Abortion

Abortion

Keep in mind that you do not have to decide right now. Slow down and allow time to think. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to have an abortion. It is your choice no matter what your age is, you can not be forced to have an abortion, there are other choices that we can help you explore. If you are considering an abortion, we want you to know what this choice could mean to your future. You do have the choice not to have an abortion and we can help. You don't have to rush into any decisions that might cause you physical, mental, spiritual and psychological pain later on. Find out all the facts before you settle on having an abortion. It might sound like a really quick and easy fix for your problem, however many women end up with so many more problems as a result. Talk to women at this center that have been through one, before you decide.

There are risks to most abortion procedures. Because of these dangers, we do not recommend or refer for abortion. Here are some things to consider before you make this decision:

Know the possible risks in an abortion

From the thousands of women now working in the pregnancy care world who have had abortions, we know that abortion has physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological risks. See the section on abortion risks below.

Get a blood or urine pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy

It could be that you are not actually pregnant. We provide a laboratory-quality urine test free of charge as a service to women. A trained pregnancy center advocate can provide additional information relevant to your situation. All of Our Services are free and confidential.

Confirm your pregnancy with a doctor who doesn't do abortions

It is possible that the abortion clinic may provide you with incorrect information in order to obtain your abortion fee. Carol Everett is a woman who used to provide abortion services in Texas. She testified in Congress that she sold abortions to women who were not pregnant, but feared they were. For the best medical input on abortion, we recommend you speak with a medical professional who has nothing to gain in your abortion decision.

Get a free ultrasound

You may receive a free ultrasound from our center or a referral organization. This non-diagnostic ultrasound can tell you how many weeks you are into the pregnancy. This service, provided by a certified sonographer, may aid you in making this important decision.

Ask for the doctor's name who is performing the abortion

Abortion is legal in the United States, but bad medical care is not. Women have died as a result of their "safe and legal" abortions. Some have had their bodies hurt to the point that they can no longer have children. If you don't know the doctor's name that is doing your abortion, you may find out. The abortion doctor could be counting on you not holding him accountable for hurting you because many women are afraid to let anyone know about this choice afterwards. Ask for his name and write it down.

Don't sign anything that releases the doctor or the abortion clinic from being responsible for hurting you during your abortion

Many women have said that they were so upset by the emotion of the day that they signed anything put in front of them in order to "get out and have it done with." If the center asks you to sign anything, take your time to read it over. If you don't understand something, ask questions. If you don't understand their answers, push them further. Don't be in a rush because anything you sign could affect you in the future.

Understand you have rights in an abortion

It is against the law for anyone to force you to have an abortion. Not even a husband or parent can require you to undergo an abortion against your will, even if you are a minor (under 18 years old). Our center exists to help you in any circumstance. We can help you discuss this choice with those closest to you who are influencing your decision. The law in many states also requires abortion providers to give you information on: 1) possible complications, 2) the development of the baby, and 3) organizations that provide alternatives to abortion.

Verify that the abortion clinic is clean and sanitary

Many women report that the general area of the clinic where they had their abortions was unclean, dusty, and even smelled bad. Infections can result from unsanitary conditions. If you find yourself in a clinic, be sure to question their sanitizing procedures and view the condition of each room to ensure that you are receiving excellent care. If they don't provide sufficient information to determine these conditions, give yourself permission to leave and demand a refund of your money.

Understand you can change your mind - even at the last minute

Many women who have experienced abortion relay that they felt they had to go through with the procedure once they had entered the clinic. Others say that they waited on the abortion table to be "rescued" by their boyfriend at the last minute. Some clinics even told the women that they couldn't get their money back if they changed their mind. Abortion providers know that this is an agonizing decision and sometimes see women change their mind at the last minute because, as they say, "I simply can't do this!" Know your rights. Don't be pressured or intimidated. If the procedure is not performed, demand your money back.

