Abortion
Your Right to Choose Includes the Right to Know
If you are considering abortion, you deserve accurate information to help you with your decision. Birth Choice gives accurate clinical information about abortion procedures along with risks and side effects.
Before you decide:
- Get accurate information
- Be fully informed
- Protect your health and safety
- If you feel pressured to make a quick decision, remember you are the one person who will be most deeply affected. You will want to take responsibility for this decision-because you, more so than others, will live with the outcome.
Take a few days to be sure that you understand:
How Abortions are Done
If you are considering an abortion, the procedures vary depending on the gestational age of the fetus. Here are a list of surgical and non-surgical procedures most performed by abortionists.
Manual Vacuum Aspiration: ( within 7 weeks after LMP)-This surgical abortion is done early in the pregnancy. The cervical muscle is stretched with dilators (metal rods) until the opening is wide enough to allow the abortion instruments to pass into the uterus. A hand held syringe is attached to tubing on a suction machine that is inserted into the uterus and the fetus is suctioned out.
Suction Curettage: ( within 6 to 14 weeks after LMP)-In this procedure, the doctor opens the cervix with a dilator (metal rod)or laminaria (thin sticks derived from plant material inserted hours earlier). The doctor inserts tubing into the uterus and connects the tubing to the suction machine. The suction seperates the limbs from the body allowing the fetus to pass through the dilated uterine canal.
Dilation Curettage D&C: Similar to suction curretage. In this method the doctor may use a curette, a loop shaped knife, to scrape the fetal parts out of the uterus.
Dilation and evacuation or D & E: (within 13 to 24 weeks after LMP)- This abortion is done during the 2 trimester of pregnancy. In this procedure, the cervix must be opened wider than in the first trimester of pregnancy. This is done by inserting laminaria in the cervix a day or two before the procedure. After opening the cervix the doctor pulls out the fetal parts with forceps.The fetus' skull is collapsed using forceps to ease removal.
The final step of the above methods just mentioned is for the nurse to reassemble the parts of the fetus' body on a table to make sure that all of the "products of conception" have been removed. If any fetus body parts or fragments of the placenta are left inside the woman, she is likely to develop a serious infection.
Prostaglandin: These are drugs which produce labor and delivery at whatever stage of pregnancy they are administered. The mother gives birth to a fetus who is so premature he or she cannot survive. Occasionally when this method is used a fetus is aborted alive. And when an abortion produces a live fetus, it is called a complication.
Mifepristone (formerly RU-486) sometimes called The Abortion Pill: First a steroid drug is taken orally which either destroys the fetus' placenta or prevents it from being formed. Then a prostaglandin drug is taken to induce the uterus to contract and vaginally deliver the fetus. This usually occurs at home after extreme cramping and bleeding begin.
Saline Procedure: A concentrated salt solution is injected into the amniotic fluid through the mother's abdominal wall. It takes about an hour for the fetus to die after his skin has been chemically burned and after swallowing and breathing the salt solution. The mother delivers a dead or dying fetus about 24 hours later.
Partial Birth Abortion: (Also known as "late term abortion")The mother is given drugs to induce labor. The abortionist turns the baby so that it comes down the birth canal feet first. When all but the head is delivered, the abortionist plunges a scissor or similar instrument into the back of the neck at the base of the skull, inserts a tube, then sucks out the baby's brains to collapse the skull, (with no anesthesia to the baby), then completes the delivery of a now dead baby.
Hysterotomy: This is a late term procedure. The mother's abdomen is surgically opened as in a Caesarian section. The baby is lifted out, placed in a surgical bucket and, if not already dead, then it is allowed to die.
What About A Safe Abortion? Consider the Risks
Physical Risks With any procedure there is a certain amount of risk. Sometimes side effects may occur with induced abortion. These include:
- Abdominal pain/cramping
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
In most abortions, no serious complications occur. However, comlications may happen in as many as 1 out of every 100 early abortions and 1 out of every 50 later abortions. Such complications may include:
Heavy Bleeding Some bleeding after abortion is normal. There is, however, a risk of hemorrhage, especially if the uterine artery is torn. When this happens a blood transfusion may be required.
Infection Bacteria may get into the uterus from an incomplete abortion resulting in infection. A serious infection may lead to persistent fever over several days and extended hospitalization.
Incomplete Abortion Some fetal parts may not be removed by the abortion. Bleeding and infection may occur . RU486 may fail in up to 1 out of every 20 cases.
Allergic Reaction to Drugs An allergic reaction to anesthesia used during abortion suregery may result in comvulsions, heart attack and, in extreme cases, death.
Tearing of the Cervix The cervix may be cut or torn by abortion instruments.
Scarring of the Uterine Lining Suction tubing, curettes, and other abortion instruments may cause permanent scarring of the uterine lining.
