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Considering an Abortion? Here's the Info You Need

Plain facts on the types of abortion, how far along you are and the risks, plus how to confirm your pregnancy first. Free, confidential help.

If you are pregnant and thinking about abortion, you deserve clear facts before you decide. This page covers how to confirm your pregnancy, what abortion is, the types of abortion and the risks. The decision is yours, and you don’t have to make it alone.

You might be thinking:

  • The father is insisting on an abortion.
  • I’m not ready to be a parent.
  • I can’t tell anyone I’m pregnant.

We know how you feel, and you’re not alone. Many of our staff and volunteers have been where you are.

First, confirm you are pregnant

The urine test

A urine test will identify the pregnancy hormone, also known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). They are highly accurate in their detection of hCG levels. However, if you took the test close to the time you missed your period, you may get a more accurate reading now that some time has gone by. The hCG concentration increases each day during early pregnancy, so it may be ideal to test yourself about a week after missing your period.

Two options for urine testing

Your first option is the home pregnancy test (HPT). These have been on the market for several decades and tend to be quite accurate. If you go this route, make sure your test is not expired and that you carefully follow the instructions.

However, we highly recommend the second option, which is clinical testing. Going into a clinic for your urine test should take away some of the stress of human error. You’ll have the assurance of knowing that the people there are knowledgeable and have gone through the process many times before. This is also an opportunity to gather additional information in a safe, confidential setting.

Confirming your pregnancy

Let’s say you go to a clinic and your pregnancy test is positive. First of all, that’s typically all the information you’d receive regarding the status of pregnancy. You’d probably be told that the test is positive, rather than being told that you’re pregnant. We understand that there are many factors involved and that a positive reading can mean different things for different people.

As effective as these tests are, there’s always the chance for error. That’s why you’ll want to confirm your pregnancy with an ultrasound. This is something we can do for you right here at our office. The ultrasound will confirm whether you have a viable pregnancy. It will also give you a more accurate dating of your pregnancy. All abortion procedures require an ultrasound to determine pregnancy and gestational age.

You also need to know whether your pregnancy is normal, including whether you are at risk for a miscarriage or have a tubal pregnancy requiring immediate medical attention. We will help you get medical care if you need it.

Another thing to consider at this point is making an appointment with your physician. Don’t have a physician? No problem. We can help you find one right for you. If you don’t already have someone in mind, your physician can refer you to an OB/GYN. Another thing you can be tested for at that time is sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Get a free pregnancy test or make an appointment.

Not ready? Get the facts

There are many young women who go through the steps already mentioned and for one reason or another, do not feel ready to continue the pregnancy. The most important thing at this point is to gather all the abortion facts you can so you can make an educated decision. We’re talking about questions like what abortion is, what it involves at each stage of pregnancy, and whether there are any risks associated with abortion.

What is abortion?

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC (opens in a new tab)), “a legal induced abortion is defined as an intervention performed by a licensed clinician (e.g., a physician, nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant) that is intended to terminate an ongoing pregnancy.” That said, there are several types of possible abortions. While there are different ways to break these types down, we’ll simplify it here.

Abortion is a procedure that results in the voluntary termination of a pregnancy, either medically (abortion pill) or surgically. There are risks associated with any medical procedure and, as with other outpatient surgical or medical procedures, abortions should also be performed in a facility that meets the same health and safety regulations as that of an ambulatory surgical center (ASCs).

Miscarriage

Miscarriage, also known as spontaneous abortion, can be defined (opens in a new tab) as “a pregnancy that ends on its own, within the first 20 weeks of gestation.” This is the most common way a pregnancy is lost, with 10-25% of all clinically recognized pregnancies ending in miscarriage. This usually occurs during the first 13 weeks of pregnancy and is obviously quite different from the other information about abortion covered here.

Chemical abortion

The Guttmacher Institute reports (opens in a new tab) that medication abortions accounted for 63% of all US abortions in 2023, up from 53% in 2020. The United States Food and Drug Administration approved the drug mifepristone in 2000. This is a first trimester abortion, something that occurs within the first 10 weeks of gestation. The intent with this pill is to end a pregnancy in women who have experienced their last period in the past 10 weeks, or 70 days.

It is reported that around 10 percent of medical abortion clients must undergo a surgical abortion, in addition to the medical abortion process, to complete the pregnancy termination due to uterus contents remaining. Read more about the abortion pill.

Surgical abortion

One method of surgical abortion is called an aspiration abortion. This is another type of abortion that occurs in the first trimester. Normally, the patient will need to be dilated well before the procedure takes place. The abortion practitioner then uses either a plastic cannula or a hand-held syringe to pull the baby out of the uterus. Early-stage aspiration abortions are done between 5-9 weeks, but can be done between 10-14 weeks (opens in a new tab) if using a machine-operated pump.

Another method of surgical abortion is known as dilation and evacuation. This is the method used during the second trimester. It involves vacuum aspiration as well as utilizing forceps to remove the baby from the uterus. If it’s been more than 13 weeks since your last menstrual period, a dilation and evacuation (opens in a new tab) is most likely the type of abortion you’d be having. While this is typically an outpatient procedure, risks increase (opens in a new tab) as your pregnancy progresses.

See also abortion procedures.

Risks associated with abortion

Risks increase as your pregnancy progresses. So what are the risks?

So what’s right for you?

It’s important for you to gather accurate pregnancy and abortion information so you can make an informed decision. You hold the key insights as to what’s going on in your life and what your future will look like. People are here waiting to help. Do you need someone to talk to? Call (573) 644-6635 or text (573) 645-3848 to schedule an appointment at your convenience. You’ll get a thoughtful, non-judgmental response.

Looking at other paths? See your pregnancy options.

The Well Clinic does not perform or refer for abortions. We provide accurate information about every option so you can make an informed decision.

This information is not a substitute for medical advice.

You don't have to face this alone.

Schedule a free and confidential appointment with one of our caring staff members. We're here to help.

Make an appointment Call (573) 644-6635

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