Understand that it's not a "blob of tissue"

Some abortion clinics tell women that their babies are not human at all, but simply a "blob of tissue" or a "dot." For many it is easier to have an abortion if the woman believes her child isn't yet human. Ultrasound photos show that at early stages of pregnancy the humanness of the embryo is clearly evident. When some women see these photos after their abortion, they are overwhelmed and grieved that the information the abortion clinic provides was misleading. An ultrasound will reveal the true development of your children.

Know you are not alone

Women who feel like they have no other choice often change their minds when visiting our center and understanding our support services. We exist to help you at any level of your pregnancy. There is no obstacle too big that can't be overcome with friendship and support.

1 Mainline Confirms hCG, Ann Arbor, Michigan: Mainline Technology, Inc.
2 Carol Everett, What I Saw In The Abortion Industry, Jefferson City, MO: Easton Publishing, Inc

Abortion Risks

Abortion isn't necessarily as "safe and easy" as many make it out to be. Here is a list of abortion risks - surgical and chemical:

Surgical Abortions

Future Ectopic Pregnancies:

Studies point out that the risk of an ectopic or tubal (not in the uterus but in the tubes that lead to the uterus) pregnancy is 30% higher for women who have had one abortion, and up to four times higher for women with two or more abortions.

When a woman has an Ectopic pregnancy she has a 12% risk of dying in a future pregnancy.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID):

5% of women suffer PID following induced (or surgical) abortion. PID can lead to fever and infertility (not being able to get pregnant again)

There is a 23% higher risk of infection if you have an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease).

40% of the sexually active are suspected carriers of STDs.

Breast Cancer:

Reputable studies suggests that women who abort face a 50% increase in breast cancer. If the woman has a family history of breast cancer, this rate doubles with each successive abortion, if the woman is under 18 or over 30 years of age when the abortion takes place.

Placenta Previa:

Placenta previa is a condition in pregnancy where the sac holding the baby (the placenta) tears away from the uterine lining. This can result in extreme and severe life-threatening bleeding. Women who have experienced abortion have a 600% increase in their risk for placenta previa in future pregnancies.

Infertility:

Infertility and sterility mean that a woman cannot get pregnant. Abortion causes sterility in 2-5% of the women who have an abortion.

Psychological/Emotional Trauma:

50% of women who have had abortions report experiencing emotional and psychological problems lasting for months or years. These emotions include, but aren't limited to:

acute feeling of grief

depression

anger

fear of disclosure

preoccupation with babies or getting pregnant again

nightmares

sexual dysfunction

termination of relationships

emotional coldness

increased alcohol and drug abuse

eating disorders

anxiety

flashbacks of the abortion procedure

anniversary syndrome

repeat abortions

suicide

Many of these women go on to report that they regret their choice and would do anything to go back and undo the decision that resulted in so much pain.

Medical (Chemical) abortion risks include (but are not limited to):

"The Morning After Pill" (Emergency Contraception Pill) - - If taken within 72 hours of intercourse it prevents pregnancy 75% of the time. Medical problems would be similar to birth control pills, however effects could be more pronounced.9 Methotrexate - (given prior to 8 weeks) Doctors don't like to prescribe this chemical because of its high toxicity and unpredictable side effects. Those side effects include but are not limited to:

nausea

pain

diarrhea

bone marrow depression

anemia

liver damage

lung disease

heavy bleeding for as long as 40 days

abortion may occur anywhere

This chemical may not work and a surgical abortion may still be required.

Psychological/ Emotional Trauma: In addition to the risks listed above, women having chemical abortions often see the complete tiny bodies of their unborn child and are even able to see the child's developing hands, eyes, etc. So traumatic is this for some women that it is recommended that women unprepared for the experience not take the drugs.

Learn more about what a preborn child looks like: If you are considering abortion because of your circumstances, know that you can change your situation. If you aren't sure about this choice, take time to find out "why" you have these feelings. We are here to help you in any situation regardless of your decision.

