Abortion Essay

Abortion

There is more than one kind of in clinic abortion procedure. The most common is called aspiration. It is also known as vacuum aspiration. Aspiration is usually used up to 16 weeks after a woman’s last period. D&E dilation and evacuation is another kind of in-clinic abortion. D&E is usually performed later than 16 weeks after a woman's last period you can feel confident in knowing that these abortion methods are very effective. They work almost every time they are done.

Women are usually nervous about having an abortion or any other medical procedure. But most of us feel better if we know what to expect. Your health care provider will talk with you and answer your questions. But here’s a general idea of how it works and what to expect.

Before the abortion procedure, you will need to

• discuss your options

• talk about your medical history

• have laboratory tests

• have a physical exam — which may include an ultrasound

• read and sign papers

ASPIRATION ABORTION — THE MOST COMMON KIND OF IN-CLINIC ABORTION

During an aspiration abortion

• Your health care provider will examine your uterus.

• You will get medicine for pain. You may be offered sedation — a medicine that allows you to be awake but deeply relaxed.

• A speculum will be inserted into your vagina.

• Your health care provider may inject a numbing medication into or near your cervix.

• The opening of your cervix may be stretched with dilators — a series of increasingly thick rods. Or you may have absorbent dilators inserted a day or a few hours before the procedure. They will absorb fluid and get bigger. This slowly stretches open your cervix. Medication may also be used with or without the dilators to help open your cervix.

• You will be given antibioti...

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...h your provider about the procedure, a physical exam, reading and signing forms, and a recovery period of about one hour. A D&E usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes. But more time is needed to prepare your cervix. Time is also needed for talking with your provider about the procedure, a physical exam, reading and signing forms, and a recovery period of about one hour.

Abortions are available at many health centers, clinics, and the offices of private health care providers. Use our health center locator to find the nearest health center that offers abortion services. If there is not a health center nearby that provides the abortion services you need, call your nearest center for a list of referrals. Nationwide, the cost at health centers ranges from about $300 to $1,700 for abortion in the first trimester. The cost is usually more for a second-trimester abortion.