While these types of abortions are called "surgical" there are no incisions involved and it takes about 10 minutes to do, Debra Stulberg, M. You have several options during the first and second trimester, but late-term abortions — those done toward the end of the second trimester and beginning of the third trimester — are illegal in most states.
One state, Virginia, currently bans abortions in the third trimester, and 17 states ban it about 20 weeks post-fertilization or about 22 weeks after the last period, toward the end of the second trimester , according to the Guttmacher Institute. For 20 other states, abortion is considered "late-term" and illegal if the fetus is "viable," which means it could survive outside the womb. If you're wondering how far into a pregnancy you can have an abortion in your state, visit the Guttmacher Insitute's record of state policies to see where your state's laws fall.
And because so many states restrict abortion, more and more women are trying to DIY. Under the legal standard, "viability" can range from 24 to 28 weeks after the start of a woman's last period, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Currently, states may prohibit abortion after fetal viability; however, exceptions may be made if the woman's physician judges that the pregnancy poses a risk for her mental or physical health. Whether or not a fetus is "viable" and if the procedure is medically necessary e. Currently, states may prohibit abortion after fetal viability, as long as there are exceptions regarding the woman's life and mental and physical health. This all might sound super scary, but there's good news; when done in the first trimester, abortions are a safe medical procedure — the risk of major complications is less than 0.
To put that into context, the risk of death from childbirth is 11 times greater than the risk of death from an abortion procedure during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. A low-risk alternative to surgery used for terminating pregnancies earlier than 9 weeks depending on the clinic is a medication called mifepristone RU Medical abortion is a 2-stage process. The first stage involves taking a tablet that blocks the hormone necessary for the pregnancy to continue.
This is followed 36 to 48 hours later by a second medication that causes the contents of the uterus to be expelled. A late-term or second trimester abortion is when a pregnancy is terminated after 14 weeks. The process is similar to a surgical abortion, but instead of suction, instruments are used to remove the fetus. You may need to travel interstate to have a late-term abortion since states and territories have different laws on how late an abortion can be performed.
Abortion law in Australia varies across states and territories. Abortion is legal in all states and territories under certain circumstances and when it is done by a registered medical professional. In most states and territories, it is illegal to protest within m of a clinic or service that provides abortions. Abortions can be performed at up to 22 weeks' gestation.
After that, 2 doctors must approve the procedure. One doctor can approve and perform an abortion at up to 14 weeks. Between 14 and 23 weeks, a second doctor also needs to approve. After 23 weeks, an abortion can only be performed if the life of the woman is at risk.
Abortions can be performed at up to 22 weeks. After 22 weeks, 2 doctors must approve the procedure. An abortion can only be performed if 2 doctors agree the health or mental wellbeing of the woman is at risk or the fetus has a serious abnormality. Abortions can be performed at up to 16 weeks. After 16 weeks, 2 doctors must approve the procedure. Abortions can be performed at up to 24 weeks. After 24 weeks, 2 doctors must approve the procedure.
The cost of an abortion will depend on whether it is a medical or surgical abortion, how far along you are and whether you are using a public service or a private clinic. Not all GPs can prescribe a medical abortion and not all chemists stock the medication required. Depending on where you live, you may need to go to an approved clinic or a hospital. Hospitals and GPs may offer bulk billing or they may be partially covered by Medicare. For a private clinic, the consultation can cost several hundred dollars.
Surgical abortions cost around the same as a medical abortion, but this cost can vary depending on how many weeks along you are and whether you are a public or private patient. Apart from the cost of the actual procedure, many women may need to travel to get an abortion.
Termination services are not easily accessible in rural and remote areas and depending on the law in your state or territory, you may need to travel interstate to have an abortion. Some clinics can offer medical abortion consultations via telehealth video call.
Speak to your GP or clinic to find out if this option is available to you. Yes, you can. Counselling is an important part of the decision making process when you are considering whether to have an abortion. You should understand all of your options and make the decision that is right for you. Your doctor or clinic will talk to you about your choices and offer support services so you can talk to someone. You should talk to your doctor or clinic about the best type of contraception to use.
You can contact the Family Planning clinic in your state or territory. You can also use the Find a Health service or call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on to get help finding a service near you. Unlike an abortion which ends a pregnancy, emergency contraception prevents a pregnancy from happening. There are 2 types of medication available to prevent pregnancy in Australia.
The levonorgestrel pill can be taken up to 72 hours 3 days after unprotected sex. Ulipristal acetate UPA can be taken up to hours 5 days after unprotected sex. For more information, talk to your health care provider or call one of the numbers above to discuss your individual circumstances and options. This topic is about ending a pregnancy.
