Abortion Information
Are you pregnant and considering abortion near Mount Vernon, Ohio? Starting Point understands the difficulty of facing an unexpected pregnancy and we’re here to help with free and confidential services.
ABORTION METHODS OHIO
MEDICAL ABORTION
Medication abortion (also called the abortion pill) is usually taken between 4-6 weeks pregnant but can be taken up to 11 weeks after the start of your last menstrual period (LMP) in most cases.
- It was approved by the FDA in 2000; it is also called a medical or chemical abortion.
- The “pill” is actually a protocol that involves taking two drugs which are taken on two different days.
- Because of complications, the FDA has special safety instructions and monitors distribution carefully.1
- The FDA strongly cautions against the use of an abortion pill obtained over the Internet.2
- The abortion pill is not the same as the emergency contraception (The Morning After Pill or Plan B One Step).
- The abortion pill will not work in the case of an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy where the embryo lodges outside the uterus. An ultrasound can screen for this issue.”
- Abortion pill reversal is possible if action is taken after the first dose.
SURGICAL ABORTION
Vacuum Aspiration/Suction Currettage3,4 – Up through 13 weeks LMP. Most early surgical abortions are performed using this method. Local anesthesia is typically used 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 Evacuation (D&E)5,6 – 14 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. General anesthesia may be used, if available. 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 Viability7-9 – 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.
WHY STARTING POINT
PREGNANCY VERIFICATION
Pregnancy tests are not always conclusive. Pregnancy tests respond to a hormone released by a pregnant woman’s body called HCG. Although your HCG levels may be showing as high, your pregnancy might not be viable, as about 10-20% of all pregnancies end in natural miscarriage.10 Ultrasound is the most reliable method of detecting pregnancy viability.
PRE-ABORTION SCREENING
If you’re considering an abortion, the type and cost of the procedure you will be eligible for is dependent on the pregnancy location (intrauterine, ectopic, etc.) and the detection of a fetal heartbeat. An ultrasound exam will provide this information. We provide pre-abortion screenings in Mount Vernon, Ohio that include a free pregnancy test, ultrasound, and all legally required information.
SAVE YOURSELF MONEY
All of our services are 100% free and confidential. Starting Point is a non-profit organization that is free for everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. We exist to provide accurate medical information and support to women and men facing an unplanned pregnancy.
LAWS FOR OHIO
24 HOUR WAITING PERIOD
Ohio mandates a pre-abortion screening 24 hours before a procedure. Ohio pregnancy care centers maintain confidentiality and never report any information to the state.
IF YOU’RE A MINOR
If you are under the age of 18, Ohio state law requires you to have one parent or legal guardian to consent to an abortion procedure.
OHIO ABORTION RESTRICTIONS
Abortion is prohibited when there is a fetal heartbeat present. Exceptions are made in cases where the pregnancy is putting the mother’s life or health at severe risk, or if there is no fetal heartbeat detected.
REFERENCES
MEDICAL ABORTION
Information taken from U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2016). “Medication Guide.” U.S. Department of Health. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information
1. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information
2. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information
SURGICAL ABORTIONS
3. 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).
4. Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. (2014). In-Clinic Abortion Procedures : Planned Parenthood. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
5. Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. (2014). In-Clinic Abortion Procedures : Planned Parenthood. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. (2013). Practice Bulletin: Second-Trimester Abortion (135).
9. 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.
PREGNANCY VERIFICATION
The content on this page has been reviewed and approved by our Medical Director.