Abortion Education

Learn about all your options.

Positive home pregnancy test? Is pregnancy not part of your plan right now, or in the future? Started thinking about abortion? Your mind may be racing with countless questions.

Take a deep breath- you don’t have to handle this on your own. While abortion may seem like an immediate solution to your distress, it’s essential to know all your options before reaching a decision.

At Hope Clinic, we are dedicated to walking with you through this process, providing the information you need to make a fully informed choice. Depending on your current stage of pregnancy, there are various abortion procedures available. We do not perform or refer for abortion.

To confirm your pregnancy and its viability, reach out and schedule an appointment with us. Our caring staff and volunteers are here to lend a listening ear and discuss the options as you navigate this crucial decision.

Abortion Options

Making an informed choice about abortion is crucial. Familiarize yourself with the diverse procedures, potential side effects, and risks associated with it.

There are several types of medical abortions, and the type preferred depends on the gestational age of the pregnancy. 

The Abortion Pill, also known as RU-486, is a medical option for terminating early pregnancies within 70 days after the first day of the last menstrual period.

It involves a two-step process using Mifepristone and Misoprostol. Mifepristone, the first medication, blocks progesterone, which is essential for sustaining pregnancy. Subsequently, Misoprostol is administered 24-48 hours later to induce uterine contractions and expel the pregnancy.

During this process, expect heavy bleeding and cramping, often managed at home. It is essential to have a follow-up appointment 7 – 14 days after taking Mifepristone for proper monitoring.

To prioritize your well-being, avoid purchasing the abortion pill from online sources, as the FDA discourages this action.

This surgical abortion option is available after the pregnancy reaches six weeks of age or if you’re too late for the Abortion Pill to be effective. Before the surgery, you might receive sedation or pain medication to ensure your comfort. During the procedure, you will be positioned on your back with your feet in stirrups, similar to a pelvic exam.

A speculum will be inserted to hold your vagina open, and local anesthesia will be applied to numb your cervix. The cervix will then be dilated, and a cannula will be used to suction the pregnancy from the uterus. This suctioning can be done either manually or with the assistance of an electric device. This particular surgery is known as an Aspiration Abortion.

In some cases, if necessary, a curette may be used to carefully scrape the inside of the uterus to remove any remaining fetal tissue. This additional step transforms the procedure into a dilation and curettage (D&C). 

This medical procedure, known as Dilation and Evacuation (D & E), involves a two-day process to carefully dilate the cervix to accommodate the increasing size of the fetus. Similar to the first-trimester abortion, the patient will be positioned and prepared accordingly. Once the cervix is adequately dilated, a tenaculum will be utilized to keep the cervix open.

In some cases, a shot may be administered through the abdomen into the amniotic sac to ensure the fetal heart has stopped beating. Suction will then be employed to remove the pregnancy, and if needed, forceps may be used to extract the fetus in smaller pieces before the suctioning process.

Additionally, the curette may also be utilized, as described in the D & C process mentioned earlier.

Late-term abortion procedures typically span a duration of three days. This extended timeline is primarily attributed to the growing size of the fetus and the necessary time to adequately dilate the cervix.

To initiate the process, a shot is administered through the abdomen, targeting the amniotic sac to halt the fetal heartbeat. Subsequently, medication is administered to induce uterine contractions, facilitating the expulsion of the fetus.

In situations where it becomes essential, the steps mentioned above, commonly employed during the second trimester, are utilized to ensure the complete removal of any remaining fetal tissue.

Making an informed choice about abortion is crucial. Familiarize yourself with the diverse procedures, potential side effects, and risks associated with it.

There are several types of medical abortions, and the type preferred depends on the gestational age of the pregnancy. 

Abortion Pill

Week 0-6

The Abortion Pill, also known as RU-486, is a medical option for terminating early pregnancies within 70 days after the first day of the last menstrual period.

It involves a two-step process using Mifepristone and Misoprostol. Mifepristone, the first medication, blocks progesterone, which is essential for sustaining pregnancy. Subsequently, Misoprostol is administered 24-48 hours later to induce uterine contractions and expel the pregnancy.

During this process, expect heavy bleeding and cramping, often managed at home. It is essential to have a follow-up appointment 7 – 14 days after taking Mifepristone for proper monitoring.

To prioritize your well-being, avoid purchasing the abortion pill from online sources, as the FDA discourages this action.

First Trimester

Week 6-14

This surgical abortion option is available after the pregnancy reaches six weeks of age or if you’re too late for the Abortion Pill to be effective. Before the surgery, you might receive sedation or pain medication to ensure your comfort. During the procedure, you will be positioned on your back with your feet in stirrups, similar to a pelvic exam.

A speculum will be inserted to hold your vagina open, and local anesthesia will be applied to numb your cervix. The cervix will then be dilated, and a cannula will be used to suction the pregnancy from the uterus. This suctioning can be done either manually or with the assistance of an electric device. This particular surgery is known as an Aspiration Abortion.

In some cases, if necessary, a curette may be used to carefully scrape the inside of the uterus to remove any remaining fetal tissue. This additional step transforms the procedure into a dilation and curettage (D&C). 

Second Trimester

Week 14-24

This medical procedure, known as Dilation and Evacuation (D & E), involves a two-day process to carefully dilate the cervix to accommodate the increasing size of the fetus. Similar to the first-trimester abortion, the patient will be positioned and prepared accordingly. Once the cervix is adequately dilated, a tenaculum will be utilized to keep the cervix open.

In some cases, a shot may be administered through the abdomen into the amniotic sac to ensure the fetal heart has stopped beating. Suction will then be employed to remove the pregnancy, and if needed, forceps may be used to extract the fetus in smaller pieces before the suctioning process.

Additionally, the curette may also be utilized, as described in the D & C process mentioned earlier.

Third Trimester

24+ Weeks

Late-term abortion procedures typically span a duration of three days. This extended timeline is primarily attributed to the growing size of the fetus and the necessary time to adequately dilate the cervix.

To initiate the process, a shot is administered through the abdomen, targeting the amniotic sac to halt the fetal heartbeat. Subsequently, medication is administered to induce uterine contractions, facilitating the expulsion of the fetus.

In situations where it becomes essential, the steps mentioned above, commonly employed during the second trimester, are utilized to ensure the complete removal of any remaining fetal tissue.


The content on this page has been reviewed and approved by our Medical Director Dr. Jennifer Bailey.