Last summer, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, returning abortion legislation to the states. For the women of Massachusetts, state abortion laws have not changed. You have legal access to abortion up to 24 weeks of gestation.
The overturning of Roe did not eliminate abortion in the United States, as some believe. It returned the decision of abortion access to individual state governments. Now, each state determines its own law on whether abortion is restricted or protected.
No matter which state you are in, there are exceptions for the health of the woman.The Supreme Court did not ban the treatment of ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages. The medical care necessary to treat these unique situations differs from elective abortion.
Does the Law Include Medication and Surgical Abortion?
Massachusetts abortion law includes medication abortion, also known as the abortion pill, and surgical abortion. How far along you are in your pregnancy may determine which method you qualify for.
Medication Abortion (up to 11 weeks)
A medication abortion uses two drugs over a 24 to 48-hour period to terminate a pregnancy. As you consider this method, you should be aware of side effects and potential risks. To protect your health and safety, before taking the abortion pill, it is important to confirm you are under 11 weeks and to rule out an ectopic pregnancy.
Side effects include nausea, vomiting, cramping, fever, chills, and diarrhea. An incomplete abortion, prolonged heavy bleeding, fever, and infection are potential risks.
Surgical Abortion (13 – 24 weeks)
There are different methods of surgical abortion, usually depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy an in-clinic D&C abortion can be performed up to 13-24 weeks and the D&E surgical abortions require dilation (opening) of your cervix. The abortion provider uses a combination of vacuum aspiration, a sharp spoon-shaped instrument called a curette, and possibly forceps.
Side effects of surgical abortion include heavy and prolonged bleeding and cramping. Potential risks include perforation of your uterus, damage to the cervix, scar tissue on the uterine wall, and infection.
What Should I Do Before Scheduling An Abortion?
If you think you might be unexpectedly pregnant and aren’t sure what to do next, prioritize your health and safety with medical pretesting from Your Options Medical.
Medication and surgical abortion are serious medical procedures. Our nurses at Your Options will provide you with medical-grade pregnancy testing. If the test is positive and you meet certain medical criteria you will receive a free ultrasound.
An ultrasound is vital to learn the following information:
How far along you are in your pregnancy. Knowing the gestational age tells you what type of abortion is available.
If the pregnancy is viable or if you have miscarriage indicators. The Mayo Clinic states that up to 20% of known pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage.
The location of the pregnancy. If not located in the uterus, you are at risk for an ectopic pregnancy.
Schedule Your Free Appointment Today
At Your Options Medical, we’re here to answer your questions and give you the information you need to make a healthy, confident decision with our professional medical staff to guide you.
Schedule your free appointment today to learn about your options.