CHOICE Hotline Frequently Asked Questions
Is abortion safe? Yes, an abortion is one of the safest types of surgery. Having a first trimester abortion procedure (up to 12 weeks) is considerably safer than having an appendectomy or a tonsillectomy. The risk involved with a second trimester abortion is about equal to that of childbirth. The risk of death associated with childbirth is about ten times higher than that associated with abortion.
Is abortion legal? Yes, abortion has been legal in the United States since the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. In Pennsylvania, abortion is legal to 24 weeks.
Will abortion affect my ability to become pregnant in the future? There is no evidence that having an abortion, even multiple abortions, poses a risk to a woman's ability to become pregnant in the future. Serious abortion complications can impact future fertility; however, such complications are rare.
Does an abortion procedure hurt? It depends on the type of anesthesia being used and the individual woman's tolerance for pain. With local anesthesia to the cervix, the woman would not feel the cervix opening up or dilating. However, the woman is awake and might experience cramps similar to those of menstration. With a twilight anesthesia, a woman will not be fully concious; with general anesthesia, the woman will not be conscious or aware of what is going on.
Is emergency contraception the same as abortion? No. Emergency Contraception Pills (ECP) are a concentrated dose of birth control pills that are approximately 75-89 % effective in preventing pregnancy from occurring when taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. ECP will not work if a woman is already pregnant and won't harm the pregnancy. Abortion is the termination of an already established pregnancy. See fact sheet for more information.
What's the difference between emergency contraception and the abortion pill (RU486)? ECP works to prevent a pregnancy from occurring. The abortion pill is one type of medical abortion to terminate an established pregnancy. With the abortion pill a set of pills are taken to cause the contents of the uterus to be expelled, similar to a miscarriage. See fact sheet for more information.
Where can I get a pregnancy test? Pregnancy tests are available at most family planning clinics, as well as GYN or primary care doctors. Home pregnancy tests are also available at most drugstores or pharmacies. Call the CHOICE Hotline (215-985-3300) for more information.
Can I become pregnant while having sex during my menstrual period? It is possible. A woman can become pregnant when she is ovulating (releasing an egg from the ovary). A woman ovulates 14 days before the first day of her next menstrual period. If a woman's menstrual cycle is very short ( meaning 21 days or less between menstrual periods), a woman could be ovulating during her period or shortly after. Therefore, having unprotected sex during her period could put a woman at risk for pregnancy.
When is a woman most fertile? A woman is most fertile (able to become pregnant) when she is ovulating. A woman ovulates 14 days before the first day of her next menstrual period. So, if a woman knows when the first day of her next period is going to be and then counts backwards 14 days, that is when she will most likely ovulate.
Will Depo Provera or the birth control pill make me gain weight? With any hormonal birth control method, there are possible side effects. Weight gain is a possible side effect with Depo. On average, a woman may gain about 5 - 6 pounds within the first year. Weight gain or weight loss could also be a possible side effect with the pill. Not every women on Depo or the pill will gain weight and if they do, it usually can be managed by diet and exercise.
Is burning or a discharge from the penis or vagina a symptom of a STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease)? It could be a possible symptom of an STD or it could be something else that is not sexually transmitted. Many STD's, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, can cause burning or discharge. However, other things like a urinary tract infection or a yeast infection, which are not sexually transmitted, can cause similar symptoms. The only way to know for sure if you have an STD is to be tested.
What does an abnormal pap smear mean? The pap smear is the screening test for cervical cancer. An abnormal pap smear can indicate a number of things, but it usually means that there are abnormal cells on the cervix. These cells may return to normal or they may be pre-cancerous. Sexually transmitted diseases, such as genital warts, are a common cause of abnormal cells on the cervix. Other factors such as smoking, environmental toxins, and sexual intercourse at an early age can increase the risk of cervical cancer. An abnormal pap result does not always mean cervical cancer or a sexually transmitted disease. It could also be a lab error.