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How Early / How Late  Can You Get An Abortion? | Abortion FAQ

Modern technological advancements can now determine if we are pregnant almost instantly, before even missing a period! Similarly, we can also terminate a pregnancy as early as possible. According to the CDC, More than 500,000 women in the US decide to perform an abortion. Unfortunately, despite the huge number of abortions annually, this procedure can usually feel like a complex and lonely decision.

To make it somewhat easier, in multiple regards, is this exclusive abortion timeline. It is here to help you answer what is perhaps the most definitive query…’ How early can you get an abortion?’ as well as what type of abortion you can get. If you are wondering how soon you can get an abortion, and where you can get it, here is everything you should know: the most straightforward answer!

Here is a detailed outline of the specifics of how early or late you can do abortion and the specifics of the various methods of abortion.

How Early Can You Get An Abortion?

Unless your residence state or clinic prohibits, you can enjoy abortion services once you confirm being pregnant. Nonetheless, the earliest abortion is performed between the 4th and 6th week of pregnancy. This time frame varies not only from one state to another, but the medical personnel’s experience.

Although abortion can be carried out earlier, the 4-6 week duration is typically when a woman starts experiencing pregnancy signs, with missing a period usually being the first symptom. An ultrasound and pregnancy test generally confirm pregnancy and are generally performed and in many cases required before to determine both the precise gestational age of pregnancy, but the most suitable abortion procedure to use.

In case you are less than ten weeks pregnant, the medical abortion process is the most likely procedure that will be used for termination of pregnancy in the U.S. and many parts of the world.

The majority (91.6%) of abortions are performed within the initial ten weeks of a pregnancy. The earlier an abortion is performed, the process is safer, easier, associated with less complications or side effects and the most cost-efficient.

How Late Can You Get An Abortion?

Alternatively, when it comes to how late you can terminate a pregnancy, the answer varies from state to state. However, many of the late terminations can be performed up to the 24th week of pregnancy selectively.

Late term abortions performed after 24 weeks are usually illegal in most states unless the pregnancy is life-threatening to the mother or severe fetal deformalities or congenital abnormalities that are incompatible with life.

Although late abortions are still an option, they are not popular with most women ot physicians since they significantly boost the incidence of complications. In most cases in the US, late abortions are performed using the surgical abortion method.

There has been an increase of second trimester, late term and third trimester abortions performed in the US and around the world over the past 20 years using the abortion pill (medical) method. The process has been found to be highly safe and effective.

The Abortion Timeline (Abortions by Trimester):

1-12 Weeks (First Trimester)

CDC outlines that all abortions carried out within the first semester are among the safest medical procedures in the world when performed legally and by highly experienced medical personnel. The overall risk of complications is below 0.5%, while the risk of the mother’s demise during childbirth is approximately 11 times higher than abortion.

A missed period usually represents the initial indication that one is pregnant. The missed menses occurs generally 2 weeks after fertilization and approximately four weeks after the last menses for women who have a consistent 28 day cycle.

Medical abortions are the most common procedure performed during early pregnancies (3.5 to 8 weeks) in the U.S.

Women receive the abortion pills after undergoing a history and physical examination and accompanied by instructions on their usage.

There are instances where you could be asked to wait until the 5^th to 6^th week before the procedure is performed due to the lack of visualization of the pregnancy by sonogram (ultrasound) within the intrauterine cavity prior to that time.

It is advised that one check the regulations within your state when choosing to have a termination of pregnancy as the rules and regulations differ from State to State on how and when the procedure is performed.

This includes the requirement of a 24 to 72 hour waiting period after counseling in some States before the abortion procedure is carried out.

13-27 Weeks (Second Trimester)

While most of the abortion procedures are performed within the first trimester of pregnancy, there are numerous women seeking abortion services in the second trimester due to multiple reasons.

State-imposed restrictions, unaware of being pregnant, denial of pregnancy, a shortage of available facilities, unable to get off work or school, transportation, babysitting, or raising funds for room and board are just several issues and challenges that may force women to delay seeking abortion services later in their pregnancy.

