Questions and Answers About Abortion |
What is an �abortion�? The word �abortion� literally means a pregnancy ending before birth, and it can either be spontaneous or induced.
The women who have abortions look just like you and me. Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures practiced in the United States. By the time women reach age 45, almost 1 in 3 have had abortions. That means someone you know has had an abortion, even if you don�t know who, when or why.
Every woman is different, and she may have several reasons for choosing to end her pregnancy. The most common reasons are not being able to afford a child (or another child), relationship problems, and school and work constraints. Just like no two women's experiences are the same, no two women's reasons for ending a pregnancy are exactly the same.
THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBES MEDICAL PROCEDURES AND MAY BE GRAPHIC. IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE, YOU CAN SKIP TO THE NEXT QUESTION BY CLICKING HERE.
There are a lot of myths about abortion, but abortion is a very safe medical procedure. There are two main types of abortion � medication and surgical. � Medication Abortion is used to safely end a pregnancy within the first seven weeks by taking two drugs. First, you take a drug called Mifiprex to stop your body from producing hormones you need during pregnancy. Then you take another medication called misoprostol to soften your cervix. After the Mifiprex stops your body from producing pregnancy hormones, your pregnancy will end within 1-2 days. The misoprostol will soften your cervix so that the placenta and fetus�which are both still very small�can pass through, and it will look like a heavy period.
Do I need permission from an adult before having one?
Where can I go to get an abortion?
There are many resources if you need help finding a doctor to perform your abortion:
The costs for an abortion depend on several factors, including where you live and far along you are into the pregnancy. The average cost of a first-term abortion, when the vast majority of abortions take place, is between $450 and $500. The later into the pregnancy the procedure takes place, the more expensive it becomes.
The National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF) is a nationwide coalition of community-based organizations that help women who can�t afford to get an abortion with money, housing and transportation. You can contact the National Network of Abortion Funds for more information.
You may be experiencing a lot of feelings after your abortion. Below are some resources that might provide some support for you after your abortion. � Exhale offers a free, confidential post-abortion Talkline; 1-866-4EXHALE (Monday-Friday, 5PM � 10PM Pacific Time; and Saturday and Sunday, 12PM � 10PM Pacific Time) � Backline offers a free, confidential talkline to talk about pregnancy, parenting, abortion and adoption; 1-888-493-0092 (Monday � Thursday, 5PM � 10PM Pacific Time; and Friday � Sunday, 10AM � 3PM, Pacific Time) � Our Truths/Nuestras Verdades is a magazine dedicated to de-stigmatizing abortion by creating a safe space for all people to share their experiences with abortion.
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