Making the decision to have an abortion is often very difficult, especially when the pregnancy occurs before marriage or the mother is not ready to take care of the child. This decision-making is very personal and only the mother has the right to decide. If you experience this, consult a doctor or seek advice from friends and family members for consideration, but make sure you make the choice on your own accord, not out of necessity. Before making a decision, find out what applicable laws and procedures are safe abortions by gathering information from trusted sources. In addition, consider your lifestyle and moral values so that you can make the most appropriate decision.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Finding Information about Abortion
Step 1. See a doctor for a consultation
If you want to confirm pregnancy or are pregnant after having a test, make an appointment to consult with an obstetrician. When you see a doctor, he will give you several options: have an abortion, let someone else adopt the baby, or take care of the baby.
- Doctors should not direct patients to make certain decisions. It only needs to provide information about the options that can be selected.
- If you want to have an abortion, be prepared to ask your doctor questions. You may feel awkward or embarrassed discussing abortion with other people, but your doctor is ready to help you. If your doctor forbids you to have an abortion (for reasons unrelated to health), see another doctor.
Step 2. Know your right to keep this confidential
Adults who wish to have an abortion need not share this decision with anyone. However, it's a good idea to tell a supportive friend or family member so they can provide support while you're having an abortion.
If you are not yet 18 years old and want to have an abortion, you may need to ask your parents for permission. If you don't tell your parents about this, get a letter from the judge. Many countries require that you obtain parental consent before having an abortion. Find out the legal provisions that apply to this matter because each country has different rules
Step 3. Make sure you are informed about abortion complications
There is a lot of misinformation circulating in the community about abortion and its effects because this procedure is still being debated. Therefore, take the time to find the right information by asking a doctor, reading publications from the government, or accessing a trusted health website.
- Be careful when looking for information on the internet, especially websites that support or oppose abortion.
- Know that abortion is a safe procedure if performed by a licensed obstetrician. Only 1% of abortion cases have complications.
- Know that abortion does not trigger breast cancer. In addition, a complication-free abortion does not cause infertility or prevent subsequent pregnancies.
- Abortion does not trigger postabortion syndrome or other mental health disorders. However, abortion usually causes stress so some women face problems after having an abortion, for example due to congenital mental health problems or lack of support.
Step 4. Decide if you can have a medical abortion
Medical or nonsurgical abortion may be performed no later than 10 weeks (70 days) from the first day of the last menstrual period. Before having an abortion, the doctor will examine the patient's body, usually using an ultrasound, and then prescribe mifepristone or methotrexate and misoprostol.
- If you can and are ready to have a medical abortion, you should take mifepristone as prescribed by your doctor to stop the production of progesterone, a hormone that plays an important role during pregnancy.
- After 24-48 hours of taking mifepristone, you should take misoprostol to empty the uterus. Usually, you will experience cramps and heavy bleeding 4-5 hours after taking misoprostol.
- After your abortion, you should see your doctor for a physical examination to make sure your uterus is clear of any tissue that needs to be removed. A follow-up examination by a doctor is absolutely necessary so that he can determine that the pregnancy is over. Failure to clear the uterus of post-abortion tissue can lead to complications and infection.
- Medical abortion can be done at home as early as possible in the early stages of pregnancy (once you are positive for pregnancy), but there is a risk that the abortion will not be complete. You may have to have a surgical abortion if you experience this.
Step 5. Find information about surgical abortion
This method, known as vacuum aspiration abortion, may be performed as long as the gestational age has not reached 14-16 weeks (depending on the doctor's consideration). Abortion through surgery aims to remove tissue from the uterus by dilating the cervix and then inserting a small tube-shaped suction device into the uterus.
- The duration of surgical abortion is only a few minutes. While in the clinic or doctor's office, you will need to wait long enough for the painkillers/relaxations to start working and the cervix to dilate wide enough for the suction tube to enter the uterus. Cervical dilatation can be done with an increased thickness metal rod, taking medication, or using a device that absorbs fluid so that it expands.
- You will have to wait at the clinic for at least 1 hour to recuperate to ensure that there are no complications after the abortion. Make sure you make your next appointment with your doctor for a check-up.
- If the gestational age is more than 16 weeks, the abortion should be performed by a dilation and evacuation procedure. This procedure is the same as aspiration abortion, but is longer in duration, uses more equipment, and takes longer to recover.