Works Cited: Abortion: Your Risks, Stafford, VA.: American Life League. Ibid. Is Sex Safe? Lewiston, N.Y.: Life Cycle Books. You Have A Right To Know, Jefferson City, MO.: Easton Publishing Co. Abortion: Your Risks. You Have A Right To Know. Abortion: Your Risks. Teri K. Reisser and Paul C. Reisser, Identifying and Overcoming Post-Abortion Syndrome, Colorado Springs, CO.: Focus on the Family "Oral Contraceptives & The Morning After Pill," Take Heart, Columbus Ohio: Heartbeat International "Abortion Some Medical Facts," NRLC Ibid

Abortion Clinics

If you are considering visiting an abortion clinic, we want you to know what this choice could mean to your future. You don't need to make this decision right away. Slow down and allow time to think. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to have an abortion. Pregnancy care centers exist to offer you choices and information. There are risks to most abortion procedures. Be sure that you understand these risks because many abortion clinics are not required to inform you of this before performing an abortion. Abortion Risks

Here is some information to consider about Abortion Clinics before you make the decision to visit an abortion clinic:

Know the possible Abortion Risks.

From the thousands of women now working in the pregnancy care arena who have had abortions, we know that abortion has physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological risks.

Get a blood or urine pregnancy test to confirm you are really pregnant.

It could be that you are not actually pregnant. We can refer you to a local pregnancy care center that provides a laboratory quality urine tests free of charge as a service to women. A trained pregnancy center advocate can provide additional information relevant to your situation. All of these services are free and confidential.

Confirm your pregnancy with a doctor who doesn't do abortions.

There have been cases where abortion clinics have provided clients with incorrect information in order to obtain their abortion fee. Carol Everett was an abortion clinic owner who used to provide abortion services in Texas. She testified in Congress that she sold abortions to women who were not pregnant but feared they were. For the best medical input on abortion we recommend you speak with a medical professional that has nothing to gain in your abortion decision. Your local pregnancy care center can provide you with that referral.

Get an ultrasound.

You may receive an ultrasound from your local pregnancy care center. This non-diagnostic ultrasound can tell you how many weeks you are into the pregnancy or whether or not your pregnancy is viable. In other words, it could be that you are going to miscarry the baby and won’t need the services of an abortion clinic. This service, provided by a certified sonographer, may aid you in making this important decision.

Get the abortion clinics doctor's name that is performing the abortion

Abortion is legal in the United States but bad medical care is not. Women have died as a result of their "safe and legal" abortions. Some have had their bodies hurt to the point that they can no longer have children. If you don't know the abortion clinics doctor's name that is doing your abortion, you may not find out. The abortion clinics doctor could be counting on you not holding him accountable for hurting you because many women are afraid to let anyone know about this choice afterwards. Ask for his name and write it down.

Don't sign anything that releases the doctor or the abortion clinic from being responsible for hurting you during the abortion procedure.

Many women have said that they were so upset by the emotion of the day that they signed anything put in front of them in order to "get out and have it done with." If the abortion clinic asks you to sign anything, take your time to read it over. If you don't understand something, ask questions. If you don't understand their answers, push them further. Don't be in a rush because anything you sign could affect you in the future. You can always reschedule your appointment for a later date.

Understand you have rights in an abortion.

It is against the law for anyone to force you to have an abortion. Not even a husband or parent can require you to undergo an abortion against your will, even if you are a minor (under 18 years old). Your local pregnancy care center exists to help you in any circumstance. They can help you discuss this choice with those closest to you that are influencing your decision. The law in many states also requires abortion providers to give you information on:

possible complications,

the development of the baby, and

organizations that provide alternatives to abortion.

Verify that the abortion clinic is clean and sanitary.

Many women report that the general area of the abortion clinic where they had their abortions were unclean, dusty and even smelled bad. Infections can result from unsanitary conditions. If you find yourself in an abortion clinic be sure to question their sanitizing procedures and view the condition of each room to ensure that you are receiving excellent care. If they don't provide sufficient information to determine these conditions, give yourself permission to leave and demand a refund of your money. Infections from unsanitary abortion clinics can lead to infertility and death.

Understand you can change your mind - even at the last minute.

