Did you know that nearly two-thirds of abortion happen within 8 weeks of pregnancy? Or that more than 90% happens with the first 13 weeks? Whether or not you agree with the idea of abortions, the reality is that an abortion is a safe and legal way to end pregnancy. And a lot of people use it, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. In this guide we will discuss the two main ways to have such an “early” abortion. The first is a medical abortion (which is often not discussed as a valid abortion option in the media), followed by an aspiration abortion which is typically what the public associates with an abortion in their heads. So with that being said, let’s get started!
The Medical Abortion
This is also known as an abortion with pills and simply put involves taking medicine to end a pregnancy. Note that this involves taking two different pills to work. The first abortion pill that you take is known as mifepristone and can actually be taken in person, at the clinic or at a doctor’s office. Although some women make experience some nausea after taking mifepristone, most women feel fine. At home, the second pill which is known as misoprostol is taken, between 6 to 72 hours later. This pill is taken slightly differently than the first pill in that you are required to take it either via buccal administration, which means placing the pill in your cheek to dissolve it, or by inserting it vaginally. Your healthcare provider will let you know which one you have to do.
Then the abortion actually begins
One to four hours after taking misoprostol, the abortion will actually begin. You can expect heavy bleeding and cramps that will last for a couple of hours. And that is all there is to it. About a week later you should definitely have a follow-up appointment with your healthcare provider to ensure that the abortion is complete and successful.
Be aware of heavy bleeding after the fact
As mentioned above, be sure to note that during the abortion you will experience heavy bleeding. But also note that after the actual abortion is complete, you will also experience some lighter bleeding that is on and off for two weeks or more. That is completely natural so do not worry if you are still seeing physical symptoms of the abortion weeks afterwards.
Medication Abortions Can Be When You are Up To 10 Weeks Pregnant
If you need a specific number, what this really means is ten weeks from the first day of your last period. Not your missed one. If you have missed this window, you can still try a medical abortion but the results of success will greatly diminish after this point. In any case, if a medical abortion is not successful for you, or you would like to use a different option to ensure a successful abortion immediately, you will have to turn to an aspiration abortion.
The Aspiration Abortion
This is the abortion that is typically sensationalized by the conservative groups that is defined by being an actual active medical procedure to remove the pregnancy manually. The abortion takes place in a clinic or office and only takes 5 to 10 minutes. A physician administers the abortion by using medical instruments in your vagina and uterus to remove the pregnancy. Again, after a quick 5 to 10 minutes the procedure is complete, although you may need a return visit if you experience problems or have any other concerns post-abortion.
Pain during the abortion
Most of the pain of an aspiration abortion comes during the procedure. You can expect some mild to much more sever cramps that happen on and off during the procedure. If you so choose, you can use pain medication to help ease the pain.
Additional bleeding for a few weeks
For up to seven days after the aspiration abortion, it is very common to expect light bleeding throughout. This bleeding may continue on and off for another few weeks, which although is not common, should be worth mentioning.
Aspiration Abortions Can Be When You are Up To 12 Weeks Pregnant
Similar to the above number for Medication Abortions, this 12 week number means 12 weeks from the first day of your last period. While you can technically attempt an abortion after this 12 week period, there is a very high chance of increased complication either during the procedure or in the days following. Choosing to do this should be done at your own discretion and risk.
Expect close to 100% Success Rate for Both Abortions
Both abortion methods have a success rate of close to 100%. But for those of you who really want a number: for Medication abortions, the success rate is 98% to 99%. And for an aspiration abortion, the success rate is 99%. In both cases, if the abortion does fail (although highly unlikely), all you would need to do is have another repeat abortion, as long as you are still in the correct timeframes mentioned above for each abortion type.
The cost of an abortion
Regardless of which abortion method you take, you will more or less be looking at the same price point. However, it is important to note that the exact costs depends on the location, the facility and how far along you may be into your pregnancy. Having said all that, Planned Parenthood estimates that in the United States a medication abortion costs between $300 to $800, while an aspiration abortion can be as low as $300 as well, but can go as high as $950. More or less, the price for both abortion methods is roughly the same.
In terms of a cost to your future, rest assured that neither type of abortion reduces your chances of getting or staying pregnant in the future. This is especially reassuring to hear for young teenagers who definitely want to have kids in the future but may have concerns about an abortion early on in their life. Abortions are one-time events with no long-lasting effects on a woman’s physiological functionality.
Always Think Hard Before Deciding to Do An Abortion
Whenever you are considering an abortion, please think long and hard whether this is really what you want to do. Abortions are permanent, and regardless of how you feel about the pro-choice vs. pro-life argument, an abortion should not be taken lightly either way. Once you do decide to get an abortion, hopefully this guide will have helped you prepare for the physical, mental and financial challenges to come. Good luck!
