Are College Women Getting Abortions? Part-2- Women Campus
Once a woman has made the decision to have an abortion, she will need her healthcare provider to walk her through the process. There are two types of abortions: the abortion pill and the in-clinic abortion. Both are extremely effective.
If you are nine weeks pregnant or less, the abortion pill is an option. After consulting with a healthcare provider, you take the abortion pill at home. The cost ranges from $350-$650, and it works like an induced miscarriage: you will experience heavy bleeding and cramps, and other common side effects include dizziness, fever or nausea.
"The procedure was expensive, but easy," says Tammy. "I took a couple of pills one night while I was alone at home, and it was like a heavy period. It felt like major cramps, but I didn't feel any nausea or anything outside of a heavy period. The staff at the clinic explained everything really well and prepared me for the procedure thoroughly."
In-clinic procedures, which can be performed into the second trimester, can cost anywhere from $350 to $950. "The majority of comprehensive health insurance plans cover abortion care at this point," says Johnson. However your coverage depends on your plan. But if you're on your parents' health insurance and want to keep the abortion confidential, you would need to pay the full amount. "A huge number of our patients choose to pay out of pocket," says Johnson. "I think confidentiality is a concern for a lot of people."
Conny, a senior at Amherst College, volunteered at Planned Parenthood during high school and witnessed two in-clinic abortions.
"I was there in the pre-abortion session when they talked to them about the procedure, did an ultrasound and let them know about all the post-abortion services, such as counseling and medical support," she says.
During the "aspiration abortion"—the most common type of in-clinic abortion—doctors use dilators to open the cervix and a suction device to empty the uterus. Sedation and numbing medication are used to lessen the pain. The procedure itself only takes about five to 10 minutes—not including the preparation and recovery time.
"Both women appeared to be in a fair amount of pain, despite the drugs and anesthesia," Conny says. "Afterward, I walked with them to the recovery room where they were set up with a heating pad and a comfortable chair to be monitored for a certain period afterwards. They then had to be driven home by someone else."
Both options are safe and rarely have complications. "As long as it's legal and women seek care early, it's the safest outpatient medical procedure," says Johnson. "Childbirth is about 11 times as risky. What's really important is that once a woman knows that she does not want to maintain the pregnancy, that she seeks care as early as possible."
But as with any medical procedure there are risks. Infection, injury to the cervix and blood clots in the uterus are all possible risks following an abortion. It's important to talk to your doctor and ask any questions you have. Learn about what to expect and how to know if something isn't right.
