In 1973, abortions became legal throughout the United States. Since then approximately 1.3-1.4 million abortions have been performed annually in the United States. Abortion is still one of the most common medical procedures performed in the United States each year, and more than 40% of all women will have a pregnancy terminated by abortion at some time in their reproductive lives. Abortion rates are highest among 20- to 24-year-old women. A woman seeking an abortion has rights. She is protected under federal law from harassment by health care providers and must be presented with all options concerning her condition.

Clinics will vary in procedure, price, type of abortion and atmosphere. Depending on a women’s preference and needs, there might be big differences between each clinic. Most require a pregnancy test to assure that one is in fact pregnant. In some clinics, abortions are performed by OB/GYN while in others trained practitioners specializing in abortion carry out the procedure. There are many things to consider when choosing a clinic. Below is a list of things one should consider before picking a clinic:

Most abortions are performed after 6 weeks and before 12 weeks, during the first trimester. Depending on the clinic, some may even before an abortion if the patient is as far along as 15 or 16 weeks. Most clinics have cut off deadlines and may refer to a clinic that provides late abortion procedures. This is a different procedure than what happens in the first trimester. It involves saline solution being injected into the womb and it usually cost more. Any abortion after the first trimester will have higher medical risk, be more painful and more emotionally traumatic.

While late abortions can be performed, early abortions in the term are very rare. If an abortion is done too early, the doctor could miss some of the fetal tissue also know as POC (product of conception.) If the doctor does miss some tissue, they would have to repeat the procedure. There are risks to repeated procedures. Anytime the cervix undergoes stress, the more likely it is to become injured. Such injury includes scarring of the cervix, or cervical stenosis, which can prevent menstrual blood from getting out and sperm from getting in; this leads to higher chances of endometriosis or infertility. This is not to say that abortion is inherently a highly dangerous procedure. For many women, the potential damage from an abortion is far less than the physical and personal complications posed by an unplanned pregnancy. Still, like any surgical procedure, abortion carries risks -- and the more often you undergo the procedure, the more likely you are to suffer one of those risks.

Procedure
Caring for Yourself after an Abortion
Psychological Effects of Abortion

Womens Center
Cooks Counseling Center
Abortion Provider
Planned Parenthood
Norfolk - Hillcrest Clinic 757-480-2800 / 800-867-2525
A Capital Women's Health Clinic
Prince William Women's Clinic 703-335-2779
Falls Church Healthcare Center 703-532-2500 / 800-228-3561
Annandale Women and Family Center 703-751-4702