Care Net Pregnancy Center of Thurston County does not
provide abortion, nor do
we refer for abortion.

Facing an unplanned pregnancy is hard, and the decision you make will affect you for the rest of your life.  If you are considering an abortion, you need to get all the facts about this medical procedure.

Abortion Procedures: Here are just a few:
   Suction curettage (most common) -- within 6 to 14 weeks after last menstrual period.  In this procedure the doctor opens the cervix with a dilator (a metal rod) or laminaria (thin sticks derived from plants and inserted hours before the procedure).  The doctor inserts tubing into the uterus and connects the tubing to a suction machine.  The suction pulls the fetus' body apart and out of the uterus.
   Dilation and evacuation ( D & E) -- within 13 to 14 weeks after the last menstrual period.  Because the developing fetus doubles in size between the eleventh and twelfth weeks of pregnancy, the body of the fetus is too large to be broken up by suction and will not pass through the suction tubing.  In this procedure, the cervix must be opened wider than in the first trimester abortion.  After opening the cervix, the doctor pulls out the fetus parts with forceps.
   RU486 (also known as the abortion pill)  -- within 4 to 7 weeks after the last menstrual period.  This procedure requires 3 office visits.  The RU486 is given to the woman who returns 2 days later for a second medication.  The combination of these medications causes the uterus to expel the fetus.  Generally, the fetus expels when the woman is alone, not in the doctor's office.  At the final visit, the doctor examines the uterus to ensure that no tissue remains.  Five to ten percent of women experience an incomplete abortion and require a surgical abortion.

Health Risks: 
Some immediate health risks include:
   Infection:  Bacteria may get into the uterus from an incomplete abortion resulting in an infection.
   Incomplete abortion:  Some fetal parts may not be removed by the abortion.
   Tearing of the cervix:  The cervix may be cut or torn by abortion instruments.
Some long-term health risks include:
   Effect of future pregnancy:  Scarring or other injury during an abortion may prevent or place at risk wanted pregnancies.  The risk of miscarriage is greater for women who had an abortion(s).
   Breast cancer:  Some research has revealed a link between abortion and breast cancer.  Go to abortionbreastcancer.com/abc.html for more information on the Abortion-Breast Cancer (ABC) Link.

Emotional Risks: 
Some women and men experience strong negative emotions after abortion.  Sometimes this occurs within days and sometimes it happens after many years.  This psychological stress is known as Post-Abortion Stress (PAS). Find out if you are at risk for PAS if you have an abortion: optionline.org/hadabortion.html


Other things to Think about: 

   Fetal development:  Major milestones within the first trimester.

Conception: Genetic detail is set including hair color, eye color, gender, etc.
Week 1: Embryo attaches to the lining of the uterus.
Week 2: Rapid development occurs.
Week 3: Heart starts beating.
Week 4: Brain and spinal cord developing.
Week 5: First signs of brain development; beating heart can be seen on ultrasound.
Week 6: Upper limb buds of the baby are visible; by end of week lower limb buds can be seen.
Week 7: The embryo makes its own blood in the liver, bone marrow and spleen.
Week 8: The elbows and fingers become evident.
Week 9-12: Rapid development of the limbs and fingers; soft tissues of the upper limbs begin to calcify; eyelids developing; developing baby has all of the major organ systems.

   Other options to consider:
Parenting.
Adoption.

References

1.  Before you decide, 2003, published by Care Net.
2.  RU486 Sure? Know the Facts About the "Abortion Pill" Before You Decide, 2000, published by Focus on the Family.


"This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should never be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice."