Abortion

A Difficult Decision

When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, women of all ages and backgrounds have the difficult choice between parenting, adoption and abortion. Knowing yourself and your own values will help you make the most responsible decision while thinking about how this pregancy will affect your life - now and in the future. This is your choice but you do not have to make it alone. See out the people who will support you: your partner, family, friends, religious community, school counselor or other trusted adult. You can also speak with a Planned Parenthood staff person who will provide confidential, non-judgemental and objective counseling to help you make your decision.

A word about Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Crisis Pregnancy Centers are anti-abortion groups, often religious in nature and funding, disguised as abortion clinics. Their only goal is to stop you from having an abortion. Most are staffed by non-medical volunteers.

Often located near legitimate healthcare providers or Planned Parenthood centers, these CPC's lure unsuspecting women with free pregnancy tests. Once inside, women are subjected to antiabortion propaganda, misinformation and intimidation in an attempt to prevent them from having an abortion.

Remember: it is your right to receive non-biased information about all of your pregnancy options.

Abortion and the law

We encourage women 17 and under to involve a parent or family member in the decision to have an abortion.  In addition, the State of Georgia requires women under 18 to comply with the Parental Notification Law which means that a teen must notify a parent or guardian of her decision.  Notification can be done in person, with a parent or guardian accompanying a teen to the clinic, or by telephone, or the clinic may notify a parent through a letter.  Telephone or mailed notification must be followed by a waiting period to allow consultation between the teen and her parent or guardian, but such waiting period may be waived by the parent or guardian.  Finally, if a teen feels she cannot talk to her parent or guardian about her decision, she may go to court and ask a judge to waive the notification requirement.  For more information about the law, please call Planned Parenthood at 706-724-5557.

"Women's right to Know" Law

In 2005, Georgia passed a law requiring that at least 24 hours before an abortion, a woman is told of the following:

• the medical risks associated with the abortion procedure that will be used to end the pregnancy
• the probable gestational age of the pregnancy at the time of the abortion
• the medical risks associated with continuing the pregnancy to term
• that medical assistance benefits may be available for prenatal care, childbirth and neonatal care
• that the father will be liable to assist in the support of the child
• that printed materials that describe the fetus, list of agencies that offer alternatives to abortion, and contain (medically unfounded) information about fetal pain and the state-sponsored website on which these materials may be reviewed prior to the abortion.
  
  Frequently Asked Questions About Abortion

What is an Abortion?

At Planned Parenthood, we provide abortion services up to 16 weeks.

An abortion is a surgical procedure to end a pregnancy. It is performed by a specially trained physician in a clinic setting, hospital or doctor's office.

How is an abortion performed?

The standard method is vacuum aspiration (suction curettage). First, the doctor performs a brief pelvic exam to locate and determine the size and shape of the uterus. After inserting a speculum and washing the areas with Betadine, the doctor will inject a local anesthesia into or around the cervix to make it numb. Next, the cervical opening is gradually stretched, using a series of dilators, each one slightly larger than the last. You may experience some discomfort similar to menstrual cramps.

The doctor then inserts a hollow tube into the uterus through the cervix. The tube is attached to a suction machine and will empty the uterus. A small spoon shaped curette will then be used to determine that nothing remains attached to the walls of the uterus.

How long does an abortion take?

Although you will be in the center for a number of hours, the procedure itself only takes about 10 minutes.

How safe are abortions?

Early abortion by vacuum aspiration is very safe; less than one per cent (1%) of abortion patients experience adverse effects associated with the procedure. The possible risks and complications will be thoroughly explained during your counseling session as part of the state-required 24 hour in advance counseling and also on the day of your procedure. The risk of death from childbirth is 7 to 11 times greater than that associated with abortion, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The greatest risk to future fertility is getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that goes untreated.

How will I feel after the abortion?

Physically, most pregnancy symptoms will begin to go away within 24 hours after the abortion. Some bleeding like a period with small clots or brown discharge will last 1 to 14 days. Cramping as the uterine muscle contracts back to its non-pregnant size can last for a few days and is usually relieved with over the counter pain medication.

Women have abortions for a variety of reasons but generally because a pregnancy at that time is not right for them. Some women want to complete their education, want to be financially prepared or want a supportive partner before they become a parent. Sometimes an unintended pregnancy is a crisis in a relationship, causing one or both partners to examine their life goals, their feelings about their partner and their feelings about parenting. Since this is a carefully considered decision, the most frequent response women report following the end of an unintended pregnancy is one of relief. For most women, having an abortion provides a chance to reflect on goals and to consider a period of abstinence or a birth control method. It may be helpful to talk with someone close to you, or you may want to return to the health center and talk with a Planned Parenthood counselor.

Who has an abortion?

Women aged 11 to 19 account for approximately 21% of all abortions and women aged 20 to 30 account for another 45%. Unmarried women account for 81% of abortions. Women who obtain abortions represent every religious affiliation. Half of all women getting an abortion report that a method of contraception was used during the month they became pregnant. First trimester abortions account for 89% of all abortions performed in America. Fewer than 1% occur after 21 weeks. (Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1991).

How soon can I begin a birth control method?

You can get a Depo Provera injection on the day of your abortion or at the time of your post abortion exam, two weeks later. You can also start taking birth control pills or begin using the Ortho Evra patch on the Sunday following the abortion. It will take an entire month for the pills to prevent ovulation and so a back up method such as a condom should be used every time you have sex. Discounts for birth control are available to our abortion clients.

When can I have sex again?

To prevent infection and pregnancy, you are strongly advised not to have sex until two weeks following the abortion or after your post abortion exam. Using a condom every time is strongly recommended.

Post Abortion Information

You will need a follow up exam two weeks following your abortion. This is important to be sure that your body is returning to the way it was before pregnancy, that the procedure is complete and that there are no signs of infection. At this time, you may want to discuss a birth control method or pick up supplies.

These are normal symptoms following an abortion: