About Abortion:

It's Your Choice!
And you have options.

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Your Loving Choice's trained peer-counselors understand and care about you in this difficult time. This may be the biggest decision you make in your whole life. You owe it to yourself to get good information before you decide. We respect your right to make your own choice. We can help with your need to be informed.

If you have just found out for sure that you are pregnant, and this isn't part of your plans right now, you may be feeling alone and scared. You may be having a hard time admitting that you really are pregnant. Eventually you will need to decide what to do.

At this time, despite the stress, you need to think through all your choices. This is one of the biggest decisions you may make in your life. Before you choose, carefully weigh your options based on information rather than just emotion. Use your head, use your heart, and use your soul. A trained peer counselor at Your Loving Choices is waiting to help you think through all your thoughts and fears.

For your information, listed below are some facts regarding an abortion procedure and the risks involved. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Your Loving Choices at 570-784-3143. Read the information below to learn more about abortion procedures and the risks associated with abortion.

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What is Abortion?

Abortion refers to the artificial (meaning not natural as in miscarriage) ending of a pregnancy, for whatever reason. Most people call the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy a miscarriage rather than an abortion. When abortions were legalized in the United States in January 1973, even doctors began using the term abortion for the pregnancy that a woman terminated and the term miscarriage for a pregnancy that a woman lost spontaneously.

Abortions may be performed either surgically or medically.

Surgical Abortion - implies the use of surgical instruments to remove the fetus from the uterus or the placing of instillations in the uterus to stop the fetus from developing.

Medical Abortion - implies the administration of drugs to the pregnant woman to stop the fetus from developing and expel it from the uterus.

The method of abortion is determined by how far along a woman is in her pregnancy. Because it can be difficult to know exactly what day a woman conceived, medical professionals will usually refer to pregnancy in terms of the time since the last menstrual period (LMP).

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Pregnancy Termination Patient Safety and Consent

You have a right to know all of your options and other information that might affect your decision, but if you don't ask for this information you may forfeit that right. Here are some important issues you will want to discuss before you sign a medical consent form.

1. Will it hurt?
2. What options and supportive services are available to me if I choose not to abort?
3. What is the fetus like right now? What can it do? What can it feel?
4. How much bleeding will I have?
5. If I bleed too much, who should I call or where should I go?
6. Will you treat me for complications?
7. If I need to be hospitalized, at which hospital do you have privileges?
8. What are the chances that I will experience any of the following problems?

Physical	Psychological
Retained Products of Conception Damage to the Cervix Hemorrhage (heavy bleeding) Infection Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Perforation of the Uterus Sterility Complications of Future Pregnancies	Depression Anniversary Syndrome (Post Abortion Syndrome) Sexual Dysfunction Suicidal Thoughts Interference With Personal Relationships

If you decide to have an abortion, you will want to have a permanent record of what the care provider told you. Take this check list home with you and keep it in a safe place. Some of the effects associated with abortion may not show up for several years. If anything does happen to you during or after the abortion you will have evidence of what you were told.

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Facing an unexpected pregnancy can seem overwhelming. That is why knowing where to go for help is important. Talk to someone you can trust - your partner, your parents, a pastor, a priest or perhaps a good friend. Also, the caring people at Your Loving Choices are available to help you through this difficult time. Call or e-mail us at 570-784-3143 or 1-800-712-HELP.

We do not provide or refer for abortions.
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should never be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice.