Abortion
Hear this word Abortion
Also known as: termination
Image description: Illustrations of medication abortion packaging and a patient communicating with a provider before a procedural abortion.
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What Is It?
Abortion is a medical procedure that a pregnant person can get to end a pregnancy.
With the help of a healthcare professional, an abortion can be done using medication abortion pills or equipment in a health center.
Abortion is a safe procedure when done by a licensed medical provider.
Image Description: Illustrations of medication abortion medications.
An Example
Avie just found out that she is pregnant. Avie decides that she wants to get an abortion. After making her decision, Avie goes online to schedule an appointment with a trusted health care provider that provides abortion care services.
What to Know
Every glossary word connects to different parts of the Sexuality Wheel. Explore the information below to learn more.
- People get abortions for different reasons. Since pregnancy leads to having a child, some people have an abortion because they do not want to be pregnant. Some people do not want to have a child or to be a parent at that time or at all.
- Some people get an abortion even if they would want to continue their pregnancy. Sometimes people need to get an abortion because something has happened with the pregnancy. Maybe there was a miscarriage or the pregnancy is growing outside of the uterus. These are just a few examples of why a person might need an abortion even if they would want to continue their pregnancy.
- If a person decides to get an abortion, they can contact a trusted healthcare provider who offers abortion care by calling them on the phone or scheduling an appointment online.
- The type of abortion a person might get depends on how long a person has been pregnant.
- If a person is considering an abortion, they can ask their healthcare provider questions such as:
- What should I do before the abortion?
- What should I expect during and after the abortion?
- Who can I communicate with before, during, and after the abortion if I am feeling uncomfortable or emotional?
- After an abortion, a person may feel tired or crampy.
- It is okay to get plenty of rest after an abortion. Some people may take a pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Blood may continue to come out of the vagina for up to 6 weeks. Contact a health care provider if the vaginal bleeding is very heavy or if soaks a maxi pad within an hour.
- Contacting a healthcare provider is important if a person continues to feel sick a couple days after an abortion.
- No one should judge another person for getting an abortion.
Think about
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What did you learn about abortions?
- Abortions are a safe procedure.
- There are two types of abortions. One uses medication, and the other is a procedure done in a health center.
- Visit the Planned Parenthood website to learn more about abortions.
Why might a person decide to have an abortion?
There are many different reasons why a person might get an abortion. Sometimes if a pregnant person needs abortion care, they may need to go to a different state to get the abortion services they need.