Considering an Abortion? Here’s the Info You Need
Are you pregnant? Do you think you may be pregnant? If so, you may find yourself wondering what your options are. At this point, many people begin looking for abortion information and find the waters to be muddied. Our goal is to equip you with the facts about abortion so you can make an informed decision about your pregnancy.
Confirming Your Pregnancy
You’ll want to confirm whether you’re pregnant or not. A urine test will identify the pregnancy hormone, also known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). They are highly accurate in their detection of hCG levels. The hCG concentration increases each day during early pregnancy, so it may be ideal to test yourself about a week after missing your period. While home pregnancy tests (HPT) tend to be quite accurate, we highly recommend clinical testing. Going into a clinic for your urine test should take away some of the stress of human error.
As effective as these tests are, there’s always the chance for error. That’s why you’ll want to confirm your pregnancy with an ultrasound. This is something we can do for you right here at our office. The ultrasound will confirm whether you have a viable pregnancy and it will also give you a more accurate dating of your pregnancy. Another thing you can be tested for at that time is sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Understanding Abortion Definitions
There are several types of possible abortions. While there are different ways to break these types down, we’ll simplify it here:
| Type of Pregnancy Loss | Description and Statistics |
|---|---|
| Legal Induced Abortion | An intervention performed by a licensed clinician that is intended to terminate an ongoing pregnancy. |
| Miscarriage (Spontaneous Abortion) | A pregnancy that ends on its own, within the first 20 weeks of gestation. This affects 10-25% of all clinically recognized pregnancies. |
Gathering the Facts
The most important thing at this point is to gather all the abortion facts you can so you can make an educated decision. We’re talking about questions like:
- What abortion is and what it involves at each stage of pregnancy.
- Whether there are any risks associated with abortion.
- What the difference is between medical and surgical abortion.
- What the difference is between Mifepristone & Misoprostol.
Emotional Impact and Mental Health
It’s normal to experience a range of emotions after an abortion. Some people feel relief quickly, while others may need more time to process their feelings—everyone’s experience is unique. However, it’s not uncommon for a woman to find themselves feeling sad after an abortion. Research has shown that sadness is actually a common feeling after an abortion and it can be weeks, months, or even years before these emotions surface.
For some women, the feelings of sadness can be prolonged and result in depression (sometimes severe) and other mental health symptoms. The largest study of mental health risks associated with abortion was performed in 2011. The conclusion included this statement: “Women who had undergone an abortion experienced an 81% increased risk of mental health problems.”
Post Abortion Stress Syndrome
When these feelings of sadness or depression don’t go away, something called “Post Abortion Stress Syndrome” may be diagnosed. This is a type of post-traumatic stress disorder brought on by the abortion and events or circumstances surrounding the event. There is plenty of evidence that Post Abortion Stress Syndrome is real. Many women (and their partners, too) regret their abortions, and need help walking through their feelings and finding healing.
Reasons for Emotional Distress
There can be many reasons for feeling sad after an abortion, including:
- Hormones shifting after an abortion.
- Recognizing that they have suffered a loss, which can naturally lead to grieving.
- Feeling trapped by the pregnancy at first, but later wondering “what might have been”.
- Existing mental health conditions or lack of support.
If you have experienced an abortion, you may experience a range of emotions. You’re not alone, and there is help available to work through these feelings. Thankfully, there are many organizations—both online and locally—that can help you cope with negative feelings or trauma associated with an abortion.