Common Questions

Which is better: surgical abortion or non-surgical pill?
How can it be too early to have an abortion?
When is it too late to have an abortion?
If I have an abortion, will I be able to get pregnant in the future?
How long does the procedure take?
Is an abortion painful?How long will I feel pain after an abortion?
How much does an abortion cost?
Will insurance pay for an abortion?
I am under 18 years of age. Do I have to tell my parents?
Will anyone be able to find out I had an abortion?
Is abortion right or wrong?
How many women have an abortion?
Why do women have abortions?
What are the risks associated with abortion?
Does abortion cause breast cancer?
Why do women have more than one abortion?
Is it safe to have more than one abortion?

Which is better: surgical abortion or non-surgical pill?

One method is not better than the other. Both methods are safe and effective. What is most important is that the patient chooses a method that she is comfortable with and that is agreeable to her lifestyle. Also, keep in mind that the non-surgical abortion pill is only available to women who are early in the pregnancy, approximately 9 weeks or less from last menstrual period (LMP).

The non-surgical abortion usually requires at least two visits to the health center, while the surgical abortion usually requires only one. The non-surgical abortion is a non-invasive procedure, and allows the patient to pass the pregnancy in a method similar to a natural miscarriage while at home. The surgical abortion will be performed in the healthcare facility and the pregnancy will be fully terminated by the time the patient leaves the facility. The non-surgical procedure can take several weeks, and it is less clear when the abortion is fully complete. The patient must decide which of these methods she feels is more comfortable.

How can it be too early to have an abortion?

In order to have an abortion, the healthcare provider will need to confirm the pregnancy and its location in the uterus through certain tests. If the patient is early in the pregnancy, the physician may not be able to detect the pregnancy with absolute certainty. At this early stage, the likelihood of missing all or part of the pregnancy tissue (resulting in an incomplete abortion) is greater. In order to avoid this complication, physicians may ask their patients to wait until the pregnancy is at least 4 or 5 weeks in order to detect and remove all the pregnancy tissue with greater accuracy. In addition, many physicians will want to confirm that the pregnancy is, in fact, in the uterus before attempting an abortion. In rare cases, the pregnancy may be located elsewhere, often in one of the fallopian tubes. This is called an ectopic pregnancy, and such pregnancies require immediate and specific medical attention. Health care professionals will want to rule out the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy before a physician can perform an abortion.

When is it too late to have an abortion?

Generally speaking, an abortion is legal in the United States through the second trimester, or 24 weeks LMP. However, each state has its own regulations for when, where, and under what circumstances an abortion can be performed in the second and third trimester. In some situations, usually involving severe fetal defects or abnormalities, third trimester abortions may be performed, but these are extremely rare.

It is advised that the patient have an abortion as soon as possible, because the procedure becomes more complicated as the pregnancy continues and the cost of the abortion usually increases with each week of the pregnancy.

If I have an abortion, will I be able to get pregnant in the future?

Yes, it is possible to become pregnant in the future after having an abortion. Having an abortion will only terminate the current pregnancy, and it will not prevent the patient from getting pregnant in the future. Both the surgical and non-surgical abortion procedures are very safe and effective, and are statistically less risky than carrying a pregnancy to full term. Following all the pre-operative and post-operative instructions will help to make the procedure as safe as possible, and minimize the risk of future fertility problems. However, pregnancy in general will always involve some risk, and there are a number of factors that will affect a women’s future fertility. By being open and honest about her complete medical history, each patient can help to ensure that she will have the safest abortion possible.

How long does the procedure take?

The abortion surgery usually takes about 5 minutes in the first trimester and about 15 minutes in the second trimester. In addition, if the patient is in the second trimester, the doctor may need to dilate her cervix before beginning surgery and the dilation process can take anywhere from 1 to 48 hours.

While the surgery is not long, it is important that time is set aside for various tests beforehand as well as recovery time afterward. Therefore, a typical appointment may last several hours.

Is an abortion painful?How long will I feel pain after an abortion?

Every woman’s threshold for pain varies and what seems very painful to one person may not seem painful at all to another. The pain a woman feels during an abortion varies according to the method she chooses – surgical or non-surgical – and what type of anesthesia or pain alleviating medication she chooses for her procedure. Typically, women report mild to strong cramping during surgical abortion with a local anesthetic, as well as non-surgical abortion. This pain will generally decrease once the surgery is over, and women may have cramps intermittently for the next few days or weeks in both cases. Severe pain in the days or weeks after an abortion is not normal, and may indicate a problem.