Perforation of the Uterus The uterus may be punctured or torn by abortion instruments. The risk of this complicaion increases with the length of the pregnancy. If this occurs, major surgery, including a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) may be required.
Damage to Internal Organs When the uterus is punctured or torn, there is also a risk that damage will occure to nearby organs such as the bowel and bladder.
Death In extreme cases, other physical complications from abortion include: excessive bleeding, infection, organ damage from a perforated uterus, and adverse reactions to anesthesia (all of which may be life-threatening. This complication is very rare and occurs, on average, in less than 20 cases per year in the United States.
Note: If you experience immediate physical problems after an abortion, such as: pain, bleeding, fever or nausea, call your doctor immediately, call 911 for help, or go to an emergency room.
Other Risks
Abortion and Breast Cancer
Medical experts are still researching and debating the link between abortion and breast cancer. However, here are some important facts:
Research indicates that carrying a pregnancy to term gives protection against breast cancer that cannot be gained if abortion is chosen.
Abortion causes a sudden drop in estrogen levels that may make breast cells more prone to cancer.
Most studies conducted so far show a significant link between abortion and breast cancer.
Effect on Future Pregnancy
Scarring or other injury during an abortion may prevent or place at risk a future pregnancy. The risk of miscarriage is greater for women who abort their first pregnancy.
Emotional Impact Some women experience strong negative emotions after abortion. Sometimes this occurs within days and sometimes it happens after many years. Symptoms may include:
- guilt
- anger
- anxiety
- depression
- suicidal thoughts
- anniversary grief
- flashbacks of the abortion
- sexual dysfunction
- relationship problems
- eating disorders
- alcohol and drug abuse
- psychological reactions
- repeat abortions
The memory of an abortion may never go away. Many women live with side affects known as PAS-Post Abortion Stress symptoms. But there is hope. If you are dealing with the pain of a past abortion, Birth Choice highly recommends that you see a professional counselor or participate with other women in post-abortion recovery programs in the Temecula/Murrieta/Hemet area:
- Rachel's Hope, 858-581-3022. Rachel's Hope is especially designed for Catholic women. Visit their website at rachelsvineyard.org .
- BirthChoice of Hemet, 951-652-3111 offers a non-denominational healing program Her Choice To Heal for women of all faiths.
Spiritual Consequences
People have different understandings of God. Whatever your present beliefs may be, there is a spiritual side to abortion that deserves to be considered. Having an abortion may affect more than just your body and your mind -- it may have an impact on your relationship with God. If you believe in God, you may ask yourself,"What is God's desire for me in this situation? How does God see my unborn child?" These are important questions to consider, and should be considered in your decision-making process.
Abortion Clinic Health and Safety Checklist
Some Health and Safety Issues to Consider Prior to an Abortion:
Before you go to an abortion clinic or visit an abortion provider, you are strongly encouraged to take 4 importants steps to protect yourself:
1. Confirm Your Pregnancy:
The first step to take: Be certain you are pregnant. It is possible that you are not. Call 951-652-3111 or 1-800-395-HELP or email us 24/7at birthchoice1@verizon.net, and our trained counselors will contact you to schedule a pregnancy test. All correspondence is handled with the utmost respect to your confidentiality.
2. Understand the Risks of the Abortion Procedure:
Every abortion procedure involves some potential risk of harm. You have the legal right to know what type of procedure will be performed upon you and what specific risks of harm are associated with the performance of this procedure on you. This website and our trained phone consultants can help you begin to understand some of the potential physical and psychological affects that an abortion may have upon you. (The physical, emotional and spiritual risks are listed above.)
3. Investigate the Qualifications of the Abortion Provider:
Find out the name of the abortion doctor who will perform your abortion procedure. Make sure that the person who will perform the abortion is a licensed physician and a board certified obstetrician-gynecologist. Also, make sure that the abortion doctor has appropriate privileges to admit you to a hospital in the event that there are any complications. Many states maintain public records about past medical malpractice judgments and settlements. Call the appropriate state agency to find out about any medical malpractice suits involving the abortion doctor who is scheduled to perform your abortion. You should be wary of any abortion doctor who has an unusual history of multiple malpractice suits.
4. Maintain the Right to Say "No":
Since abortion is almost always an elective surgery, you can change your mind at any time right up until the abortion has begun. You have every right to say, "I've changed my mind," while you are in the waiting room or on the table awaiting the abortion. Saying "Stop!" is your right. Don't feel pressured into having the abortion if you've decided against it or just want time to reconsider.
If circumstances are making your pregnancy difficult, call Birth Choice and let us support you. You are not alone. There are many people who care about you and your baby who are willing to stand with you and help you find the courage and resources to give your baby life. All our services are free.
Note: Our pregnancy center offers peer counseling and accurate information about all pregnancy options.
Choice does not make a financial profit on abortions
Birth Choice does not perform abortions
Birth Choice does not refer for abortions