Patient education: Deciding to have an abortion (The Basics)

What is abortion? — 

This is a way to end a pregnancy. It is also called "pregnancy termination."

Abortion is common. People choose to have an abortion for many different reasons. For example, they might have gotten pregnant but decided it is not a good time to have a baby. Or there might be a problem with their health or the health of the fetus.

Deciding to have an abortion is a personal choice. If you aren't sure what to do, it might help to talk to someone you trust. This could be a partner, family member, friend, or doctor. Having support can help make the experience easier. But the decision should be yours alone.

Is abortion legal? — 

The laws depend on where you live. In the US, each state has its own laws about abortion. In states where it is legal, there are different rules. For example, there might be rules about how far along in pregnancy you can get an abortion, and whether a minor (under 18 years old) needs permission from a parent or guardian. If permission is required, it is often possible to get it from a judge instead.

If you are not sure about the laws where you live, you can get information from:

●Abortion Finder (www.abortionfinder.org)

●Guttmacher Institute (states.guttmacher.org/policies)

What are the options for abortion? — 

There are 2 main ways to do an abortion:

●Medication abortion – You take medicines to end the pregnancy. This usually involves taking 2 separate medicines.

●Procedural abortion – A doctor uses special tools to remove the pregnancy tissue from your uterus. The actual procedure is quick, but most people spend at least a few hours at the clinic.

For both ways, the exact steps depend on how many weeks pregnant you are.

If you are deciding which type of abortion to have, there are different things to consider. These include:

●Where to have the abortion:

•If you are less than 11 to 12 weeks pregnant (this means 11 to 12 weeks after your last period), you can often have a medication abortion at home. Some people prefer this for convenience, privacy, or other reasons.

•Some people prefer procedural abortion because they want the abortion to happen in a clinic or hospital.

•After 11 to 12 weeks of pregnancy, both types of abortion are typically done in a clinic or hospital.

●What the experience will be like:

•If you have a medication abortion, the medicines will make you bleed from your vagina and have heavy cramping. You will probably also see large blood clots or pieces of tissue. If you are later in pregnancy, the process is similar to labor. You might see a lot of pregnancy tissue or the fetus itself.

•If you have a procedural abortion, the doctor will use special tools to remove the pregnancy tissue from your uterus. You do not have to see it. After the procedure, you will have light bleeding and cramping.

●How long it will take:

•In general, medication abortion takes longer. This is because the medicines take time to work. How long it takes can be hard to predict exactly, and depends partly on how many weeks pregnant you are.

•Procedural abortion is typically quicker and more predictable. The actual procedure usually takes 30 minutes or less. But if you need medicine or "dilators" to open your cervix first, it can take as long as medication abortion. (The cervix is the opening to the uterus.)

Different people have different preferences. Depending on where you live, your choices might be limited. Some people might be able to travel to a different place to have their abortion. But this is not always possible.

Is abortion safe? — 

In general, yes, abortion is very safe. But like any medical procedure, it does come with some small risks.

If you decide to have an abortion, the safest option is to go to a doctor or specially trained nurse in a clinic or hospital. Getting an abortion from someone who is not properly trained can be very dangerous. It can also be very dangerous to try to end a pregnancy on your own without accurate information and the right medicines.

Never use herbs, chemicals, or objects in the vagina to try to end a pregnancy. These things are unsafe and could cause serious harm or even death.

What else should I know?

●Having an abortion does not harm your health. It also does not increase your risk of future health problems.

●Having an abortion does not make it harder to get pregnant again. It is possible to get pregnant very soon after having an abortion, even before your next period.

•If you do not want to get pregnant again, talk to your doctor or nurse about birth control options. There are many different types of birth control.

•If you do choose to try to get pregnant again in the future, having an abortion should not affect your chances. Also, abortions do not harm the health of your future babies if you choose to have them.

Where can I learn more about my options? — 

Your doctor or nurse can usually talk to you about your situation and options. But in some states, laws prevent doctors and nurses from helping people get an abortion. In that case, you can get information from a clinic like Planned Parenthood (www.plannedparenthood.org).

Be careful about places that call themselves "pregnancy crisis centers" or something similar. Most of these do not provide accurate abortion information.

The table has a list of resources with information about abortion (table 1). These can help you understand your options.

More on this topic

Patient education: Medication abortion (The Basics)
Patient education: Procedural abortion (The Basics)
Patient education: Choosing birth control (The Basics)
Patient education: Hormonal birth control (The Basics)
Patient education: Long-acting methods of birth control (The Basics)
Patient education: Intrauterine devices (IUDs) (The Basics)
Patient education: Permanent birth control for women (The Basics)
Patient education: Emergency contraception (The Basics)

Patient education: Abortion (pregnancy termination) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Birth control; which method is right for me? (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Long-acting methods of birth control (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Emergency contraception (Beyond the Basics)