Real Answers to Your Questions About Abortion

When you find out you’re unexpectedly pregnant, it’s a really chaotic, confusing, and emotional time. You might not know who to talk to, where to turn, or what to do. Once the haze clears a bit and you start processing what is happening, it’s not unusual to seek real answers to your questions about abortion. 

There are far more questions than we can possibly answer here, and the questions each person asks will vary depending on their situation, age, future plans, dreams, and more. Below are the most common questions women ask. If you have any that are not addressed here, we are always available to provide answers at Willow Womens Center. 

Questions About Abortion 

Q: What is abortion? 

A: Abortion is the termination of pregnancy using either pills or surgery. 

Q: Is abortion safe? 

A: According to the Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services, “An abortion is a medical procedure that always involves risk to the woman. At or prior to eight weeks after the first day of the last normal menstrual period is considered the safest time for a woman to have an abortion. The complication rate doubles with each two-week period after that time.” 

Q: Who are the women that have abortions? 

A: They come from all backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and religion.

Q: Are there alternatives to abortion? 

A: Yes, adoption and parenting are your other choices. Both involve taking the pregnancy to full term. Adoption means you will not do the parenting yourself, while parenting means you will take on that responsibility. 

Q: Where are abortions performed? 

A: They can be performed in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and non-specialized clinics, but the majority are done in clinics that exist for only that purpose. 

Q: Where can I get an abortion? 

A: Abortion is legal in all 50 states, but the nearest clinic to you could be quite a distance away. Some states only have one provider. 

Q: What is medication abortion? 

A: Medication abortion is also known as the abortion pill, a combination of two pills taken separately. This procedure is done for women up to 10 weeks pregnant. The first pill blocks progesterone in your body. Two days later you will take the second pill. You will make a final visit a couple of weeks later to the clinic to make sure the abortion was completed.

Q: What is medical abortion? 

A: Two primary procedures are done, depending on gestational age. Aspiration can be done within seven weeks and uses dilators and a suction tube. Suction Curettage is most commonly done, between six and 14 weeks. Again, this uses dilators and a suction machine. 

Let Us Answer Your Other Questions 

At Willow Womens Center, we are here for you. Make an appointment to come in and let us give you a no-cost pregnancy test to confirm your at home results because sometimes those tests are wrong. After that, we will sit down with you, answer your questions, and give you the information you need to make a confident decision for your future.