Abortion Information
Our certified optimal health coaches and nursing staff are available to discuss with you any questions you may have regarding having an abortion, barriers to continuing a pregnancy, as well as abortion procedures and risks associated with abortion.
There are medication and surgical abortion procedures. The types of abortion that may be available depend on factors such as how far along you are in your pregnancy.
It’s important for you to determine what is best for you, now and in the future. You have a right to get all the facts.
We provide pre-abortion screenings and pregnacy options consultations but we do not refer or perform abortions at our clinics.
We are here to help you understand all your options so that you can make an informed decision. It is your pregnancy, your right to know, and your decision. Call or schedule an appointment at RealOptions Obria Medical Clinics.
- Cramping of the uterus or pelvic pain
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Emotional or psychological distress
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Nausea
- Vomiting
The risks for any surgery are: Hemorrhaging (bleeding) and Infection
Additional risks of surgical abortion include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection of the uterus
- Infection of the fallopian tubes which can cause scarring and infertility
- Puncture or perforation of the uterus
- Scarring of the uterine lining (suction tubing, curettes, and other abortion instruments may cause permanent scarring of the uterine lining)
- Damage to the cervix creating complications with future pregnancies
- Death, in rare circumstances
Other risks can include:
- Hemorrhaging requiring treatment with an operation
- Incomplete removal of the fetus, placenta or contents of the uterus
It may be possible to reverse the effect of the abortion pill. ( Reference 3) If you change your mind after taking the first abortion pill, mifepristone, time is of the essence. For more information, call the Abortion Pill Reversal Hotline 877-558-0333 or call one of our caring medical professionals for assistance at one of our clinics:
- Central San Jose (408) 978-9310
- East San Jose (408) 272-5577
- Redwood City (650) 261-9115
- Oakland ( 510) 891-9998
- Union City (510) 487-4357
According to Mayo Clinic about 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. ( Reference 4.) “Miscarriage”, medically known as “spontaneous abortion”, is the common term used to describe a natural end to a pregnancy. RealOptions Medical Clinics offers diagnostic ultrasound for every positive pregnancy test to confirm a viable (developing), intrauterine (in the uterus) pregnancy.
If the pregnancy test is positive, you will be scheduled for an ultrasound examination to determine fetal viability. In many cases, the ultrasound can be performed during the same visit.
Based on the results of the ultrasound diagnosis, medical personnel will be able to confirm viability.
If fetal viability is not established, then you are a candidate with a high probability of miscarrying. Miscarriage is your body’s natural way of ending a pregnancy. In a case like this you would not need the pain, cost, and risk of an abortion!
Before taking the Morning After Pill, you should understand what it is, what it could mean to your health and how it works.
The “morning after pill” is a large dose of oral contraceptive known as Plan B One -Step. It is a single pill you take by mouth. It must be taken within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex or birth control failure to help prevent pregnancy.
Plan B is believed to act as an emergency contraceptive principally by preventing ovulation or fertilization. In addition, it may inhibit implantation. It is not effective once the process of implantation has begun. Plan B is intended to avoid potential pregnancy, so it is important to confirm you are not pregnant before taking this emergency contraception option. (Reference 6)
If your period is more than a week late, it is possible that you may be pregnant. You should get a pregnancy test and follow up with your health care provider or come to a RealOptions for a pregnancy test and consultation.
- Emergency contraception is not effective if a woman is already pregnant.
- Plan B does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections.
- The most common side effects in the Plan B clinical trial were nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, and menstrual changes.
- The manufacturer warns that Plan B is not recommended for routine use as a contraceptive
RealOptions does not provide emergency contraception but can provide you with education and pregnancy testing.
The price of an abortion can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. This range is based upon a number of factors, including stage of pregnancy, type of abortion procedure, geographical region and choice of anesthesia.
If you have more specific questions, please contact one of our medical clinics.