How much does an abortion cost?

The cost of the procedure varies at each facility, and the patient should call the facility she chooses to go to directly for that information. Generally speaking, the cost of the abortion increases after the first trimester, and sometimes increases with each week of pregnancy. This is because the procedure becomes more complicated as the pregnancy gets further along. When asking the cost of the procedure, the patient should ask what that price includes so that she is not surprised with unexpected fees on the day of her appointment. For example, the patient should ask if the cost includes screening tests, ultrasound, medications during and/or after surgery, and follow up visits to name a few. Some facilities may be able to provide funding resources for women having difficulty paying for an abortion.

Will insurance pay for an abortion?

Some insurance plans cover an abortion and some do not. The best way to find out if an insurance plan will cover the cost of the procedure the patient chooses is to call the insurance company directly and ask. Even if the insurance company does cover termination of pregnancy, the patient may be responsible for a percentage of the procedure and/or bringing a referral.

I am under 18 years of age. Do I have to tell my parents?

The answer to this question depends on what state you live in. Thirty-three states have some type of law that requires parental involvement in a minor’s decision. Nineteen states require parental consent, and fourteen states require parental notification. Parental consent means you will need to get written authorization from one or both of your parents to have an abortion. Parental notification means that you or your healthcare provider will have to inform either one or both of your parents about your abortion, but you do not need their written permission to have an abortion. In all states with parental notification or consent laws, minors do have the option of bypassing these regulations by going to court and obtaining authorization that will allow them to have an abortion without involving their parents. The Supreme Court ruled that minors must have this confidential alternative known as judicial bypass. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, 45% of minors who have abortions tell their parents, and 61% undergo the procedure with at least one parent's knowledge.

Will anyone be able to find out I had an abortion?

In most cases, no one should be able to find out if you have had an abortion. In 1996 the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed, and this required the Department of Health and Human Services to establish national standards for healthcare providers to keep an individual’s information secure and confidential. As a result of this law, it would be illegal for an abortion provider or any other health care provider to disclose information about you to anyone, unless you give him/her permission to do so. The only exception is if the patient is a minor (generally someone under the age of 18), whom the healthcare facility suspects has been sexually assaulted or abused. Laws vary from state to state, but all healthcare workers are required to report suspected abuse in certain cases.

Though the healthcare facility where you are seen is generally restricted from giving out any patient health information, insurance companies do not usually have such restrictions. Therefore, if you choose to pay for an abortion using private insurance, and if you obtain insurance coverage through a spouse, parent, or someone else (known as the policy holder or subscriber of the insurance) the policy holder may find out you had an abortion. The insurance company keeps records of all claims made under the policy holder and he/she has the right to know about all the health care claims, including abortions, that have been covered under his/her policy.

Is abortion right or wrong?

There is no one correct answer to this question. Each individual can have different values and beliefs, and therefore a different definition of what is right or wrong. The question to ask is whether or not an abortion is right or wrong for you. It is important for every woman facing this decision to examine her beliefs and wishes, and makes a decision based on what is best for her. A woman considering abortion should make sure the choice is hers alone, and not allow others to pressure her or force her into making a decision she is not comfortable with. If you would like more information on pregnancy options and making decisions that are best for you, please click here.

How many women have an abortion?

On the basis of current abortion rates, one in three American women will have had an abortion by age 45 according to the Alan Guttmacher Institute. Fifty-two percent of U. S. women obtaining abortions are younger than 25 years of age. Women aged 20-24 years obtain 33% of all abortions, and teenagers obtain 19%. Over 60% of abortions are among women who have had 1 or more children. No racial or ethnic group makes up a majority of women having abortions. Eighty-eight percent of abortions occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Why do women have abortions?

There are a wide variety of reasons why women have abortions. The decision to have an abortion is typically motivated by multiple, diverse, and interrelated reasons. Some women feel having a child would interfere with work, school, or other responsibilities they already have. Others have had all the children they want and do not want more. Some women cannot afford to have a child or to have another child. Other women are unmarried or have relationship problems with their partner, and do not want to be a single parent. Some women are very young and not mature enough to handle the responsibility of a child, while others may feel they are too old to have a child, and may be worried about the health risks associated with pregnancy later in life. Birth defects or fetal abnormalities may cause some women to choose abortion, if they feel they cannot care for a disabled child, or if they know that the child would not live after birth. Some women with prior health problems find their own health to be at stake during pregnancy, and may choose abortion in order to preserve or save their own lives. Some women choose to have an abortion if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest. Hence, there are many reasons why women may choose to have an abortion and many times more than one reason can apply.

