If you’ve recently found out you’re pregnant and you’re considering abortion, you probably have a lot of questions about your options. This is a big decision, and you deserve clear, accurate information before you make it.
At Choices Women’s Center, we believe you should never have to choose in the dark. This guide walks through the main abortion options available today — the abortion pill and surgical abortion — along with an important first step that’s easy to overlook: getting an ultrasound. Keep reading to learn more.
The Abortion Pill (Medication Abortion)
The abortion pill is actually a two-drug regimen, not a single pill. It’s currently the most common form of abortion in the United States.
How it works
- Mifepristone: The first pill blocks the hormone progesterone, which is necessary to sustain the pregnancy. Without progesterone, the pregnancy cannot continue, and the embryo stops growing.
- Misoprostol: The second pill is taken 24-48 hours after mifepristone. It causes contractions to expel the fetus and pregnancy tissue.
How late can it be taken?
The abortion pill is FDA-approved for use up to 10 weeks gestation (or 70 days or less since the first day of your last menstrual period).[1]
Taking the medication beyond this timeframe increases the risk of complications, and may require medical intervention, including emergency surgery to address excessive bleeding or incomplete abortion.[2]
Surgical Abortion (In-Clinic Abortion)
There are two main types of in-clinic abortion. The one used generally depends on how far along the pregnancy is.
Suction Aspiration (Vacuum Aspiration)
How it works: After the cervix is dilated, a tube (or cannula tube) is inserted into the uterus and connected to a suction device. The suction empties the contents of the uterus. The surgery itself typically takes about 5 to 10 minutes, though the full surgical procedure — including preparation, pain management, and recovery — takes longer.
How late it can be performed: Suction aspiration is generally used from about 6 weeks up to approximately 13 weeks of pregnancy.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
How it works: The cervix is dilated more extensively than for a suction aspiration, often over one or more days beforehand using medication or dilating instruments. A combination of suction and specialized surgical instruments is used to remove the fetus and pregnancy tissue from the uterus.
Because of the greater degree of cervical preparation and the more involved nature of the surgery, D&E typically requires more time and is usually performed with deeper sedation or general anesthesia.
How late it can be performed: D&E is generally available from around 13 weeks up to roughly 24 weeks of pregnancy, though this range depends heavily on the individual clinic’s protocols and the judgement of the abortion provider.
Risks and Side Effects
It’s important to note that surgical abortion becomes increasingly risky the further along you are. Potential physical risks include:
- Uterine Perforation: An instrument may accidentally puncture the uterus, possibly needing surgical repair.[3]
- Asherman Syndrome: Scar tissue inside the uterus from repeated procedures can impact future fertility.[4]
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Bacteria introduced during surgery may cause infection in the reproductive tract.[5]
Why an Ultrasound Comes First
Before you can meaningfully weigh your abortion options, there are two things you need to know for certain: how far along you are, and whether the pregnancy is viable. An ultrasound is the most reliable way to answer both.
It confirms your gestational age. Every abortion option has a specific time window in which it can be used. An ultrasound gives you an accurate measurement, which matters enormously.
It confirms viability. A positive pregnancy test does not guarantee an ongoing pregnancy. A significant percentage of early pregnancies end in natural miscarriage, and some are ectopic (developing outside the uterus), which can be a medical emergency and cannot be treated with abortion drugs or a surgical abortion.
An ultrasound can show whether there’s a detectable heartbeat. If it cannot be detected, that may mean that a miscarriage is occurring.
This information changes what your actual options are. In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, getting this information quickly can be life-saving.
Choices Women’s Center provides free ultrasounds to women who receive positive pregnancy tests at our center. Click the button below to schedule your appointment.
*Important note: Please be aware that this article is not meant to substitute for medical advice or treatment. The purpose of our limited ultrasound exams is to identify a pregnancy inside the uterus, detect the fetal heartbeat, and estimate how far along you are. If there is no detectable heartbeat, it may indicate a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy is occurring. If we cannot detect a fetal heartbeat during your appointment, we will provide appropriate referrals for follow-up care and treatment.
Have Questions About Your Abortion Options? Get Answers at Choices Women’s Center.
Learning about your abortion options is only part of the picture. Knowing exactly how far along you are and whether your pregnancy is viable is what turns that general information into something specific and useful to your situation.
If you’re facing this decision, we encourage you to get an ultrasound first, ask questions, and take the time you need before scheduling anything at an abortion clinic. You don’t have to figure this out alone, and you don’t have to rush.
Choices Women’s Center offers free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and pregnancy consultations. Give us a call at (252) 237-6833 or schedule your appointment online today.
Please be aware that Choices Women’s Center does not provide or refer for abortion services.
Sources
- FDA. (2025, February 11). Questions and Answers on Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifeprex
- Redinger, A., & Nguyen, H. (2022, June 27). Incomplete Abortions. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559071/
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2024, April 5). Abortion – Surgical. MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002912.htm
- Mayo Clinic. (2024, July 6). Elective Abortion: Does it Affect Subsequent Pregnancies? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/expert-answers/abortion/faq-20058551
- Mayo Clinic. (2022, April 30). Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352594