Abortion

Before you can get an abortion, you’ll have a counseling appointment with a health care provider, who will talk you through your options and next steps, including choosing how you’d like to manage pain. You may also have an ultrasound to figure out how far along the pregnancy is.

Depending on the laws in your state, you may be able to have the abortion the same day as your counseling appointment. In states that have “waiting periods,” you may need to come back another day for the actual procedure. For example, some states have a 24-hour waiting period. That means that once you have the counseling appointment, you have to wait 24 hours to get the abortion.

Keep in mind that some states have laws that allow you to do your counseling appointment virtually, and then do your ultrasound (if it’s required) and abortion at the same appointment, if you have to travel a long distance to get an abortion. These laws prevent you from having to travel a long distance twice or having to stay far from home during the waiting period. If you are going to have to travel a long way for your abortion, ask if virtual counseling is an option when you call to make your appointment.

The further along in pregnancy you are when you get an abortion, the more complicated and more expensive it can be and the harder it can be to find an abortion provider. How far along you are can also affect what type(s) of abortion are available to you, since the abortion pill (medication abortion) is only available up to 11 weeks of pregnancy (and at some clinics, it isn’t even available up to 11 weeks of pregnancy). Also some states don’t allow abortion past a certain point in pregnancy. It’s important to take the time you need to make a decision about whether you want to get an abortion. Just keep in mind that the sooner you seek abortion services, the less expensive and easier it will be, and the more options you might have.

There are two main ways abortion can be done: the abortion pill (also called medication abortion) and an abortion procedure (also called in-clinic abortion).

Everyone is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to what type of abortion is better. Both types of abortion have a very low risk of serious complications. Which one is right for you will depend on a lot of factors, including how far along in pregnancy you are, since the abortion pill is generally only available up to 11 weeks of pregnancy (and each clinic has its own rules about how far into pregnancy they offer it, so some clinics will not offer it up to 11 weeks).

For some people, being able to do the abortion at home at a time that works for them is the most important thing — with the abortion pill, the abortion itself happens in your own home (or other safe place of your choosing) instead of at a health center, doctor’s office, or hospital. For some, an abortion with the abortion pill feels more like a “natural” process because it’s similar to an early miscarriage.

For those who want it to be over as quickly as possible, it’s important to know that the abortion may take several hours when you take the abortion pill, but it usually takes just 5 to 10 minutes when you have an abortion procedure. Others may want to get an abortion procedure because they’re able to get IV sedation that makes them very relaxed or puts them to sleep so that they don’t have to experience the abortion itself. And still others choose an abortion procedure because it is more likely to be effective than the abortion pill, especially as you get closer to 11 weeks pregnant, which is when the pill stops being an option.

For more help deciding what type of abortion makes the most sense for you, check our list of pros and cons for each abortion type.

Some states have laws that allow you to do your counseling appointment via telehealth, and then do your ultrasound and abortion at the same appointment, if you have to travel a long distance to get an abortion. These laws prevent you from having to travel a long distance twice or having to stay far from home during the waiting period. If you’re going to have to travel a long way for your abortion, ask if virtual counseling is an option when you call to make your appointment.

Legal abortion performed by a certified health care provider is very safe, just like many other common outpatient procedures. The rate of major complications is low, at 0.23%, which is similar to the rate of major complications caused by colonoscopies. And it actually has a lower rate of complications than wisdom tooth removal. The earlier in pregnancy you get an abortion, the lower the chances are of complications. Abortion doesn’t cause long-term health risks or affect your chances of getting pregnant in the future.