Considering abortion? What you need to know before an abortion procedure
If you’re in the Harrisburg area and considering getting an abortion, make an appointment with one of our caring professionals to discuss the abortion methods available to you. Get answers to the questions you may have about pregnancy and abortion.
- Am I really pregnant?
- What stage am I in my pregnancy?
- Am I at risk for an STD?
- What abortion method will be used?
- What happens after an abortion?
- Are there other options available to me?
- What if I’ve already had an abortion?
Know your options.
Morning Star will help you understand your options. Our medical team provides free abortion education for those considering abortion.
If you’re in the Harrisburg area, facing an unplanned pregnancy, and thinking about an abortion, we can help. Visit Morning Star for free and confidential services. Let us help you make an informed choice about what to do next.
Before thinking about abortion, find out if you’re really pregnant.
Before getting any type of abortion, you first need to confirm that you’re actually pregnant. Even if you have pregnancy symptoms or have taken a home test it’s important that you have your pregnancy confirmed.
Morning Star provides free lab quality pregnancy tests that are 99% accurate. If your test is positive you may qualify for a free ultrasound to determine the viability of your pregnancy.
It’s important to have an ultrasound before an abortion to determine if the pregnancy is viable.
Did you know that 25% of pregnancies naturally end in miscarriage? Why experience the cost of an abortion if you may not need one? By doing an Ultrasound, our medical staff will be able to tell you whether you have a viable (living) pregnancy that is not already in the process of miscarriage. If you really are pregnant, our medical staff will be able to tell you how far along you are in your pregnancy.
A high-quality Ultrasound performed by one of our skilled, friendly, and knowledgeable medical professionals will provide you with the following benefits:
- Confirmation of a viable pregnancy
- Prevent you from needing an abortion if you are already miscarrying but don’t realize it (25% of pregnancies naturally end in miscarriage)
- Show how far along you are which determines the types of abortion procedures available to you
- Tell you if the pregnancy is in utero (in the uterus) or ectopic (outside the womb), which can be life-threatening
- Clinical, private setting
- Confidential results and counseling
Make an appointment for a free pregnancy test to determine if you qualify for a free ultrasound at one of our women’s health centers or make an appointment online.
Get tested for STDs before an abortion
Before getting any type of abortion, you should be tested for STDs. Many women with STDs are asymptomatic and don’t realize they are infected.
But women who undergo an abortion with an untreated STD are up to 25% more likely to develop PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) following the abortion procedure. PID can lead to serious consequences including infertility, ectopic pregnancy, abscess formation, and chronic pelvic pain.
To learn more about STDs, visit the following webpage: STD
For free STD testing, visit the following webpage: Free STD testing
Schedule an appointment today at Morning Star.
How much do you know about the different types of abortion procedures and methods?
If you’re considering an abortion, we will help you understand the risks and health-related issues associated with each abortion method. Also, to be aware of abortion-related costs, which can vary between $500-$5,000
Different abortion methods are used depending on the stage of pregnancy.
Abortion methods include:
- Abortion Pill (Medical Abortion, Chemical Abortion)
Medical Abortion is also considered Non-surgical Abortion or Chemical Abortion. It uses RU486 or other types of chemicals to terminate (end) your pregnancy. It is typically used for women who are between 30-49 days of their last menstrual period. It involves 2 to 3 different office visits. In some cases the medical abortion fails and a surgical abortion is still required.
Our staff receives calls from women in the Harrisburg area who have taken the Abortion Pill after visiting an abortion clinic, but now regret their decision. It may not be too late for an abortion reversal!
If you took mifepristone (known as RU486 or the “Abortion Pill”) and now you wish you could reverse the effects of the Abortion Pill, call Morning Star or the Abortion Pill Reversal hotline staffed 24 hrs a day.
- Surgical Abortion
If you are not a candidate for a medical abortion or if the medical abortion fails, a surgical abortion may be necessary. The most common surgical abortion methods include: dilation and curettage, manual vacuum aspiration, and dilation and evacuation. Be aware of all side effects and risks associated with each method.
- Morning After Pill (not an abortion method)
The Morning After Pill is also commonly known as Plan B One Step, Plan B, or Ella. It is not the same as an abortion pill. Rather, it is considered emergency contraception that was designed to be consumed within the first 24 to 72 hours after having unprotected sex. It may delay ovulation if it has not already occured, it may also interfere with fertilization, and may, in some cases, prevent implantation. Be aware of all side effects prior to taking the Morning After Pill.
Important to note: If conception has already occurred, the Morning After Pill can potentially cause an early abortion. It does not always prevent a pregnancy from occurring.
Abortion risks
Just like all medical procedures, abortion has risks, including:
- heavy blood loss
- damage to the cervix or uterus
- infection
- damage to other internal organs
- sepsis (total body infection caused by RU486)
- fertility loss
- death
Know your rights if you are considering abortion
As with any medical or surgical procedure, you have certain rights which should never be signed away.
Remember, a coerced abortion is illegal under Pennsylvania law. No one can force you to have an abortion, even if you are a minor.
You have the right:
- To insist that your abortion is performed only by a licensed physician.
- To know if the physician’s license has ever been suspended or revoked.
- To be informed if the physician has a history of medical malpractice.
- To know whether the physician has insurance in case you are injured or killed during the abortion procedure.
- To insist that if you are injured during your abortion procedure, you will be immediately transferred by an actual ambulance (not a clinic worker’s personal car) to the nearest emergency hospital or trauma center.
We will talk through your rights with you so you will be well prepared to ask the questions you need answered.
We will explain why it’s important to not allow anyone to perform an abortion on you until that person has completed the Physician’s Information section of the Patient Rights Form which we will give to you. At an abortion clinic, you may be asked to sign a statement indicating that you will not hold the clinic or doctor liable if you are injured or killed during the abortion. This is a violation of your rights and you deserve to keep all of your legal rights!
Is your friend thinking about or considering abortion?
If your friend is thinking about an abortion, she deserves to know specific information about abortion methods, risks associated with each abortion method, parenting options, adoption options, and more.
Help her by making an appointment for her today. She will be able to receive information that will help her to make an informed decision about abortion. If she is wondering whether to have an abortion or not, or deciding whether to have a baby, help her today by calling Morning Star.
I already had an abortion. Now what?
If you made the decision to have an abortion, you may be experiencing confusion, fear, anxiety, guilt, panic, or hopelessness. We want you to know that there’s nothing wrong with these feelings. This is a typical and healthy reaction to a serious event in your life.
You deserve to be heard and understood as you process this pain. Morning Star provides post-abortion support and abortion recovery classes that can help you find peace and healing after an abortion.
This can be an important step towards healing a broken heart. Call one of our medical clinics (Harrisburg, Middletown, New Cumberland) to find out more.
We understand your situation is difficult and our caring medical clinic professionals are here to help. Call or request an appointment online today.