A Non-Surgical Answer
If it has been over 72 hours -- but less than seven weeks from the start of your last menstrual cycle -- and you do not wish to have a child, you may opt for a non-surgical abortion also available through some Planned Parenthoods called mifepristone -- or RU-486, also known as the "abortion pill."
This form of non-surgical abortion is FDA approved and involves first taking a dose of mifepristone -- which stops the production of progesterone, necessary to maintain a pregnancy -- then a follow-up dose of misoprostol -- which will cause the cervix to soften and dilate, producing contractions.
Both medications work to expel the embryo similar to a natural miscarriage -- you can expect to experience lower abdominal pain, nausea, bleeding, vomiting and diarrhea. You will also need to visit a women’s clinic or your doctor for complete details, because treatment may vary and will be individualized.
Seek Advice
But if you just don’t know what to do, don’t keep quiet about it. Talk to someone. There are other choices besides abortion, such as adoption. There are many programs -- usually offered through clinics -- that can give you information and counsel.
"Teens should have options told to them," says Ross. "I think that should be standard, because young women, especially emotionally, have a harder time because they may know an abortion might not be the right thing to do. But what we see is that women have a hard time with that choice."
It’s also important to understand that your feelings are normal, adds Ross, and whatever your decision may turn out to be, it doesn’t make you a bad person.
Going Through With It
If you can’t go through with the pregnancy and it’s too late to utilize either the morning-after pill or the abortion pill, you can opt for surgical abortion. If you’re afraid to get one because you think you’ll need your parents’ permission or they may be able to somehow find out, there may not be cause for worry.
"In some states, once you’re pregnant, you may become an emancipated minor. Your parents might not have to know anything," Ross explains.
