Pregnancy Option 3: Abortion

After careful evaluation, if you have concluded that you don’t feel ready to be a mother and you don’t want to give your child up for adoption, your remaining option is to have an abortion, which means ending the pregnancy.

There are two different types of abortion:

• Medical abortion
• Surgical abortion

Medical abortion is possible only in the first part of pregnancy, up to nine weeks after your last period. Once that date has passed, only surgical abortion is possible.

It is important to keep in mind that abortion is way more than just taking a couple of pills. 

It’s a tough choice that can have serious emotional and psychological consequences, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly.

If you feel that abortion might be the best solution for you, seek the help and counseling of one or more adults you trust—people who care about you and can help you evaluate and understand every aspect of this choice.

It would also help to talk with a counselor in order to better understand and prepare for the possible psychological consequences of this choice.

IS ABORTION SAFE?

Abortion, both medical and surgical, is generally a very safe procedure when performed properly.

Abortion has a much lower risk of complications than carrying a pregnancy to term does.

Nevertheless, as with any medical procedure, there is a risk of complications that every patient needs to understand and accept.

Ask your doctor or medical practitioner about possible complications associated with abortion.

IS ABORTION PAINFUL?

It is hard to give a general answer to this question. Every person has a different tolerance for pain. What some people might find uncomfortable others might find painful.

Generally, abortion isn’t a very painful procedure, but it does involve a certain degree of discomfort.

For example, it is common to experience some cramping in the lower abdomen, but the intensity of the cramps varies from person to person. 

Cramping is sometimes more intense and more prolonged in a nonsurgical abortion than in a surgical one.

FALSE MYTHS ABOUT ABORTION

People circulate several false myths about abortion.

Here are some of the most common:

1. Abortion increases the risk of breast cancer: false!
2. Abortion reduces a woman’s chances of getting pregnant in the future: false!
3. Abortion increases the risk of not carrying future pregnancies to term: false!
4. Abortion increases the chance of delivering stillborn babies: false!
5. Abortion increases the chances of becoming sterile: false!

Lots of studies have shown no correlation between abortions without complications and any of the above risks.

IS THERE ANY SAFE WAY TO HAVE AN ABORTION BY MYSELF?

No, there isn’t!

Any method to self-induce abortion is extremely dangerous and can cause serious complications such as severe bleeding, damage to the uterus, sterility, or something worse.

Under no circumstances should you try do-it-yourself solutions or rely on people who are not certified medical professionals.

Your health and even your life might depend on this.

HOW AM I GOING TO FEEL AFTER AN ABORTION?

It is very difficult to answer this question; reactions to an event like abortion are very personal.

The majority of women report a sense of relief afterward, but in many cases there are also deeper, longer-term feelings.

How you feel afterward is going to depend partly on the amount of time you put into examining every option available to you and therefore how well considered and informed your choice is.

Regardless of how hard and sad a choice like abortion can be, you’ll live with it much better if you know in your heart that you didn’t choose it lightly.