The option to abort in the second trimester is occasionally a medical one. It is worth noting that although the second trimester extends through the 27th week of pregnancy, the recommended period within which an abortion procedure can be selectively performed is limited up to 24 weeks unless it is medically necessary.

Fetal viability is thought to generally occur between the 24th to the 26th week of pregnancy. Medical evaluation must be performed on an individual basis to be certain.

In the early second trimester of pregnancy (14.1 to 20 weeks) the Surgical Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) procedure is usually the most suitable method. This is a relatively gentle procedure, which can be performed with special surgical instruments to empty the pregnant uterus. It may require your physician to perform the procedure within a hospital setting depending on the State where the procedure is performed.

The D&E procedure is performed without the need for a surgical incision. The procedure is completed in 15 to 20 minutes generally after 4 to 24 hours of the cervix undergoing softening and opening with special medications. The latter is important to reduce the possibility of complications or side effects.

The D&E pregnancy termination procedure is much safer than childbirth in experienced medical hands.

28 Weeks to Birth (Third Trimester)

Performing an abortion within the third trimester period of a pregnancy is illegal in most States in the US. Nonetheless, federal laws give exceptions for an abortions in the the third trimester if the pregnancy is life-threatening to the mother or there are fetal congenital or structural abnormalities that are incompatible with life.

Severe hypertension, kidney disease, diabetic complications that may lead to blindness and invasive cancer development, are among maternal indications that may mandate an abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Older mothers are more susceptible to complications that may affect them more severely and thus abortion at this stage becomes necessary.

Different Abortion Methods & Their Availability Periods

Abortion Pill/Medical Abortion

Medical abortion, a non-surgical option, is usually available for a period of up to ten weeks of your gestation period. The abortion pill procedure involves taking two different medications either at home or clinic with a full day availability for both the procedure’s completion and resting.

Vacuum Aspiration

This is another pregnancy termination process that is accessible from between 10-16 weeks of your gestation period. Vacuum Aspiration is deemed a surgical procedure, although it does not involve the use of incisions. This procedure does not involve the use of electric machines whatsoever and requires very minimal recovery time.

Typically, during the procedure, you have the choice between receiving local or standard general anesthesia-the latter that renders you unconscious for the full procedure.

Dilation And Curettage

These are procedures that can be used up to 16 weeks of pregnancy. This involves a fairly simple and quick procedure, and anesthesia is used during the process. The procedure has minimal recovery time.

Dilation and Evacuation

Similar to curettage and dilation, the D&E procedure can be performed up to to the 24th week of pregnancy or further if medically indicated. The process may entail cervical preparation (softening and opening) with medications followed by using surgical dilators to open the cervix large enough to allow the manual and gentle removal of the pregnancy tissue within the uterine cavity.

Labor Induction

The labor induction method works well after 16 gestation weeks up to the end of a pregnancy (9 months). The process involves administering medication to soften the cervix, and the procedure takes between 12 – 24 hours. With this procedure, the recovery time may be longer. It is associated with less side and complications compared to a live birth vaginal delivery at term.

Hysterectomy

This procedure is only performed when other, less-invasive processes are neither advisable nor available. Hysterectomy may be performed up to the full-spectrum pregnancy (9months). In comparison to the other options, this procedure poses the longest recovery time and highest risk to the woman.

For Quality Abortion Services and Reliable Care…

Abortions are an effective and very safe approach for terminating pregnancies, notwithstanding the reason.

Pregnancy termination procedures performed earlier in gestation are easier, less costly and safer than those done later.

Approximately 90 % of abortions are carried out within the initial 12 weeks of gestation. Visiting a seasoned, licensed, and expert physician is always the best way to assure that the procedure will be performed with minimal to no complications and carried out safely.

If you are looking for abortion services, the Orlando Women’s Center, located in Florida is the safest clinic available.

An experienced physician will help you determine the most suitable option for you. At our Abortion Clinic in Orlando, we offer both early and late abortion services (medical and surgical).

What’s more, we offer same day first, second, and late term abortion services from 3 to 24 weeks.

To learn more about how early or late you can have an abortion or get expert advice on the best abortion method for you, contact us at 407-245-7999 to schedule an appointment.

Dr James S Pendergraft | Orlando Women’s Center | Abortion Clinic Orlando