Abortion

Considering abortion?

Abortion is a medical procedure, and like all of them, it has side effects and potential risks. You deserve to know the facts. Learn more about what you can expect if you choose abortion.

What Should I Do First?

Confirm your pregnancy before you schedule an abortion. Set up an appointment at Life Options Clinic for free and confidential pregnancy testing and ultrasound.

We’ll provide the information you need to make a confident decision.

What do I need to know about abortion?

There are two types of abortion: medical and surgical. Your procedure is determined by how far along you are in your pregnancy.

Medical Abortion

Medical abortion, like the abortion pill, uses drugs to end a known pregnancy. It is a three-step process involving two different drugs.

The first drug, mifepristone, thins the uterus lining and prevents the pregnancy from staying implanted or growing. The second drug, misoprostol, is taken 24- 48 hours later and causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy.

Only Up To 10 Weeks

The FDA has approved the use of the abortion pill method up to 70 days (10 weeks) past the first day of your last menstrual period. Florida’s abortion law allows for abortion up to 15 weeks.

Knowing how far along you are in your pregnancy is essential for the abortion pill method. You must follow up with the doctor you received the drugs from so they can ensure all the contents of your uterus have been expelled.

Side Effects and Risks

• An incomplete abortion
• Potentially heavy bleeding
• Severe cramping
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills
• Diarrhea
  

Surgical Abortion

How far along you are determines the type of surgical abortion procedure you receive. Because it is illegal to have an abortion in Florida past 15 weeks, you will most likely have a vacuum or suction aspiration.

Suction aspiration uses a small vacuum to suck out fetal tissue. Later pregnancies require dilation and evacuation (D & E), which includes using sharp instruments to scrape the inside of the uterus and forceps to remove larger parts of the pregnancy.

Side Effects and Risks

• Damage to your cervix
• Perforation of the uterus
• Scar tissue on the uterine wall
• Infection

Schedule an appointment with us to learn more about these procedures and if you qualify.

Current Abortion Laws In Florida

As of September 20, 2022, these are the current abortion laws in Florida.

• Abortion is legal in Florida.
• Florida bans abortion after 15 weeks, 0 days of pregnancy.
• You must wait 24 hours after visiting an abortion provider to receive in-person counseling.
• If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must give you permission to get an abortion.
• There are exceptions to the law if abortion is necessary to save the pregnant person’s life, to prevent serious risk to the pregnant person’s physical health, or if the fetus is not expected to survive the pregnancy.

The information on this page is intended for educational purposes only. Life Options Clinic does not perform or refer for abortion.