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LifeCare
exists to share a different message.
LifeCare
Pregnancy Center offers information about abortion procedures and
risks. The center does not offer abortion services or refer for
abortion.
If you know you are pregnant, whatever you decide to do now will change
your life. All your options have responsibilities and risks. We want
you to be fully aware of those responsibilities and risks before you
make a decision so that you don't live with regret. We want to offer
you information and support. You are worth it. Please make an
appointment to talk with us before you decide. Abortion may cost more
than you think.
Abortion Procedures
Morning After Pill
| RU-486 | Suction
Curettage | Dilation &
Evacuation | Dilation and
Extraction
Abortion Risks
Physical Risks
| Psychological Risks
Your Rights
Know Your Legal Rights
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ABORTION PROCEDURES
MORNING
AFTER PILL (MAP)
This is a form of "emergency contraception" typically used by women who
have unprotected or unplanned sexual intercourse, or birth control
failure (such as a broken condom). The drug regimen is usually started
within 72 hours of this incident.
The pills that are taken contain high doses of estrogen and/or
progesterone. They are usually taken in two doses, 12 hours apart. The
two FDA-approved drugs on the market are Preven (progesterone-like) and
Plan B (a combination of progesterone-like and estrogen related).
These medications work on the woman's reproductive system in one of
several ways. They may prevent or delay the release of an egg from the
ovaries (ovulation), they may slow the transport of the egg or the
sperm in the fallopian tube, or they may make the lining of the uterus
thinner and less hospitable for the implantation of an egg that is
already fertilized.
Side effects from these medications may include nausea, vomiting,
abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and changes in menstrual bleeding. A
woman's next menstrual cycle may start earlier or later than expected,
and the flow may be heavier or lighter than usual. Still, most women
will start their next period within 7 days of when it is expected. If
she has not started it within 3 weeks after taking MAP, it is possible
that she is pregnant, and she should see her healthcare provider.
Emergency contraception drugs do not appear to harm an early pregnancy,
but due to the effect of slowed transport, a failed MAP may result in
an increased possibility of an ectopic pregnancy (fertilized egg that
implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus) which can lead to
very serious complications.
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RU-486
(mifeprex)
This medication is used, along with misoprostol (Cytotec) in a two-step
process resulting in a medical abortion. It is used for established
pregnancies up to 49 days (7 weeks).
The first medication, RU-486, is given orally. Three pills will be
given. The medication works by blocking the activity of progesterone, a
substance that your body produces to help continue a pregnancy. This
causes the placenta to separate from the endometrium (lining of the
uterus), and also softens the cervix and causes the uterus to contract
to allow the baby to pass through.
You must then return to your doctor within 48 hours to confirm whether
or not your pregnancy has ended. If not, you will be given two tablets
of another medication, Cytotec, to be taken orally or inserted
vaginally. This will cause stronger uterine contractions, so that the
baby will be delivered. The clinic may keep you there for up to 4 hours
to be observed for any complications, or they may send you home. Some
healthcare providers will allow you to take this second medication at
home.
Fourteen days later, you must return to your doctor for an exam and/or
ultrasound to make sure that your pregnancy has ended. If not, a
surgical abortion will be done to complete the process. The medications
used can cause major fetal defects, so patients are asked to agree to
the surgical abortion before the medical abortion is attempted.
Side effects of this procedure may include cramping, vaginal bleeding,
nausea/vomiting, headache, dizziness, weakness, abdominal/pelvic pain,
and fainting. If you have heavy bleeding, such as soaking 2 or more
maxi pads per hour for 2 hours in a row, or fever of 100.4 or higher,
you need to call your doctor immediately.
Complications from this medical abortion procedure greatly increase if
these medications are used with a pregnancy that is further along than
7 weeks (49 days), therefore if you decide to undergo this procedure,
it is very important that you have the gestational age of your baby
determined accurately. You also need to confirm that your pregnancy is
in your uterus, and not in your fallopian tube (ectopic). The
medications given will not abort this type of pregnancy, but you may
mistake pain and bleeding as side effects of the medication. There is a
serious danger of complications to you and your reproductive organs if
you ignore these warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy. To avoid both
of these uncertain situations, an ultrasound should be considered
before any medication is taken.
