If you’re facing an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, you may be feeling a range of emotions, like surprise, shock, confusion, fear, panic, happiness, and/or other emotions. You may be unsure of what to do. Your pregnancy situation is personal and may be unique – you may have some special issues or needs.
You are not alone. There is help. And you have several pregnancy options (alternatives).
Your physical and mental health are important. Your overall well-being is important. You are in control – the choice is yours regarding an abortion decision. And you deserve to be respected during and after this process.
Network Medical is the first best step to help you to go from feeling unprepared to clearly understanding your options, so you feel peace, confident, and in control.
Our supportive expert team provides diagnostic medical services to assist you in your abortion and pregnancy decisions. All our services and information are FREE. We carefully listen to you, and we understand your emotions and concerns. We inform, you decide.
To know which type of abortion might be an option, an important step is an ultrasound exam which confirms the pregnancy viability and determines the gestational age of your pregnancy. This helps determine the type and cost of an abortion. Gestational age is the common term used during pregnancy to describe how far along the pregnancy is. It is measured in weeks, from the first day of the woman’s last menstrual cycle to the current date.
Take your first best step and make an appointment today.
There are basically two abortion types: Abortion Pill / Medical Abortion, and Surgical Abortion. On this page and these other linked pages are details about abortion options potentially available to you. Also, there is vital information on what to expect from each abortion method and procedure.
Both abortion types should be supervised and guided by licensed medical professionals. Both types of abortion have some possible health risks, side effects, and complications for the women who use them, so knowing those details will help you in your decision. Post-abortion (after abortion) effects and follow-up care are important to understand also.
Medication Abortion / Abortion Pill (RU-486) – uses 2 different medications to end a pregnancy – Mifepristone and Misoprostol. It is a multi-step process with a total of 5 pills. The Abortion Pill is not a morning after pill.
Surgical Abortion – uses surgery to end a pregnancy. It can also be used when a medication abortion fails or after 10 weeks of pregnancy. Two most common surgical abortion methods are: Suction / Vacuum aspiration and Dilation & Curettage / Evacuation. Surgical Abortion is done in a clinic or similar location.
Abortion Pill / Medical Abortion
Medical abortion, commonly referred to as the Abortion Pill (RU-486) is considered a medication abortion, or non-surgical abortion since it uses medications to end a pregnancy. It is a combination of two drugs – Mifepristone (Mifeprex) and Misoprostol (Cytotec) – which are designed to induce an abortion and end a pregnancy.
The abortion pill method is available within 10 weeks of the first day of the last menstrual period. However, there are some limitations of certain conditions where a medical abortion should not be used.1 If a medical abortion is not fully complete, a surgical abortion may be necessary.1
A medical abortion is a multi-step process using 2 different drugs, with 5 pills total. The U.S. FDA is concerned enough about one of the medications, Mifepristone, that the FDA has this drug under the FDA risk management program2, with cautionary guidance about it.3
There are cautions about buying abortion pill medications online from non-approved or questionable sources, especially on the internet. Medical supervision is required for a medical abortion. Telehealth is an option that is commonly discussed for a medical abortion, but also has some risks and issues to consider.
Having a medical abortion is a major decision with possible emotional and psychological effects. If you’re considering this abortion procedure, make sure you understand what it entails, side effects, possible risks, complications, and alternatives.1
Surgical Abortion
A surgical abortion is performed by surgically removing the contents of the uterus to end a pregnancy. The abortion surgery takes place in a clinic setting by licensed medical personnel.
There are currently two legal surgical abortion procedure methods in California.4,5 The difference is when and how each abortion procedure is done.
- Suction / Vacuum Aspiration – between 6 to 16 weeks gestational age.
- Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) – between 16 to 24 weeks gestational age.
Since it is a surgical procedure, surgical abortion has different risks from medical abortion, though both abortion types have some similar risks. With any medical procedure that affects your health, you should be aware of the details since it can affect your short term and long-term future.
During your visit to Network Medical, we can discuss with you these topics below and other topics that are important to you.
Miscarriage
About one (1) out of five (5) pregnancies end in a miscarriage, which is a spontaneous loss of a pregnancy, so you may not need to take any action if this occurs. We can explain details about this during your visit.
What are your Rights?
If you are unsure about what to do with your pregnancy, do not take the abortion pill or get a surgical abortion impulsively. If you have questions, are unsure, are being pressured or misled into an abortion, or are having second thoughts about abortion, consider speaking with the caring, knowledgeable Network Medical team. Please note that Network Medical staff do not provide legal advice.
Abortion Costs
There are potential costs involved with an abortion, including financial, physical, mental health, social, and others. We can discuss this during your visit.
Abortion Risks and Effects
Some questions that are asked by patients include:
- What are abortion pros and cons?