Part 2 of 3: Considering Moral Values and Emotional Health
Step 1. Consider your current condition
Before deciding on your next steps once you find out that you're pregnant, take some time to yourself to evaluate various aspects of your current life, and then think about the impact that pregnancy or having a baby will have on your daily life.
- Consider your financial condition. Are you ready to go through pregnancy and take care of the baby?
- Consider the moral values you believe about abortion. If you are against abortion, would you mind having the baby adopted?
- Consider your health. Does pregnancy harm your physical or mental health? If you decide to have an abortion, are you prepared for the physical and emotional repercussions?
- Consider whether or not there are people who will provide support. Who will accompany you to take care of the children? Will his father take responsibility? If you are at the clinic for an abortion, who will accompany you?
Step 2. Share the burden of your feelings with others
Share how you feel with a trusted partner, family member, or friend. Choose someone who is neutral and doesn't influence your decision. Many women feel confused and isolated when faced with this problem. Expressing your feelings to a supportive person can help you feel calm and think clearly.
- If you can communicate with the baby's father, ask him what he wants. If you are not married and are not ready to have a baby, you have the right to have an abortion without his consent. If you're worried that he's against your plans, it's better not to let him know.
- Don't let other people decide what you should do. If a friend who opposes abortion breaks up with you because you want to have an abortion, tell him, "I understand you object, but I have the right to make choices. Let me make the decision that's best for me."
- Share your problems with people who have had an abortion. If you know someone who's had an abortion, ask them to share their experiences and give them both positive and negative perspectives. Ask her, "If you don't mind, may I ask about an abortion? I'm pregnant, but I don't know what to do."
Step 3. Consult a counselor
See your doctor, midwife, or family counselor for a discussion so you can make the right decision. Make sure you consider objective and impartial feedback and suggestions, rather than those that force you to choose certain options.
- Take time to find out the background of the people you want to meet to ensure their neutrality. Find out which professional or personal community they are connected to (political party or religious organization).
- You can make choices without feeling judged or pressured by consulting neutral people. Don't consult with people who force you to make certain decisions.
Part 3 of 3: Making a Decision
Step 1. Make a decision as soon as possible
You should make your choice as early as possible if you want to have an abortion. Even if you're still in doubt, remember that an abortion is made easier if it's done as early as possible. Apart from that, you can still consider various options.
In the United States, abortion is prohibited if the gestational age reaches 24 weeks, unless the pregnancy endangers the health of the mother
Step 2. Take note of things to consider
If you can't decide, write down the pros and cons of having an abortion. Putting your thoughts and feelings down on paper can make decision making easier.
Write down the positives and negatives of each option (baby raised alone, aborted, or adopted). Make sure you consider all aspects even if they seem trivial. Compare the three or both options (because you're not ready to babysit, for example)
Step 3. Execute your decision
Take the next step once you've made up your mind. If you choose to continue the pregnancy, immediately see a doctor for a prenatal consultation. If you want to have an abortion, make an appointment to see an obstetrician as soon as possible.
- Consider the things that need to be prepared to travel to and from the clinic. Certain countries require patients to wait some time before undergoing an abortion. In addition, prepare the funds needed to pay for the cost of the abortion.
- If you decide to continue the pregnancy, avoid smoking, alcohol, and drugs. Apply a healthy diet and consume vitamins that contain folic acid according to the doctor's advice so that fetal growth and development goes well.
Step 4. Determine how to prevent pregnancy
If you want to have an abortion, ask how to prevent pregnancy when you talk to your doctor about planning an abortion. Search the internet for information and then discuss the best options with your doctor.
- One way to prevent pregnancy is to use an IUD (intrauterine device). If you choose this option, the doctor will insert the IUD during the abortion. Consult this with your doctor before deciding. Keep in mind that the IUD does not prevent sexually transmitted infections.
- Give support and attention to a friend who has just had an abortion.
Tips
- Ask your doctor the possibility of undergoing an ultrasound examination for free. If not available, ask for a reference so you can use this facility elsewhere. Find out which clinics provide free ultrasound via their website. However, it is usually the charitable organization that provides free services with a mission against abortion and then asks you to continue the pregnancy.
- After having an abortion, do not have premarital sex. Use a pessary if you are married.