Many women who have experienced abortion relay that they felt they had to go through with the procedure once they had entered the clinic. Others say that they waited on the abortion table to be "rescued" by their boyfriend at the last minute. Some clinics even told the women that they couldn't get their money back if they changed their mind.
Abortion clinics know that this is an agonizing decision and sometimes see women change their mind at the last minute because, as they say, "I simply can't do this!" Know your rights. Don't be pressured or intimidated. If decide to cancel the abortion procedure, demand your money back.

Understand that the baby is not a "blob of tissue".

Some abortion clinics tell women that their babies are not human at all but simply a "blob of tissue" or a "dot". For many it is easier to have an abortion if they believe their child isn't yet human. Ultrasound photos show that at early stages of pregnancy the humanness of the embryo is clearly evident. When some women see these photos after their abortion they are overwhelmed and grieved that the information the abortion clinic provides was misleading. An ultrasound will reveal the true development of your children.

Struggling after an abortion?

After an abortion, many women experience an enormous sense of relief. For better or worse, at least the crisis is over. Over a period of time, however, the relief begins to wear off and it may be replaced with negative emotions. Women often experience a type of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder called "Post-Abortion Syndrome" (P.A.S.). At Birth Choice, we have women on staff who have experienced P.A.S. They would be happy to talk with you if you have any questions. Please contact the Birth Choice office nearest you.

How do you know you need post-abortion healing?

Perhaps you are thinking, "Okay, so I had an abortion. But that is in the past. Do I really need to be healed?" Some women seemingly never need to work through any kind of healing process. But for many of us, the memory of abortion lies like a hidden infection within, weakening and impairing us in ways we may have never realized were related. Is that true for you? See if you recognize yourself in some of the following questions:

Do you feel reluctant to talk about the subject of abortion, or do you feel guilt, anger, or sorrow when discussing your own abortion?

Do you tend to think of your life in terms of "before" and "after" the abortion?

Do you have lingering feelings of resentment or anger toward people involved in your abortion, such as the baby's father, friends, or your parents?

Have you found yourself either avoiding relationships or becoming overly dependent in them since the abortion? Are you overly protective of any children you have now?

Have you begun or increased use of drugs or alcohol since the abortion, or do you have an eating disorder?

Have you felt a vague sort of emptiness, a deep sense of loss, or had prolonged periods of depression?

Do you sometimes have nightmares, flashbacks, or hallucinations relating to the abortion?

If so, it is likely you are experiencing pain related to your abortion, many times referred to as "post-abortion trauma."

Below are common symptoms of Post Abortion Trauma:

Symptoms Include but are not limited to

Guilt (results from violating one's own sense of right and wrong)

Anxiety (headaches, dizziness, pounding heart, abdominal cramps, muscle tightness, difficulty sleeping, etc.)

Avoidance behaviors (of anything remindful of pregnancy and children)

Psychological "numbing" (the unconscious vow to never let anything hurt this badly again can hamper the ability to enter fully into an emotional, intimate relationship)

Depression (sad mood, sudden and uncontrollable crying episodes, deterioration of self-concept, sleep and appetite disturbances, reduced motivation, loss of normal sources of pleasure, thoughts of suicide)

Re-experiencing events related to the abortion (persistent thoughts and flashback memories or nightmares involving themes of lost or dismembered babies)

Preoccupation with becoming pregnant again (representing an unconscious hope that a new pregnancy will replace the baby that was aborted)

Anxiety over fertility and childbearing issues (being convinced that God will punish by withholding future pregnancies)

Interruption or disruption of the bonding with present and/or future children (underbonding or overbonding with other children, whether born before or after a woman has an abortion)

Self-abuse/self-destructive behaviors (eating disorders, alcohol and/or substance abuse, cigarette smoking, abusive relationships, promiscuity, failure to take care of one's self medically)

Anniversary reactions (an increase in symptoms around the time of hte anniversary of the abortion, the due date of the aborted child or both)

Brief psychotic disorder (a psychotic break with reality lasting for a short period of time within two weeks of the abortion)