Will My Insurance Pay For My Girlfriend’s Abortion?

o, your insurance will not cover any of your girlfriend's medical costs, including abortion. Most insurance plans will allow you to add dependents to your coverage. There is no legal obligation between you and your girlfriend, she is likely not able to be added to your plan.

How Much Does Abortion Cost?

The average cost of abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, is around $500 for a first-trimester abortion in the US. The average cost of a second-trimester abortion is around $1,000, and late-term abortion is around $3,000 or more.

How Does Medical Abortion Work?

Medical abortion, also known as the abortion pill, works to terminate a pregnancy up to 10 weeks. This abortion procedure uses two powerful drugs, Mifepristone and Misoprostol. Possible risks of the abortion pill method include incomplete abortion, heavy/prolonged bleeding, infection, and more.

How Does Surgical Abortion Work?

There are multiple types of surgical procedures - all done at a clinic. All procedures require the cervix to be dilated and different surgical tools are used to remove the pregnancy. Possible risks of surgical abortion include perforation of the uterus, damage to the cervix, scar tissue on the uterine wall, and infection.

What are the side effects of abortion?

Most abortions will be accompanied by minor side effects like abdominal pain, cramping, and bleeding. With a medical abortion, common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

When should I get an ultrasound?

An ultrasound follows a positive pregnancy test. At Open Arms, we provide no-cost ultrasounds to confirm your pregnancy. Schedule an appointment with us for a no-cost pregnancy test first. The nurse will determine if an ultrasound is appropriate and, if so, will schedule your ultrasound.

How do I know if I am pregnant?

A late period is usually the first sign of early pregnancy, but there could be a change in your menstrual cycle for other reasons too. Do you have any of these other pregnancy symptoms? Every pregnancy is unique just like every woman. Your best first step is to schedule an appointment at Open Arms for no-cost clinical pregnancy testing.

How soon can I take a pregnancy test?

We recommend you take a test 2 or 3 days after your missed period or 10 days after you think you may have gotten pregnant. This amount of time should give your body enough time to build up a detectable amount of the hCG hormone.

I’m thinking about getting an abortion, what should I do?

Your first step is to get a pre-abortion screening at Open Arms. Once a viable pregnancy is verified and you know how far along you are, we can sit and talk about abortion methods, side effects, and possible risks. You deserve to be fully informed.

Is abortion my only option?

No, you actually have three options. We will be happy to sit down and review all of them with you. When you know you have options, you don’t feel so trapped. None of them, including abortion, are easy decisions to make, but there is an answer for you. Schedule your appointment today.

Can someone be forced to have an abortion?

Many women who are walking through unplanned pregnancies experience pressure from those around them to abort. However, it’s vital to remember that nobody — whether it is your parents, doctor, or partner — can force you to have an abortion. This is true even if you are a minor. Making a decision under pressure can lead to regret later on. It’s important to find support and help if you are in this situation so you can make the best decision for you. What options are available in the case of an unplanned pregnancy When it comes to an unplanned pregnancy, you have three options — parenting, adoption, and abortion. What you want to do regarding your pregnancy is entirely up to you and, with the help of your local pregnancy clinic, you can learn more about each option and be empowered to make the choice that’s right for you.

Why Is It Important To Know When I Got Pregnant?

Why does it matter how far along you are in your pregnancy (the gestational age)? According to the FDA, you are only eligible to take the abortion pill 70 days or less from the first day of your last menstrual period. Are you confident you know the date your pregnancy began? At Open Arms, we find that many women do not have regular monthly cycles or they don’t remember when their last period was. If that is true of you, knowing the dating of a pregnancy can be difficult or uncertain. Confirmation of a viable pregnancy, along with precise dating, can only be done through an ultrasound exam and is an important first step.

How Do I Know If I’ve Miscarried?

Believe it or not, the Mayo Clinic says that up to 20% of known pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage. Some estimate it could be 30% or more because many women miscarry before knowing they are pregnant. You could receive a positive result on an at-home pregnancy test days or even weeks after miscarrying because it takes your body a while to realize it’s no longer pregnant. How do you tell if you’ve already miscarried? Once again, ultrasound can answer this question.

Can Abortion Affect a Woman’s Mental Health?

According to the Mayo Clinic, twice as many women are affected by depression than men. Your mental wellbeing deserves special consideration, especially during such a delicate and stressful time. According to a study conducted over the course of 25 years by medical researcher David Fergusson, it was discovered that abortion was linked to higher rates of anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicidal behaviors. Additionally, he found that a subset of the women experienced major depression. In another study, psychotherapist Vincent Rue found that, in a study comparing the effects of abortion on Russian to US women, 65% of women in the U.S. who had had an abortion, experienced multiple symptoms of PTSD. Although some women who have an abortion may not experience any sort of mental health issues right away, many women who have terminated pregnancies suffer depression, anxiety, and decreased self-esteem immediately later on in life.

What Is an Incomplete Abortion?

Whether you took the abortion pill or had a surgical abortion, one of the risks is an incomplete abortion. If all the products of the pregnancy are not removed from the uterus, this is considered an incomplete abortion. This can be more common after taking the abortion pill, but it happens after surgical abortions as well.

Symptoms of an Incomplete Abortion?

For most women, the primary symptom is moderate to severe vaginal bleeding that lasts days or even weeks as well as cramps that are slightly less severe than contractions (as the body works to expel the remnants of the pregnancy). You should contact your healthcare provider right away if you bleed enough to soak through two thick full-size sanitary pads per hour for two consecutive hours or if you are concerned about heavy bleeding or severe cramping. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) here are other common signs of incomplete abortion: Fever Vomiting Diarrhea Lower abdominal and/or pelvic pain

What if I’ve Already Had an Abortion?