What are the risks associated with abortion?

The risk of complications during or after an abortion is minimal when the procedure is performed by a trained professional in a hygienic setting. Less than 1% of all legal abortion patients experience a major complication, according to the Alan Guttmacher Institute. It is extremely important for any woman getting an abortion to follow the instructions given before and after surgery by an abortion provider. It is also important that she be completely honest about her medical history.

According to a 1996 report by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, 97% of women report no complications post-abortion, 2. 5% of women report minor complications post-abortion, 0. 5% of women report major complications post-abortion. The most common risk associated with an abortion is infection. Three to five percent of women will get an infection and most can be treated easily with antibiotics in a doctor’s office. Other risks, including tearing or perforation of the cervix or uterus, hemorrhaging or cardiac arrest are less than 1% likely to occur.

There is no evidence of childbearing problems among women who have had a vacuum aspiration abortion, the most common procedure within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The risk of death associated with abortion increases with the length of pregnancy. According to the Center for Disease control the risk of death in the first trimester of pregnancy due to abortion in 1 in 1,000,000, and the risk of death due to abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy is less than 1 in 100,000. It should be noted that the risk of death associated with childbirth is about 11 times higher than that associated with abortion.

The abortion provider should give you a thorough explanation of any risks, and you should feel free to ask any questions. In order to increase the safety of your abortion, you should follow all of the pre- and post-operative instructions you are given, and be thorough and honest about your complete medical history – something that seems unimportant or trivial to you may be very important to the healthcare provider!Following the abortion, it is also important that you have a check-up, either with the abortion provider or your regular doctor. Take all medications given to you and know the warning signs of possible complications. Some instructions you should follow after your abortion include: not having intercourse for 2-3 weeks, not exerting yourself physically, and avoiding painkillers that contain aspirin.

Does abortion cause breast cancer?

Over the last three decades there have been many studies investigating whether abortion causes or increases the risk of breast cancer. The studies produced conflicting results, so in February 2003 the US National Cancer Institute evaluated these studies to determine the association between abortion and breast cancer. The scientific experts concluded “induced abortion is not associated with an increase in breast cancer risk. ”

This debate over the scientific data arose out of anti-abortion groups attempt to scare women about the risks associated with abortion. For many years, these groups have tried to dissuade women from seeking abortion and instilling fear in women about the association of abortion and breast cancer. The anti-abortion groups relied on poorly designed research studies and circulated misinformation about abortion causing or increasing the risk of breast cancer. The US National Cancer Institute put this debate to rest by examining all the research studies and concluding that abortion does not increase the risk of breast cancer.

Why do women have more than one abortion?

It is important to recognize that most women will be able to get pregnant for at least 30 years of their lifetime, if not more. Thus, it is possible for a woman to have many pregnancies throughout her life, whether she wishes to be pregnant or not. Even a woman who uses birth control correctly throughout all of her reproductive years may become pregnant, as no form of birth control is 100% effective. According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, roughly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned.

With each pregnancy a woman’s circumstances may vary, leading to different choices about her desired pregnancy outcomes. As discussed above (link to question above “Why do women have abortions?”), there are many, many reasons why a woman might choose abortion. Given that women may expectedly or unexpectedly become pregnant several times throughout their lifetime and given that there are many reasons why a woman may choose abortion, it is not surprising that a woman may find herself choosing abortion two, three, or more times in her life.

Is it safe to have more than one abortion?

Having an abortion is very safe. As mentioned above (link to question “what are the risks associated with abortion?”), abortion is a great deal safer than childbirth. While it is certainly not entirely safe to undergo many abortions – due to the risks associated with undergoing the procedure each time – it will not necessarily harm a woman, her future health, or her future fertility to have more than one abortion.

However, pregnancy in general does carry risks and having many pregnancies – regardless of whether the pregnancies end in abortion or not – may increase some of these risks. Complete pregnancy history, including number of births, miscarriages, abortions, and other pregnancies, along with other medical indicators will play a role in a woman’s future health and fertility. Each woman’s pregnancy history, medical history, age, and individual characteristics should always be discussed with a healthcare professional to determine what is best for her health and safety.