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Prepare for Your Abortion

Know Your Options

Abortion Pills

Surgical Options

Research Your Options

There are a few ways to have a safe abortion. Educating yourself about what each option entails will not only help you make the right choice for your situation but will help ease your anxieties by demystifying the process. There are two types of elective abortion options to choose from.

Medical Abortion

The first option, which many qualifying women prefer, is a medical abortion. When you have a medical abortion, you’re given a series of pills to terminate your pregnancy. The first dosage is usually taken in your doctor’s office, while the second can be taken at home. Medical abortion is an early solution designed for women who are within the first nine weeks of their unwanted pregnancy. You’re taking medications that mimic a natural miscarriage. A week to two weeks after the abortion, you’ll need to go into the doctor’s office for a follow-up to ensure all the tissue is out of your uterus.

In-Clinic Abortion

Your second option is surgical abortion. If you’re too far along in your pregnancy for medical abortion, your doctor can terminate your pregnancy surgically. This involves removing the fetus and placenta from your uterus through your vagina with a suction device or other medical tools. Depending on factors like the fetus’s gestational age, a surgical abortion is performed under local or general anaesthesia. Both medical and surgical abortions are safe and effective solutions for pregnancy termination.

Questions and Concerns with Your Doctor

It would be best if you addressed any questions and concerns about your upcoming procedure with your doctor. They can help you weigh the best options for your circumstances and will give you any specific instructions you need to follow in preparation. Come up with a list of questions before your appointment, so you don’t forget to ask any when you’re there. Here are a few examples of what you might want to ask:

Confide in Someone You Trust

Deciding to tell others about your abortion is completely up to you. However, if you have a partner, friend, or family member you feel comfortable confiding in, it may help you greatly. Abortion is often an emotionally complicated experience. Having a companion by your side throughout the process can be very comforting. You don’t have to ask for any advice or opinions, merely their support. If you feel comfortable, you might even ask your trusted companion to accompany you to your procedure, drive you home, or be with you afterwards.

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