PRE-ABORTION ASSESSMENT South Carolina
When considering an abortion, your health and safety are important to us.
At your appointment, you will meet with a nurse who will provide you with a free ultrasound to confirm a viable pregnancy and estimate how far along you are. It is important to find out how far along you are when considering abortion. Medical services are provided free of charge by licensed medical personnel.
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Schedule a free and confidential appointment to learn more about abortion and your options.
MEDICAL ABORTION
Medical abortion (also called the abortion pill) can be taken up to 70 days (10 weeks gestation) after the start of your last menstrual period.
- It’s called RU-486 and was approved by the FDA in 2000; it is also called a medical or chemical abortion.
- The pill is actually two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, taken in two separate doses.
- It is not an option for people with certain medical conditions.
- The abortion pill is not the same as the emergency contraceptive (The Morning After Pill or Plan B One Step).
- Abortion pill reversal is possible if action is taken after the first dose.
Action – The first medication, mifepristone blocks progesterone. Progesterone is a hormone that is necessary for the pregnancy to survive. Without progesterone, the embryo dies. The second medication, Misoprostol, causes cramping, expelling the embryo and uterine contents.
Side effects – Cramping and bleeding are expected. Bleeding may be like a heavy period. Bleeding can last 9 to 16 days and possibly up to 30 days. Other possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, weakness, dizziness and headache.
Complications – Possible complications include heavy bleeding requiring surgery to stop the bleeding, and serious infection. Before taking any medication, you should discuss the risks with your doctor and know what do to if complications arise.
Follow-up – It is important to follow-up with your doctor 1 to 2 weeks after taking this medication regime to see if an abortion has occurred and to assess for complications.
SURGICAL ABORTION
Surgical abortions are done by opening the cervix and passing instruments into the uterus to suction, grasp, pull, and scrape the pregnancy out. The exact procedure is determined by the baby’s level of growth.
Aspiration/Suction23,24 – Up to 13 weeks LMP. Most early surgical abortions are performed using this method. Local anesthesia is typically offered to reduce pain. The abortion involves opening the cervix, passing a tube inside the uterus, and attaching it to suction device which pulls the embryo out.
Dilation and Evacuation25,26 (D&E) – 13 weeks LMP and up. Most second trimester abortions are performed using this method. Local anesthesia, oral, or intravenous pain medications and sedation are commonly used. Besides the need to open the cervix much wider, the main difference between this procedure and a first trimester abortion is the use of forceps to grasp fetal parts and remove the baby in pieces. D&E is associated with a much higher risk of complications compared to a first trimester surgical abortion.
D&E After Viability27-29 – 21 weeks LMP and up. This procedure typically takes 2–3 days and is associated with increased risk to the life and health of the mother. General anesthesia is usually recommended, if available. Drugs may be injected into the fetus or the amniotic fluid to stop the baby’s heart before starting the procedure. The cervix is opened wide, the amniotic sac is broken, and forceps are used to dismember the fetus. The “Intact D&E” pulls the fetus out legs first, then crushes the skull in order to remove the fetus in one piece.
REFERENCES
Information taken from U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2016). “Mifeprex Medication Guide.” U.S. Department of Health. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM088643.pdf
SURGICAL ABORTIONS
23. Paul, M., Lichtenberg, E. S., Borgatta, L., Grimes, D. A., Stubblefield, P. G., & Creinin, M. D. (2009). First Trimester Aspiration Abortion. In Management of unintended and abnormal pregnancy: Comprehensive abortion care (pp. 135-156).
24. Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. (2014). In-Clinic Abortion Procedures : Planned Parenthood. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
25. Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. (2014). In-Clinic Abortion Procedures : Planned Parenthood. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
26. Paul, M., Lichtenberg, E. S., Borgatta, L., Grimes, D. A., Stubblefield, P. G., & Creinin, M. D. (2009). Dilation and Evacuation. In Management of unintended and abnormal pregnancy: Comprehensive abortion care (pp. 157-74). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
27. Paul, M., Lichtenberg, E. S., Borgatta, L., Grimes, D. A., Stubblefield, P. G., & Creinin, M. D. (2009). Dilation and Evacuation. In Management of unintended and abnormal pregnancy: Comprehensive abortion care (pp. 157-74). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
28. American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. (2013). Practice Bulletin: Second-Trimester Abortion (135).
29. Pasquini, L., et al. Intracardiac injection of potassium chloride as method for feticide: Experience from a single U.K. tertiary centre. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 2008;115(4):528–31.
CONFIDENTAL CONSULTATION – NO COST TO YOU
Schedule a free and confidential appointment to learn more about abortion, such as risks and side effects, and your options. At your appointment, you will be provided a lab-quality pregnancy test. If positive, you will be offered a free and confidential ultrasound. An ultrasound can confirm a viable pregnancy and estimate how far along you are.
Abortion Laws South Carolina
72 HOUR WAITING PERIOD
The state of South Carolina mandates a 72-hour waiting period before your abortion.
IF YOU’RE A MINOR
If you are under the age of 18, South Carolina state law requires you to have one parent or legal guardian to consent to an abortion procedure.
LATE ABORTION RESTRICTIONS
Late abortions (abortions performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy) are currently banned in South Carolina, but exceptions are made in cases where the pregnancy is putting the mother’s life or health at severe risk.
