Abortion Education

If you are thinking about abortion, please contact us before you make a final choice. In order to know which type of abortion you might consider, it is recommended that you have an ultrasound exam to confirm the viability of your pregnancy (showing a fetal heartbeat inside the uterus) and determine exactly how far along you are. To schedule your pregnancy test and ultrasound exam, call The HOPE Center - 770.924.0864 or 800-395-4357. We are here to help you sort through all of your questions and concerns.

Methods of Abortion

RU486, Mifepristone: (Abortion Pill) - Within 4 to 7 weeks after last menstrual period (LMP)

This drug is only approved for use in women up to the 49th day after the start of their last menstrual period. The procedure usually requires three office visits. On the first visit, the woman is given pills to cause the death of the embryo. Two days later, if the abortion has not occurred, she is given a second drug which causes cramps to expel the embryo. The last visit is a follow up ultrasound to determine if the procedure has been completed. Up to 8% of U.S. women who take RU-486 and misoprostol through the 7th week will require a surgical procedure to end the pregnancy.

RU486 will not work in the case of an ectopic pregnancy. This is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the embryo lodges outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. If not diagnosed early, the tube may burst, causing internal bleeding and in some cases, the death of the woman.

Risks and Side Effects of RU486:

Cramping
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Heavy Bleeding
Infection

Vacuum Aspiration: up to 7 weeks after LMP

This surgical abortion is done early in the pregnancy up until 7 weeks after the woman's last menstrual period. A long, thin tube is inserted into the uterus. A large syringe is attached to the tube and the embryo is suctioned out.

Suction Curettage: between 6 to 14 weeks after LMP

This is the most common surgical abortion procedure. Because the baby is larger, the doctor must first stretch open the cervix using metal rods. Opening the cervix may be painful, so local or general anesthesia is typically needed. After the cervix is stretched open, the doctor inserts a hard plastic tube into the uterus, and then connects this tube to a suction machine. The suction pulls the fetus' body apart and out of the uterus. The doctor may also use a loop-shaped knife called a curette to scrape the fetus and fetal parts out of the uterus. (The doctor may refer to the fetus and fetal parts as the “products of conception.”).

Risks and Side Effects of Vacuum Aspiration or Suction Curettage:

Cramping
Nausea
Sweating
Feeling Faint

Less Frequent Side Effects Include:

Possible heavy or prolonged bleeding
Blood Clots
Damage to the Cervix
Perforation of the Uterus
Infection due to retained products of conception or infection caused by a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or bacteria being introduced to the uterus can cause fever, pain, abdominal tenderness and possible scarring.

Abortion is not just a simple procedure; it may have many side effects. Abortion has been associated with future preterm birth, emotional and psychological impact, and spiritual consequences. Please contact our center at 770.924-0864 or 800-395-4357 so that you can make an informed decision.

The HOPE Center offers mentoring and accurate information about all pregnancy options; however we do not offer or refer for abortion services.

Sources:
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Issue Update: Mifepristone: An Early Abortion Option,” July 2001.
Mifeprex® Medication Guide, Danco Laboratories, LLC, revised 7/19/05

http://americanpregnancy.org/unplannedpregnancy/surgicalabortions.html

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2000/20687_Mifepristone_medr_P1.pdf