Thankfully, treatment is available to those who have experienced an abortion. If you believe yours was incomplete, you should seek medical care immediately because incomplete abortions can cause health complications such as uterine rupture or perforation, infection, cervical damage, etc. Protect yourself by getting help immediately.

What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?

Before taking the abortion pill, it’s important to know the risks. Some can be quite serious: incomplete abortion, heavy bleeding, infection, fever, and septic shock. As with any medical decision, you deserve the facts before choosing what’s best for you. Keep reading to learn more about the risks of the abortion pill.

What is the Abortion Pill?

Before discussing risks, it’s essential to understand how the abortion pill works. Also called medical abortion, the abortion “pill” comprises two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone first ends the pregnancy by blocking progesterone. Misoprostol is taken 1-2 days later and expels the pregnancy tissue through bleeding, cramping, and contractions. Because the process can be very painful and involves heavy bleeding, it is suggested that the Misoprostol be taken at home. The abortion pill is only available to women during the first ten weeks of pregnancy. You will not be eligible for the abortion pill if you are further along.

What Are the Risks of the Abortion Pill?

HEAVY BLEEDING Bleeding is part of the process of medical abortion, but if you bleed enough to soak through two thick sanitary pads per hour for two consecutive hours, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Prolonged heavy bleeding may indicate that the abortion was incomplete and would require immediate medical care. In the event of excessive vaginal bleeding, a surgical procedure may be needed to terminate the pregnancy. FEVER If you have a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher for more than 4 hours in the days following the abortion, seek medical attention right away. Fever can be a symptom of a serious infection or other complication. INFECTION Infection can occur as a result of an incomplete abortion. Severe stomach pain, fever, pelvic tenderness, weakness, nausea, an abnormally fast heartbeat, and other symptoms can indicate an infection, and you should seek medical care immediately if these symptoms persist. SEPTIC SHOCK Septic Shock is a medical emergency. If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical help right away: Very high or very low body temperature Heavy bleeding Severe pain Cool, pale arms and legs Feelings of confusion, restlessness, and fatigue Shaking with chills Low blood pressure, especially when standing Inability to urinate Rapid, pounding heart rate Difficult, rapid breathing with shortness of breath

What Are the Different Types of Abortion Procedures?

February 16, 2021

Are you experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and need help understanding all your options? You are not alone. Before you move forward, take your time to consider all your options and discuss them with someone you trust.

If you are considering abortion, you should know about each type of procedure and what each one entails. There are several methods including medical abortion, vacuum aspiration procedure, and a dilation and evacuation procedure. Each type has potential physical and/or emotional consequences, so it’s important to be fully informed before making your pregnancy decision.

Surgical Abortion Procedures¹

There are two types of surgical abortions, a vacuum aspiration procedure and a dilation and evacuation (D&E) procedure.

Vacuum Aspiration

Women can have a vacuum aspiration procedure up to 14 weeks gestation (healthline, 2016). This procedure uses a suction catheter to empty the contents of the uterus.

Side effects of a vacuum aspiration abortion could include:

Bleeding or spotting
Cramps
Nausea
Infection
Dizziness

Dilation & Evacuation

A D&E abortion is typically performed after the 14th week of pregnancy (healthline, 2016). In this procedure, the patient’s cervix is dilated and then forceps and an instrument called a curette are used to remove the contents of the uterus. This procedure takes two days to complete and recovery can take up to two weeks.

Side effects of dilation and evacuation abortion could include:

Heavy bleeding
Infection
Abdominal and/or pelvic pain
Incomplete abortion

Surgical abortions increase the risk of scarring the lining of her uterus which poses potential risk for future pregnancies.

Medical Abortion²

The other type of abortion procedure is called a medical abortion. A medical abortion is performed up to 10 weeks into the pregnancy (mayoclinic, 2020). This procedure involves ending a pregnancy through two types of medication.

Mifepristone, the first medication, is taken at a medical office and the second medication, Misoprostol, is taken at home. The first medication thins the lining of the uterus to prevent the embryo from staying implanted or growing. The second medication causes cramping to expel the embryo. Follow-up visits with a doctor are needed 24-48 hours after.

Side effects of a medical abortion could include:

Heavy bleeding
Infection
Abdominal and/or pelvic pain
Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
Incomplete abortion

What’s Next?

The best step to take before making a pregnancy decision is to confirm your pregnancy through testing and an ultrasound. An ultrasound will determine how far along you are and alert you to health concerns such as ectopic pregnancy.

We are here for you. Receive clinical pregnancy testing and an ultrasound from our medical team at Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic. We offer our services at no cost to our clients and all are completely confidential.

Schedule your appointment today.

Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash

“Surgical Abortion.” Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/health/surgical-abortion#overview.

“Medical Abortion.” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687.

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Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic offers free counseling regarding your decisions but does not refer for or perform abortions.

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What Are the Different Types of Abortion Procedures?

Surgical Abortion Procedures¹

Vacuum Aspiration

Dilation & Evacuation

Medical Abortion²

What’s Next?

Request an Appointment

Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic

Hours

Call or Text

What Are the Different Types of Abortion Procedures?

Surgical Abortion Procedures1

Vacuum Aspiration

Dilation & Evacuation

Medical Abortion2

What’s Next?

Request an Appointment

Open Arms Pregnancy Clinic

Hours

Surgical Abortion Procedures¹

Medical Abortion²