Abortion

If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, you may be considering an abortion. It is important to remember that abortion is a medical procedure and, like any other medical procedure, you should consult a medical professional beforehand.

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Having accurate information about the viability of your pregnancy is important because it would not make sense to pay hundreds of dollars for an abortion if there is no cardiac activity (heartbeat). Having accurate information about the gestational age of your pregnancy gives you the information you need to determine if a medical abortion is even an option.

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If the pregnancy is not implanted in your uterus but is in a fallopian tube (an ectopic pregnancy), the embryo could continue to grow and cause the tube to burst. Although this is rare, it can be fatal.  Neither a surgical nor medical abortion will resolve an ectopic pregnancy – it would require emergent medical care.

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Haven Center offers you a free lab-quality pregnancy test and a limited obstetrical ultrasound to confirm guide what options are available to you. Here, you are in a safe, private environment where you can ask questions and educate yourself on your choices. Our professional staff focuses on your health, safety, and well-being.

We receive no financial gain from any choice you make.

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Abortion is a serious medical procedure terminating a pregnancy. Each procedure comes with side effects and potential risks. We believe the more you know, the more confident you’ll feel about your decision. 

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Before you can have an abortion, there are a few things you need to know about your pregnancy. First, you need to verify your pregnancy with a lab-quality pregnancy test.

After receiving a positive result on your test, an ultrasound will tell you how long you’ve been pregnant. How far along you are in your pregnancy determines what kind of abortion you may have. The ultrasound also lets you know if your pregnancy is viable and where your pregnancy is located.

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Abortion carries the potential for physical complications, which are significant if they happen to you. 

Some women who struggle with past abortions say that they wish they had been told all of the facts about abortion and its risks before they made that choice.

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Consider all the facts and make an informed decision, one you can live with long term.

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Types of Abortion

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Chemical Abortion/the Abortion Pill

We promise to give you only factual information. Here’s what The Mayo Clinic has to say about the chemical abortion method, side effects and risks.

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The abortion pill is a chemical abortion. To qualify for this procedure, you must be 10 weeks and 0 days or less into your pregnancy. Although it’s called the abortion pill, it actually uses two very powerful drugs. The first drug blocks a particular hormone known as progesterone. When you’re pregnant, progesterone helps the fertilized egg stay attached to your uterus. The drug causes the lining of the uterus to thin so it no longer keeps the pregnancy implanted. The second drug causes cramping in order for your body to expel the fetus.

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Points to consider:

• Bleeding can be heavy and lasts an average of 9-16 days.

• One woman in 100 need a surgical scraping to stop the bleeding.

• Pregnancies sometimes fail to abort, and this risk increases as pregnancy advances.

• For pregnancies 8 weeks LMP and beyond, identifiable parts may be seen.

• By 10 weeks LMP, the developing baby is over one inch in length with clearly recognizable arms, legs, hands, and feet.
   

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SURGICAL ABORTIONS

If you’re further than ten weeks along, the abortion pill isn’t an option for you. You’ll need to have a surgical abortion. A surgical abortion is an invasive procedure that must be performed by medical staff at an abortion clinic or a hospital. 

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The type of surgery you have is determined by how far along your pregnancy is. One of those procedures is known as a D & C (dilation and curettage). The Mayo Clinic lists the side effects and potential risks of this procedure.

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Possible Side Effects & Risks of a Surgical Abortion:

You should always make sure you know how the abortion clinic will handle any complications that might arise during or after your procedure.

• Heavy bleeding, including blood clots

• Fever

• Severe pain or cramping 

• Risk of uterine perforation

• Risk of cervical damage

• Risk of infection

Each surgical procedure involves some form of anesthesia, dilation of your cervix and a suction device. The side effects are more intense and there’s a greater possibility for long-term complications with a surgical abortion. You should always make sure you know how the abortion clinic will handle any complications that might arise during or after your abortion procedure.

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Abortion Risks and Side Effects

Risks of both medical and surgical abortion include: 

• cramping

• bleeding

• nausea

• diarrhea

• pain
   

Although rare, other risks may include: 

• hemorrhage (life-threatening, heavy bleeding)

• infection

• damage to organs (tearing or puncture by abortion instruments during surgical abortion)

• pre-term birth in later pregnancies, and life-threatening anesthesia complications (surgical abortion).
   

Some women experience a range of long-term adverse psychological and emotional effects.  Some people may also be more at risk for guilt and/or depression-like symptoms if their decision to abort conflicts with their spiritual beliefs.

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Again, only an ultrasound will confirm if your pregnancy is developing normally, or if it is one that is likely to end in miscarriage.

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The decision to abort is never easy. It’s life-changing and should never be decided quickly. 

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