But if you happen to be under 18 and a resident of a state which requires one or both of your parents to give permission or be told of your decision prior to the procedure, you can ask a judge to excuse you from these requirements. This procedure is called a"judicial bypass" -- make sure to call your nearest Planned Parenthood center to find out more about the law in your state.
Teens usually choose to go to clinics such as Planned Parenthood, because services are cheaper. However, if you were hoping to go through your insurance company to entirely avoid the cost of an abortion, you will most likely be let down. Many insurance companies, such as Unicare, do not cover elective abortion and even with the ones that do, a claim must be submitted and it will be mailed to your parents.
But there are a few exceptions. According to a representative at Kaiser Permanente, if you are over 13 years of age you can get an abortion without your parents finding out -- depending on your coverage. To be safe, make sure to call your insurance company to confirm the scope of your benefits.
Once you’ve made the appointment, you may be wondering what the process will be. Dr. Ross’s practice "use[s] laminaria, which is a seaweed compound inserted into the vagina at least four to six hours before the procedure," says Ross. "It helps to dilate the cervix, to prevent any cervical compromise from the dilatation and curettage, also known as D&C." Dilatation and curettage involves scraping the uterine lining.
Next, "a plastic suction is inserted into the uterus and we remove the product of conception though the D&C," Ross continues.
Surgical abortions are considered outpatient procedures, which means you can leave that day -- with someone else driving, of course. Generally, if you have the abortion within the first eight or nine weeks, "you really recuperate quite well," adds Ross.
"You can work the next day," she says. "In the second trimester, it’s a little different, so you might need a week to recuperate. Nowadays, it's sad that they’re done after 12 weeks."