- Are there any abortion risks or possible abortion complications?
- Are there any abortion side effects?
- Does abortion cause mental health or emotional problems? Am I at risk?
Risks, side effects, and possible complications depend on your physical health, medical conditions, and mental / emotional condition. At your appointment, we can discuss these questions and issues with you and others you may have.
Women who have undergone an abortion experienced an 81% increased risk of mental health problems, and nearly 10% of the incidence of mental health problems was shown to be attributable to abortion.3
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) – is a person’s stress reaction after experiencing a significant traumatic event. An individual may experience this as emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening and it may affect the person’s mental, physical, social, and/or spiritual well-being.6 This could include having an abortion.7
PTSD Symptoms – may include:
- Guilt
- Anxiety
- Suicidal Thoughts
- Depression, numbness
- Flashbacks to Abortion
PTSD Factors – these may contribute to a woman experiencing PTSD:
- A crisis situation surrounding her pregnancy and/or urgency she feels when making the decision to have an abortion
- Absence of a support system
- Obligation to keep her pregnancy a secret
- Denial about recognizing and resolving her sense of loss
Pregnancy and Abortion Questions
Here are just a few pregnancy and abortion questions you may be asking, or you may have heard from others. At your FREE appointment, our team can help answer these questions below and others you may have.
- How do I know for sure if I’m pregnant?
- What types of abortion (abortion methods) are available?
- What are the pros and cons of abortion?
- What are possible risks, side effects, and complications of abortion?
- Is abortion painful?
- What are the best pregnancy and abortion options for my situation?
- What type of abortion should I get?
- How much does an abortion cost?
NOTE – There are some things that abortion clinics or providers may not readily tell you, so we can help fill in those gaps at your FREE appointment.
It is important to take one step at a time, and not get ahead of yourself so you do something you may regret later. Sometimes emotions can get ahead of us. Taking one careful step at a time allows your emotions to adjust to the facts and information that you gather.
The next best step is to schedule a FREE appointment with Network Medical, so we can provide you with a FREE nurse verified pregnancy test and ultrasound. At this appointment, we also provide you with more details about abortion types, methods, risks, possible side effects and complications, costs, and alternatives. We can also help answer your questions.
An ultrasound exam is important because it confirms the pregnancy fetal location, and gestational age (how far along you are). This helps determine the type and cost of an abortion.
After you have your pregnancy test and ultrasound, you will have more information about your choices and can take the next steps with confidence and peace of mind.
Get Expert Care! Call us at 805-967-9096 or schedule an appointment.
At your appointment, you will be able to discuss the full range of pregnancy options (abortion, un planned parenthood / parenting, adoption) including the details for each option, so you can make the best choice for your situation and feel confident about your decision.
Whether you choose abortion, unplanned parenthood / parenting, or adoption, you can trust the information you receive as accurate and unbiased because we do not receive financial profit from any choice you make.
We do not perform or refer for abortions or arrange adoptions. Some other clinics and centers receive fees for these types of services; therefore, they may urge you to take those actions for their financial gain. We do provide referrals to other organizations for adoptions if you are interested in that option.
All services are FREE and confidential.
- FREE pregnancy testing – medical grade pregnancy test performed by a registered nurse.
- FREE pregnancy ultrasound – rule out possible life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, determine how far along you are, whether there is a presence or absence of a fetal heartbeat (viability), and assess your options based on your unique circumstances and needs.
- FREE abortion education – answer your questions and provide accurate, up-to-date medical information so you are equipped to make a fully informed choice.
- FREE STD testing and treatment
We value your privacy. You’re free to discuss your circumstances and situation in our non-judgmental and confidential setting.
Content is reviewed for accuracy by licensed Medical Professional(s) and staff editor(s). Our editorial process.
7 Sources / Citations
1 Mayo Clinic. (n.d). Medical Abortion. Retrieved October 17, 2024 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
2 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2023). Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS). Retrieved October 17, 2024 from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/risk-evaluation-and-mitigation-strategies-rems
3 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2023). Approved Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) -Mifepristone. Retrieved October 17, 2024 from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/rems/index.cfm?event=RemsDetails.page&REMS=390
4 CS Mott Children’s Hospital. (2023). Vacuum Aspiration for Abortion. Retrieved October 17, 2024 from https://www.mottchildren.org/health-library/tw1078
5 IPAS. (2018). Dilation and Evacuation. Retrieved October 17, 2024 from https://www.ipas.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/DESTRE18-DilationEvacuationReferenceGuide.pdf
6 American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2022). What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? Retrieved October 17, 2024 from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd
7 Psychology Today. (2010). Post Abortion Stress Syndrome (PASS) – Does it Exist? Retrieved October 17, 2024 from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/somatic-psychology/201010/post-abortion-stress-syndrome-pass-does-it-exist