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Resources. In Canada, abortion (voluntary termination of a pregnancy) is a legal and regulated medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy. It is important to note that provinces and territories have different guidelines related to abortions. Everyone has the right to make decisions about their own bodies, and no one should be forced to carry an ...
- Overview
- Medical abortion: Everything you need to know about abortion pills
- Surgical abortion: Everything you need to know about in-clinic procedures
- What about abortions in the second or third trimester?
- Abortion complications and when to seek help
- Deciding which abortion method is right for you
- Resources for accessing and funding your abortion
- Mental and emotional health resources
- The bottom line
If you’re considering an abortion, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the various methods to determine the best and most accessible choice for you.
The two main types of abortion are medical and surgical. Both are extremely safe and effective.
However, one might be preferable depending on how long you’ve been pregnant, where you live, your budget, and a few other factors.
Since the Supreme Court of the United States voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, which guaranteed the legal right to abortion nationwide, some states have already passed laws restricting access to abortion. Others are poised to follow suit.
That means not everyone has equal access to all methods of abortion, and you might face some challenges accessing one, depending on where you live.
Stay informed
According to reproductive health research, more than half of all abortions in the United States are medical abortions.
Medical abortion involves taking pills that terminate a pregnancy. You’ll most likely take a mifepristone pill followed by another medication called misoprostol, though some people will only take misoprostol.
These medications stop the pregnancy from continuing to develop and cause the uterus to empty itself, ending the pregnancy.
Abortion pills are FDA-approved for ending a pregnancy up to 10 weeks, but they’re also used off-label later than this in some states.
In most states, you can legally obtain abortion pills from a provider in person or through a provider-staffed telehealth platform. This is what’s known as “clinician-supported” medication abortion.
Most people can also order abortion pills online and take them at home without working with a provider. This is called a “self-managed” abortion, and it’s just as safe and effective as clinician-supported abortion.
A surgical abortion is a procedure done by a trained medical professional in a clinical setting like an abortion clinic or, sometimes, a hospital.
There are two main types of surgical abortion: vacuum aspiration and dilation and evacuation (D&E). Vacuum aspiration is most often used up to 16 weeks after your last period, while D&E is used up to 24 weeks.
Later-term abortions are uncommon in the U.S.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just 6.2% of abortions in 2019 happened at 14–20 weeks’ gestation. Fewer than 1% of all U.S. abortions were performed at 21 weeks or later.
People most commonly opt for abortions later in pregnancy if they’ve learned of severe health complications affecting the fetus, developed severe health complications themselves, or were denied an abortion earlier on.
If you need an abortion later in pregnancy, you’ll likely have a D&E procedure. It may take place over 2 days and require multiple visits to a provider. You will probably receive general anesthesia.
Complications are still rare, and later-term abortions are considered safe and effective with no risk of affecting your future fertility.
Learn more about later-term abortions here.
Complications are extremely rare for all types of abortion, but they can happen. The major concerns are infection, excessive bleeding or hemorrhage, organ perforation during surgery, or an incomplete abortion.
Contact a medical professional — ideally an abortion provider in your local community — if you:
•experience no bleeding at all within 24 hours of taking misoprostol
•have extremely heavy bleeding, which is defined as 1) bleeding through 2 or more regular maxi pads in an hour for 2 or more hours in a row or 2) soaking through 1 or more regular pads in an hour for 3 or more hours in a row
•pass foul-smelling vaginal discharge
•pass blood clots larger than a lemon
If you have the freedom to choose which type of abortion you’d feel most comfortable with, there are many factors to consider:
•How long you’ve been pregnant: Some forms of abortion are safer and more effective earlier in pregnancy and should be avoided later on. Medication abortions are often reserved for earlier abortions, while surgeries are needed later. The duration of your pregnancy may also affect which method(s) of abortion you can legally access where you live.
•Accessibility: Many states restrict or outlaw some forms of abortion or impose unnecessary and stressful hurdles — especially now, following the end of Roe v. Wade. Be sure to know the laws in your area and prioritize your privacy if you live somewhere that is hostile toward abortion.
•Costs: Abortion pills generally cost less than in-clinic surgical abortions, though prices can vary based on where you live. You may want or need to opt for a more affordable abortion method. Or, if you have insurance, your plan may only cover some abortion methods.
•Privacy: Many people prefer to use abortion pills in the privacy of their own homes or among their personal support systems. But if you don’t live with people who support your abortion choice, you might prefer to have the procedure in a clinic to better protect your privacy.
•Trust in the medical system: For many people, especially members of marginalized communities, ordering pills and self-managing an abortion at home may be more appealing than engaging with the medical system. Other people may not feel confident self-managing a procedure and would feel better in a sterile clinical setting with experienced professionals around, and that’s OK, too.
Wading through the sea of abortion information — and misinformation — online can be overwhelming. So can navigating costs, legality, and travel. And of course, deciding whether an abortion is right for you in the first place can be tough.
Remember that support is available for every step of your abortion process.
Abortion isn’t associated with poor mental health outcomes long term. In fact, people who have had abortions are no more likely to experience mental health challenges than people who have not had abortions.
Still, it’s natural to feel intense and possibly mixed emotions.
If you’re struggling with your emotional health, feel empowered to speak with an abortion-informed mental health professional or consider joining a support group.
Other resources that can help include Exhale and All-Options, which can connect you with unbiased, nonjudgmental post-abortion emotional support.
The types of abortion are medical and surgical.
A medical abortion involves taking one or two pills that cause your uterus to empty itself. You can order these yourself and take them at home, or you can receive and take them in a clinic.
Medical abortion is approved up to 10–12 weeks of pregnancy.
There are two main types of surgical abortion: vacuum aspiration and dilation and evacuation (D&E). These will be performed by trained professionals in a clinic or hospital.
Vacuum aspiration is quicker and can be accessed up to 16 weeks of pregnancy, while D&E is used up to 24 weeks.
It can be difficult to determine which abortion method is best for you. Legal restrictions that vary by state can make it even tougher to know what’s accessible in your area.
- Rose Thorne
Jan 9, 2019 · Abortion is the removal of pregnancy tissue, products of conception or the fetus and placenta (afterbirth) from the uterus. In general, the terms fetus and placenta are used after eight weeks of pregnancy. Pregnancy tissue and products of conception refer to tissue produced by the union of an egg and sperm before eight weeks.
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Dec 24, 2018 · Here's how you can tell if your medical abortion was successful. You had bleeding and cramping. Bleeding is an important part of a medical abortion - it's how the fetal tissue leaves the body, and cramping is essential for the uterus to return to its normal size. You can use pain killers, such as ibuprofen, to counteract the pain as soon as you ...
Aug 9, 2022 · Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. In this medical procedure, the pregnancy tissue or fetus is removed from the uterus.
Jan 16, 2024 · A medical abortion (or medication abortion) is a procedure that uses prescription pills to end a pregnancy in the early stages. The most common regimen involves taking two pills — mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the hormone needed to support a pregnancy. Misoprostol causes cramping and bleeding to empty your ...
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The “abortion pill” is the popular name for a safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy using a combination of two medicines: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone stops the pregnancy from growing. After taking mifepristone, you take a second medi cine (misoprostol) up to 4 8 hours later. This causes cramping and bleeding and ...
