Are You Considering An Abortion?

Despite what you’ve been told, getting an abortion is a big decision. Any time something is removed from your body, it’s a serious medical procedure. At Women’s Care Medical Center, we think you deserve to be as informed as possible before you make your abortion appointment. Schedule a free consultation to discuss abortion, your physical health, and reproductive safety.

Schedule an abortion pre-screening

Don’t schedule an appointment until you’ve received our free abortion pre-screening.

Step 1. Accurate pregnancy test

If you think you’re pregnant, get it confirmed! Our nurses and trained pregnancy consultants are here to help you get the medically accurate information you need. We provide a lab-certified pregnancy test by trained healthcare professionals at no cost to you.

Step 2. Ultrasound

An ultrasound scan, provided by our medical staff, can confirm a viable pregnancy (a fetal heartbeat is detected). You’ll find out how far along you are (which determines the type of abortion you can have) and where the pregnancy is located. All of this is free of charge.

Step 3. STI testing

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, having gonorrhea, chlamydia, or bacterial vaginosis can increase a woman’s chance of having an infection after an abortion procedure. We offer free STI testing.

Abortion procedures, side effects, and potential risks

There are two main types of abortion procedures, medical and surgical. Which method is used is determined by how far along you are.

Medical Abortion

Medical abortion is also known as the abortion pill or RU-486. You are only eligible for a medical abortion if you are less than 10 weeks pregnant. Despite the name, the abortion pill method actually consists of two powerful drugs. The first drug taken is mifepristone. When pregnant, a woman’s body begins producing a hormone called progesterone to support the growing embryo. Mifepristone stops the production of progesterone. As a result, the fetus can no longer stay attached. The second drug, misoprostol, causes a woman’s uterus to contract in order to expel the fetus.

Side effects of medical abortion:

Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
Chills
Diarrhea
Headache

Potential risks of medical abortion:

Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
Heavy and prolonged bleeding
Infection
Fever
Digestive system discomfort

Surgical Abortion

There are different types of surgical abortion depending on how far along your pregnancy is. Because surgical abortion is a highly invasive medical procedure, it comes with more serious risks and side effects. There are two main types of surgical abortion: suction (vacuum) aspiration and dilation & evacuation (D&E). Both procedures involve numbing your cervix in order to make it wider, known as dilation. They both involve the use of a suction device that acts as a vacuum to pull out the fetus and placenta. A D&E uses suction as well as instruments for scraping to ensure the fetus is completely removed.

Side effects of surgical abortion:

bleeding, including blood clots
Cramping
nausea and vomiting
sweating
feeling faint

Potential risks of surgical abortion:

Bleeding that’s heavy enough that you need to change pads every hour
Fever
Cramps lasting more than 48 hours
Pain that gets worse instead of better
Foul-smelling discharge from the vagina
Perforation of the uterus
Damage to the cervix
Scar tissue on the uterine wall
Infection

Mental and emotional side effects of abortion

Your mental and emotional health is just as important as your physical health. After having an abortion, many women report feelings of loss, guilt, and sadness. These feelings can occur right after the procedure or as they arise in the future.

Schedule an appointment

While we do not perform or refer for abortions, we’re here to help you understand your options and answer any questions you might have. Our services are always free of charge, no matter what decision you make. We simply care about you and want to help you navigate this difficult time. Schedule your appointment today.