Abortion is a simple medical procedure which ends a pregnancy. Throughout history, around the world, and in many religions, women have used abortion as a part of our healthcare.
Not all women think abortion is cool for themselves, but all women have the right to make this choice.
Other options for an unplanned pregnancy include adoption and keeping the child.
Women choose abortion for many reasons:- We can't handle having a baby right now.
- Our parents would be angry or disappointed; we might get kicked out of the house.
- Having a baby might screw up finishing high school, going to college, or having a career.
- The father is not going to help.
- We don't have the money to take care of a baby.
- Having a baby isn't healthy for us or the baby.
- We may have gotten pregnant by rape or incest.
Any reason we have for choosing abortion is a good reason. These are our bodies and our lives. No one has the right to force us to have a baby, or to punish us for liking sex.
getting an abortion
In the United States it is legal for a woman to get an abortion. But as a minor, your legal right not to tell your parents about it is constantly being challenged. In some states you can get an abortion without telling your parents. In others, there are Parental Consent or Parental Notification laws. Call the Abortion Hotline at 1-800-772-9100 for info on restrictions in your state. (See Parental Consent for a list of state laws).
There are several groups listed under Women's Healthcare in the Resources which can help you find a safe abortion clinic, pregnancy test, or help with money for an abortion.
If you choose a clinic on your own, watch out for bogus clinics like Crisis Pregnancy Centers. These clinics seem like real health clinics, but aren't. They are actually run by anti-abortion groups and will try to scare you out of having an abortion. These bogus clinics are listed in the yellow pages under Abortion Alternatives. Real clinics are listed as Abortion Services.
NEVER have an illegal abortion -- like one done in someone's home or by swallowing poisons! Abortion is safe when done in a legal clinic or hospital.
Although any medical operation can be scary, abortion has few risks. It can involve some cramping, and light bleeding afterward. It's a good idea to bring a friend along for support.
When you call to make an appointment ask:- Do you need to tell your parents or get their permission first?
- Do they provide counseling and answer questions?
- Do they speak your native language?
- What should you bring with you?
- What are the possible risks and side effects?
- What type of anesthesia do they use? (Local anesthesia is best, because you will be awake during the operation, and it's safer, easier to recover from, and costs less.)
- How much does it cost?
- Will they take a check or only cash?
- Do they have a payment plan or reduced prices if you can't afford it?
Abortions cost $300 or more. The costs and health risks increase after the first 3 months of pregnancy. And it's harder to get an abortion after 3 months, so get help soon! If you can't pay for an abortion, the Abortion Hotline will help you find a low-cost clinic and can sometimes help with money (see Resources).
RU486
(medical abortion)
RU486 is a new way to end a pregnancy using medication instead of surgery. It must be done in the first 7 weeks after your last period. There are actually several different kinds of medications that are used by clinics in the U.S. One is the pill RU486 (Mifepristone) and the other is a shot of MTX (Methotrexate). You need to go to a health clinic to get the first pill or shot. A few days later, you will take another medication, which causes your uterus to contract and helps the pregnancy tissue to pass from your uterus. Within a week, you will begin to bleed like when you have your period. You may feel something like menstrual cramps, be tired or be sick to your stomach. You must go back to the clinic after about 2 weeks for a follow-up visit to make sure everything worked.
The cost for an RU486 (medical) abortion is about the same as an early surgical abortion. But there are some other differences between the two types of abortions:
- RU486 doesn't use anesthesia or surgery
- RU486 is done very early in the pregnancy
- Where you live, it may be easier to get RU486 than a surgical abortion
| <
| Contents
| >
| 
not all women think abortion is cool for themselves but all women have the right to make this choice
abortion is safe when done in a legal clinic or hospital
real clinics are listed as Abortion Services