If you have had unprotected sex in the last 5 days and don't want to become pregnant, see the topic Emergency Contraception. Sometimes abortion happens on its own. This is called miscarriage or spontaneous abortion. But women can also choose to end a pregnancy by getting surgery or taking medicine. If you think you might be pregnant, see a doctor as soon as possible.
If you are pregnant, this is an important time to learn as much as you can about your options. The earlier you are in your pregnancy, the more options you are likely to have. Also, the risk of problems will be lower. Your doctor will ask about your medical history and will do a physical examination.
You will have lab tests to make sure that you are pregnant. You may also have an ultrasound. It's not easy to decide to end a pregnancy. You may need some time to think about your choices. Counselling may help you to decide what is best for you. If you're comfortable, you can start by talking with your doctor.
Family planning clinics also offer counselling to help you decide what is best for you. You may also want to talk with someone close to you who understands how pregnancy and raising a child would affect your life.
Carefully think through your choices, which are to:. It will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are. After 10 weeks, surgical abortion is usually the only option. Abortions done early in the pregnancy can be done by your doctor or gynecologist. Abortion services are available at abortion clinics and some hospitals. Abortions are rarely done after 24 weeks of pregnancy during the late second trimester and entire third trimester.
Abortions done by doctors are very safe. Less than 1 out of women have a serious problem from an abortion. The safest timing for an abortion is usually during the first trimester.
This is when a low-risk medicine or vacuum aspiration procedure can be used. The most widely used methods for abortion do not prevent a woman from becoming pregnant later. Keep in mind that you can get pregnant in the weeks right after an abortion. This is a good time to start using birth control that works well and fits your lifestyle.
It will probably take you 1 to 3 weeks to heal and feel better after an abortion. You should not have sex during this time.
But when you do have sex again, be sure to use a condom for several weeks or for as long as your doctor tells you to.
This will help to prevent infection. Examinations and tests are used to diagnose a pregnancy and to check for any health conditions you may have that need special consideration. Regardless of whether you know that you would continue a pregnancy or have an abortion, your evaluation will include a medical history, a physical examination, and some laboratory tests.
A physical examination before an abortion includes:. Laboratory tests before an abortion include:. An ultrasound may be done to check your uterus size and shape and to make sure the pregnancy is in the uterus. A transvaginal ultrasound done in the first trimester is the most accurate method of learning how long you have been pregnant. Medical abortion is the use of medicines to end a pregnancy.
Depending on the medicines used, a medical abortion can be done up to about 10 weeks of pregnancy. Medicines can be used to induce abortion. This often involves taking more than one medicine. The type of medicine may depend on how many weeks of pregnancy have passed.
Some medicines are used up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. See the What to Think About section of this topic for a comparison of medical abortion and surgical abortion.
A surgical abortion ends a pregnancy by surgically removing the contents of the uterus. Different procedures are used for surgical abortion, depending on how many weeks of pregnancy have passed. Care before and after a surgical abortion includes a physical examination and lab tests, education about what to expect, self-care instructions, symptoms that mean you should call your doctor, and birth control planning.
See the What to Think About section of this topic for a comparison between medical abortion and surgical abortion. Your abortion options are affected by your medical history, how many weeks pregnant you are, and what options are available in your region.
Not all medical or surgical choices for an abortion are available in all parts of Canada. The following table lists some of the differences between the most commonly used medical and surgical abortion procedures. Does not require general anesthesia though it can be used.
Local anesthesia , with or without a calming sedative, is typical. In extremely rare cases, leads to severe infection and death about 1 out of , , slightly higher rate than after surgical abortion. Pain associated with a medical or surgical abortion ranges from mild to severe and depends on each woman's physical and emotional condition. Some fetal birth defects or medical problems are not commonly diagnosed until the second trimester, when most routine screening tests are done.
There are fewer abortion options during the second trimester. Research suggests that the hormonal changes during pregnancy may be protective and reduce the risk of breast cancer. In the past, there has been concern that an abortion might interrupt these protective hormonal changes and possibly increase the risk of breast cancer. But more recent, carefully done studies have led experts to conclude that there is no link between having an abortion and breast cancer.
If you think you may be pregnant, see a doctor for a pregnancy test, examination, and pregnancy counselling as soon as possible. If you are considering ending the pregnancy, this is an important time for learning as much as you can about your options. The earlier you take measures to end a pregnancy, the more medical choices you are likely to have and the less your risk of complications will be. Surgical abortions are minor surgeries that require a health professional with specialized training.
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