Abortion is one of the most controversial subjects today. This procedure is the leading cause of death in America.

So what is abortion?

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy (either through the death of a embryo or fetus) or human life while yet unborn.

Abortion Laws:

An abortion for women in the US is legal, but for females under the age of 18 may vary. Different states have different law requirements. Some states don't need parental consent while others do. In California, teenagers can get an abortion without their parent's consent or approval.

Making the Choice:

Making a choice about abortion really depends only on the female and/or their partner. It is not a right or wrong decision, even though this is often debated. To make a decision about an abortion, you may need to know more about the process and factors that will affect your life and/or your partners.

The Process:

There are several methods of abortion, and it depends on the length of time you have been pregnant.

In Early Abortions

1) Abortion Pill (first 9 weeks). You can use this pill in the first nine weeks of pregnancy. The pill is issued in the clinic and you must take two different drugs two days apart. This will cause a miscarriage.
2) Vacuum aspiration (7-14 weeks). Patient may go under anesthetic (loss of sensation) during the procedure. A plastic tube will be entered into the uterus (womb) and the content of the uterus will be gently sucked.

Abortion over 14 weeks

1) Surgical dilation and evacuation (D&E- 13-19 weeks). Patient may go under anesthetic while the cervix (neck of the womb) is being opened and narrow forceps are used to empty the uterus. Any other content will be removed by suction.
2) Surgical two-stage abortion (20-24 weeks). Patient may undergo anesthetic and an overnight stay in the clinic. In the first stage, the heart of the fetus is stopped and the cervix is opened. Second stage, patient goes through the D&E method (see above).
3) Medical induction (17-24 weeks). Patient may undergo anesthetic. A drug called prostaglandin is injected into the uterus. This is like a late miscarriage, where the labors will last 6-12 hours. After the abortion is done, the doctor may use suction to empty the uterus.

Will the abortion hurt?

Maybe, it depends on the person and the procedure. The level of pain varies from person to person. Both medical and surgical abortions cause some amount of cramping. These cramps can feel like light to heavy menstrual cramps, like when you get your period.

Is an abortion dangerous to my health?

Depending on the methods used, there can be after-effects. Some women can experience period-like pains and bleed up to 14 days after their procedures. There may be a possibility of an infection. If the bleeding gets worse, visit a doctor for advice.

Will my baby feel the pain during the abortion?

Even though most people think that an unborn baby is a "blob of tissue", the baby is actually being formed inside the uterus. Today, ultrasound can actually "see the unborn baby kicking and curling even if the mother does not feel anything. In a procedure, the child does feel the pain. For example, if the whole baby does not fit through the suction tube, the doctor may crush the baby's head so it can be sucked through the narrow suction tube.

Reasons Why Women Get Abortions
- Want to postpone childbearing
- Cannot afford a baby
- Has relationship problem or partner does not want pregnancy
- Too young; parent(s) or other(s) object to pregnancy
- Having a child will disrupt education or job
- Don’t want no children
- Don’t want more children
- Risk to maternal health
- Rape, Incest, Other

Abortion is your and your partner's decision to make, and no one else’s. Think about:

- Is this what I want?
- How will this affect my body?
- How can this affect me mentally and physically?
- Is my boyfriend going to stay with me?
- How do he feel about the situation?
- Does it cost? If so, how much do it cost?
- Will I regret this decision in the future?