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Suction
Curettage
In the state of North Carolina for the year 2008 (the most recent year
that statistics are available at this time), 44.2% of abortions were
performed using this method. It is typically used for pregnancies that
are less than 12 weeks along. The opening of the uterus (cervix) is
manually dilated with either a metal rod or rods or a seaweed product
called laminaria that is placed in the cervix and left there to absorb
moisture and expand the opening. When the cervix is opened sufficiently
for the size of the suction tubing that is needed, the tubing (which is
attached to a suction machine), is inserted into the uterus. The
uterine lining and baby are suctioned through the tubing and out of the
uterus into a container outside of the body. Sometimes a curette, a
loop shaped knife, is necessary to scrape any remaining uterine lining
or fetal body parts out of the uterus.
Anesthesia used for this type of abortion is typically local, meaning
an injection of numbing medication into the cervix itself. Other short
acting sedative medications may also be available.
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Dilation
& Evacuation (D&E)
In the state of North Carolina for the year 2008 (the most recent year
for which statistics are available at this time), 37.0% of abortions
were performed using this method. This technique is used in pregnancies
up to 20 weeks along. The cervix is dilated in the same manner as
suction curettage, but this method is commonly used with pregnancies
that are further along, so the dilation may need to be wider to allow
for larger instruments to be used in the uterus. The baby is typically
too large to fit through suction tubing if this method is used, so the
body parts have to be pulled out with forceps, breaking them into
pieces beforehand if necessary. Tubing that is attached to a suction
machine may then inserted into the uterus to remove any remaining
uterine lining or body parts of the baby. If necessary, the uterus will
also be scraped, using a curette to be sure all parts of the baby,
uterine lining, and placenta have been removed.
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Dilation
and Extraction (D&X)
This procedure is used late in pregnancy when the baby is too large for
other abortion methods, typically after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The
entire process takes three days to complete. In the first two days, the
cervix is dilated with laminaria in two or more sessions and medication
can be given for cramping. On the day of the actual procedure, the
laminaria are removed, and the membranes that hold fluid around the
baby are ruptured. The patient will then be injected with Pitocin to
induce contractions. The doctor will use an ultrasound to locate the
baby's legs in the patient's uterus. The doctor will reach into the
uterus with forceps, grasp a leg, and pull it into the patient's
vagina. The doctor will deliver the rest of the baby with his hands
(body, shoulders, and arms) up until the head. The doctor will then
hook his fingers over the shoulders of the baby, and insert a pair of
surgical scissors into the base of the skull to create an opening.
Removing the scissors, the doctor will insert a suction tube into the
opening and suction out the contents of the skull so that without the
brain, it will collapse. The doctor will then remove the placenta with
forceps and suction and/or scrape the uterine wall with a curette.
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PHYSICAL RISKS OF ABORTION
Infection
- this could be local or throughout the body, particularly if there is
any tissue left in the uterus from the pregnancy (placenta, uterine
lining, baby).
Hemorrhage/shock - excessive
bleeding, especially if there is damage to the uterine artery or
perforation of the uterus.
Cervical tearing/laceration/overstretching
- this may occur from the instruments or equipment used, and may affect
the ability of the cervix to remain closed during future pregnancies,
resulting in a greater risk of future miscarriage or premature
delivery.
Perforation (puncture or tearing) of the
uterus
- during scraping or suctioning, the wall of the uterus may be
perforated by instruments or equipment. This is a complication that
requires emergency medical attention and may require major surgery,
including hysterectomy.
Scarring of the uterine lining
- this may occur in the area where suction occurred or instruments were
used, possibly preventing a future pregnancy from implanting in that
location. If this scarring occurs at the top of the uterus near the
opening on the fallopian tubes, it may partially or fully block this
area. This may result in decreased future fertility, or an increased
risk of ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, since the egg would have difficulty
getting past the scar tissue into the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies
become painful, and if not treated and removed, result in major medical
complications for the pregnant woman.
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PSYCHOLOGICAL RISKS OF ABORTION
Some women and men, after an abortion procedure, experience a range of
psychological problems. These may include recurrent dreams of the
abortion experience, relationship problems, substance abuse, avoidance
of emotional attachment, sleep disturbance, feelings of guilt,
depression, and suicidal thoughts or actions.
For more information on psychological risks of abortion, click here.
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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
If you are seeking an abortion, you should know your legal rights:
- You have the right to insist that only a
licensed physician can perform your abortion.
- You have the right to know whether this
physician has ever had his or her medical license suspended.
- You
have the right to verify that this physician has medical malpractice
insurance to protect and compensate you in case you are injured during
the procedure.
- You have the right to be
immediately transferred by ambulance to the nearest emergency hospital
or trauma center if you are injured during the abortion procedure.
- Women
considering abortion should never sign a waiver releasing the doctor,
abortion clinic or staff from liability for abortion-related injuries.
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