When considering an abortion, your health and safety are important to us. We are here to help you sort through all of your questions and concerns.

At your appointment, you will be provided a lab-quality pregnancy test first. If positive, you will be offered an ultrasound. A free ultrasound can confirm a viable pregnancy and estimate how far along in pregnancy you are. (The term ‘viable’ here means the pregnancy has not miscarried and is not ectopic.) Even if you are considering abortion, an ultrasound will provide important information that will tell you more about your pregnancy and your abortion options. Medical services are provided at no cost to you by a licensed medical professional.

No matter your situation, our caring team is here to help you! We invite you to contact us to discuss your situation, ask questions, or to schedule an appointment. All services are free and confidential.

Medical Abortions

Medical abortions use drugs, instead of surgical instruments, to end a pregnancy. Early Medical Abortion - Up to 10 weeks from the last menstrual period (LMP). "The Abortion Pill" (mifepristone plus misoprostol) is the most common form of medical abortion. It is approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for use in women up to 10 weeks after LMP.¹¹ It is done by taking a series of pills that disrupt the embryo’s attachment to the uterus, and cause uterine cramps which push the embryo out.¹² Things to consider:¹³

• Bleeding can be heavy and lasts an average of 9-16 days.
• One woman in 100 need a surgical scraping to stop the bleeding.
• Pregnancies sometimes fail to abort, and this risk increases as pregnancy advances.
• For pregnancies 8 weeks LMP and beyond, identifiable parts may be seen.¹⁴
• By 10 weeks LMP, the developing baby is over one inch in length with clearly recognizable arms, legs, hands, and feet.¹⁵

Medical Methods for Induced Abortion^17,18 - 2nd and 3rd Trimester. This procedure induces abortion by using drugs to cause labor and delivery of the fetus and placenta. Drugs may be injected into the fetus or the amniotic fluid to stop the baby’s heart before starting the procedure to avoid a live birth. There is a risk of heavy bleeding, and the placenta may need to be surgically removed.

Surgical Abortions

Surgical abortions are done by opening the cervix and passing instruments into the uterus to suction, grasp, pull, and scrape the pregnancy out. The exact procedure is determined by the baby’s level of growth.

Aspiration/Suction¹⁷ – Up to 13 weeks LMP. Most early surgical abortions are performed using this method. Local anesthesia is typically offered to reduce pain. The abortion involves opening the cervix, passing a tube inside the uterus, and attaching it to suction device which pulls the embryo out.

Dilation and Evacuation¹⁷ (D&E) – 13 weeks LMP and up. Most second trimester abortions are performed using this method. Local anesthesia, oral, or intravenous pain medications and sedation are commonly used. Besides the need to open the cervix much wider, the main difference between this procedure and a first trimester abortion is the use of forceps to grasp fetal parts and remove the baby in pieces. D&E is associated with a much higher risk of complications compared to a first trimester surgical abortion.

D&E After Viability^18-20 – 24 weeks LMP and up. The term ‘viable’ here means the pregnancy has not miscarried and is not ectopic. This procedure typically takes 2–3 days and is associated with increased risk to the life and health of the mother. General anesthesia is usually recommended, if available. Drugs may be injected into the fetus or the amniotic fluid to stop the baby’s heart before starting the procedure. The cervix is opened wide, the amniotic sac is broken, and forceps are used to dismember the fetus.

REFERENCES

*Hope Center Corsicana does not promote, perform or recommend abortion services.