and those whose pregnancy could be harmful for themselves or for the fetus. Whatever the reason(s) may be - we know that most people do not make these decisions lightly and that many women and families are impacted by this.

In fact, 1 in 4 women in the United States will undergo a termination at some point in their lives. This is similar to the worldwide rate of 25% of women. This rate may change a bit based on a variety of factors, like access to reproductive healthcare and contraception (aka birth control), age, and socioeconomic status.

And while 1 in 4 women may choose this option, many more people will also consider it or at least will know someone who has considered it.

Know the Terms: What is an abortion?

Abortion, also called pregnancy termination or elective abortion in medical terms, refers to medical treatment that is used to end a pregnancy and to prevent the development of a fetus.

In medical terminology, the term “abortion” can actually refer to two types of abortion - spontaneous abortions, more commonly referred to as miscarriages, and elective abortions, meaning pregnancy terminations that a person chooses to receive treatment for.

When we talk about a pregnancy, it’s also important to remember that the term pregnancy can be referring to both viable and non-viable pregnancies. Some pregnancies are unable to continue safely due to a risk to the pregnant person and/or the fetus. There aren’t commonly used names to differentiate the reasons why an abortion is chosen.

TBD Recommends: Generic Plan B

Factors in Making the Decision About Treatment

If interested in moving forward with an abortion, you should go over your options and risks and benefits of different treatment options with a medical provider. We know finding a good healthcare provider is not always easy, but a good healthcare provider will work with you to learn about your medical history, preferences, options and guide you through options for pregnancy that make the most sense for you, whether that includes abortion or other options.

Factors that you should discuss with your healthcare provider that help determine the safest and most effective treatment for you include the following:

What Are the Treatment Options?

Most abortions occur in the first trimester of pregnancy, about 12 weeks of gestation. Typically, there are two main treatment options: medication (i.e pills to take) or surgical abortions.

Medication Abortions:

Medication abortions can usually be used up to 11 weeks of gestation/pregnancy.

Surgical/Procedural Abortions:

Surgical or procedural abortions are often done in clinics or outpatient surgery centers.

What should someone expect following the procedure?

With both medication and/or surgical abortions, people may experience some increased vaginal bleeding (like a period) or abdominal cramping. Your healthcare provider will also go over the warning signs of when to call or come back to the clinic in the rare case there are complications.