The use of the Abortion Pill (RU-486), is considered a medical abortion and causes the termination of a pregnancy by using a combination of medications. The protocol approved by the Food and Drug Administration allows this type of abortion up to 70 days -10 weeks after the first day of a woman's last period. Mifepristone, the first medicine causes the blockage of progesterone, a hormone needed for the fetus to grow and develop. You will also be given antibiotics. 24-48 hours after taking the mifepristone, a woman will take the second medicine called misoprostol to make the uterus contract and empty. The second medicine will cause you to have cramps and bleed heavily. You may see large blood clots or tissue at the time of the abortion. It can take several hours after taking misoprostol for the abortion to be complete sometimes a few days. You will need to have a follow-up appointment with in 1-2 weeks to make sure that the abortion is complete and that you are well. You will need an ultrasound or blood test. If the medical abortion is incomplete, another dose of medication may be given or a surgical abortion may be necessary to terminate the pregnancy. Bleeding may occur for up to four weeks after the abortion. Please be advised to follow doctor’s instructions regarding the amount of bleeding. Medical attention may become necessary. (Reference 1,2)
It may be possible to reverse the effect of the abortion pill. If you change your mind after taking the first abortion pill, mifepristone, time is of the essence. For more information, call the Abortion Pill Reversal Hotline 877-558-0333 or call one of our clinics for assistance. (Reference 3)
According to MedlinePlus a trusted healthcare information provider:
Surgical abortion is a procedure that ends an undesired pregnancy by removing the fetus and placenta from the mother's womb (uterus).
Surgical abortion is not the same as miscarriage. Miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends on its own before the 20th week of pregnancy. ( Reference 7)
There are difference abortion procedure based on how far along you are:
Suction Aspiration (Also called Manual Vacuum Aspiration):
This method is used early in the first trimester. The cervix is stretched open with dilators (metal rods). A hollow plastic tube is inserted into the uterus. The fetus and the remaining contents of the uterus are removed using a handheld suction device.
Dilation and Curettage (D&C) with Vacuum Aspiration (Also called Suction Curettage):
This is a surgical procedure usually used in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The doctor normally opens the cervix with dilators (metal rods) and then empties the uterus with a hollow plastic instrument connected by tubing to a suction machine. After suctioning, the doctor may scrape the walls of the uterus with a curette, a loop-shaped knife, to ensure the fetus, placenta, and contents of the uterus have been completely removed.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E):
This surgical procedure is generally performed from 13-24 weeks of pregnancy. The doctor must first insert laminaria sticks into the cervix for 1-2 days to start the dilation process. These dried seaweed sticks absorb moisture and expand, causing the cervix to enlarge. On the day of the procedure, the physician will use dilating rods to further enlarge the cervical opening. Then the fetus is dismembered and removed with forceps, along with the placenta and other tissue. A curette may then be used to scrape the uterus to make sure that all tissue has been removed.
Dilation and Extraction (D&X):
This procedure is considered a late-term abortion that takes three days to complete. During the first two days, the cervix is dilated and medication is given for cramping. On the third day, the woman receives medication to start labor. After labor begins, the abortion doctor uses ultrasound to locate the positioning of the fetus. Using forceps the fetus is delivered up to the head. Next, scissors are inserted into the skull to create an opening. A suction catheter is placed into the cranium to remove the skull contents. The skull collapses and the fetus is removed.
If you choose abortion, there are several things to consider. It is not a risk-free procedure and needs to be treated seriously. To ensure a woman’s health and safety, there are several very important questions to ask yourself and the abortion provider.
- Have I confirmed that my pregnancy is viable?
- Do I understand the risks involved in an abortion procedure?
- Am I going to a licensed medical clinic?
- Who performs the surgical abortion procedure? A licensed OB/GYN physician or a nurse?
- Ask to speak with the physician before the procedure regarding anesthesia choices, how the procedure is done, and the possible complications.
During an abortion procedure cells infected with Chlamydia or Gonorrhea can travel from your cervix up into your uterus. When the infection travels and is not treated, you are at greater risk for developing a secondary infection called Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. PID can lead to serious consequences including infertility, ectopic pregnancy, abscess formation and chronic pelvic pain. (Reference 5)
In order to avoid medical complications, make it a priority to get screened and treated for Sexually Transmitted Infection’s before an abortion procedure. Taking antibiotics will greatly reduce your risk of complications from the infection. RealOptions provides STD Testing & Treatment, and will prescribe antibiotic treatment if you screen positive for either Gonorrhea or Chlamydia
Frequently Asked Questions
References:
- US Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm492705.htm
- RXList http://www.rxlist.com/mifeprex-ru486-drug.htm
- Abortion Pill Reversal. http://www.abortionpillreversal.com/
- MayoClinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/symptoms-causes/syc-20354298
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. http://patient.info/health/pelvic-inflammatory-disease-leaflet
- Plan B. https://www.planbonestep.com/plan-b-possible-side-effects/
- Surgical Abortion. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002912.htm#:~:text=Surgical%20abortion%20involves%20dilating%20the,checks%20if%20you%20are%20pregnant
RealOptions provides, pre-abortion screenings, confidential, and medically accurate consultations on all pregnancy options.
We do not provide abortion services at our clinics.