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The Women's Pregnancy Center is a resource for women and men with pregnancy related needs, offering a safe and confidential place where you can take your time considering all of your options. An unplanned pregnancy may be scary, but Women's Pregnancy Center can help you remove the fear and confusion through our free services and non-judgemental atmosphere. Remember, being informed empowers you to make the best decision for your pregnancy.


So what are your options? If your pregnancy test is positive, you have choices. Before deciding on a particular option, gather all the facts. Call us for an appointment and you can talk through your options in a safe, confidential environment.


Help is Available

Facing an unexpected pregnancy can seem overwhelming. That is why knowing where to go for help is important. Talk to someone you can trust - we have caring people available to help you through this difficult time.

At Women’s Pregnancy Center, we do not provide or refer for abortions. We will, however, provide you with accurate information regarding abortion procedures and their possible side-effects. Abortion is a serious medical procedure that can affect your physical and mental health. It could affect the rest of your life. The right to choose includes the right to know.

 
   
 

Abortion Procedures

Currently, there are several different types of pregnancy terminations. The pregnancy termination procedure used depends upon the stage of pregnancy and the size of the baby.

The Abortion Pill (RU486)

Can be used up to seven weeks after Last Menstrual Period (LMP)

Also known as RU486, this drug is only approved by the FDA for use in women up to the 49th day after 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 to determine if the procedure has been completed. RU486 will not work in the case of an ectopic pregnancy. This 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.

1st Trimester Surgical Abortion Procedures

The two most commonly used surgical abortion procedures in the 1st Trimester are Manual Vacuum Aspiration and Suction Curettage.

Used up to 7 weeks after LMP

A long thin tube is inserted into the uterus. A large syringe is attached to the tube and the embryo is suctioned out.

Used Between 6 to 14 weeks after LMP

This is the most common surgical abortion procedure. Because the fetus is larger, the doctor must first stretch open the cervix through the use of thin rods made of seaweed and/or metal dilating 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, 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.

2nd Trimester Abortion Procedures

Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) - Used between 13 to 24 weeks after Last Menstrual Period

In the second trimester, the fetus is too large to be broken up and removed by suction alone. In this procedure, the cervix must be opened wider than in a 1st trimester abortion. This is done by inserting numerous thin rods made of seaweed (called laminaria) a day or two before the abortion and/or giving other oral or vaginal medications to soften the cervix. The cervix may be opened further using metal dilating rods. Once the cervix is stretched open, the doctor pulls out the fetal parts with forceps. A sharp tool (called a curette) is also used to scrape out the contents of the uterus, removing any remaining tissue.

What about the morning after pill?

Plan B One-Step (Morning-After Pill) is marketed as emergency contraceptive that can be taken within the first 72 hours after intercourse to prevent pregnancy. The Morning-After Pill contains a high dosage of the hormone progestin, and when used as directed, it prevents or ends pregnancy. This pill is designed to be taken in two doses – the first pill is taken within 72 hours of intercourse followed by a second dose in 12 hours. The Morning-After Pill works in several ways, depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. It may prevent ovulation (the egg will not be released to meet the sperm), it may affect the lining of the fallopian tubes so that sperm cannot reach the egg (preventing conception), or the lining of your uterus will become irritated and, if an egg has already been fertilized by the sperm, this irritation will interfere with the ability of the embryo to implant in the uterine wall.

Possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, fatigue, headache and irregular periods. Cramping and abdominal pain may also result from the use of Plan B. This may mask symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, a potentially life-threatening condition in which a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus.

It wouldn’t be like I was getting an abortion … right?

That’s a possibility. Sperm can reach the fallopian tubes just minutes after intercourse. If an egg has already been released, conception could occur. If the Morning-After Pill is taken after the egg is fertilized, the human embryo may not be able to implant due to the effects of the hormones, which alter the lining of the uterine wall. If that’s the case, the Morning-After Pill would cause a very early abortion.

"Real prevention is something one does before the fact, not after the act."