Pregnancy options
Considering abortion
One of your choices is abortion, which is a legal and safe medical procedure that terminates a pregnancy. Serious medical complications rarely occur during an abortion, and serious, long-term emotional problems after abortion are rare. Uncomplicated abortion should not affect future pregnancies.
It is important to reflect on your own comfort with the idea of terminating a pregnancy and fully understand how an abortion is performed when you are considering abortion. Most women who choose abortion feel relieved because they have ended a pregnancy for which they were not ready. Some women experience anger, regret, guilt or sadness for a short time. You are more likely to experience serious regrets after abortion if you have strong moral or religious feeling against it. Sudden hormonal changes may intensify these feelings. You should examine any concerns you have about abortion before choosing this option. You may pursue counseling before or after an abortion.
If you choose abortion, there are three ways it can be done:
- With medicine
- With vacuum aspiration
- Through surgery
Most abortions are performed in a clinician’s office. Most Duke students who choose to have an abortion are referred to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Chapel Hill or Durham. We can also provide referrals to other locations in the Triangle and elsewhere. Information on Triangle area abortion facilities is available here.
Women do not need the consent of their partners in order to have an abortion. North Carolina does have a law that requires women under the age of 18 to obtain consent from one parent in order to obtain an abortion. A judicial bypass option is available for those women who feel they cannot ask for or obtain the required consent.
If you are considering abortion, here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Would I rather have a child at another time?
- Do I feel that anyone is pressuring me to have an abortion?
- Can I afford to have a child at this time?
- Can I afford to have an abortion now? Are there resources available to me that would allow me to cover the cost of an abortion?
- Do I have strong religious beliefs against abortion?
- Do I look down on women who have abortions?
- Do I feel that I can handle the physical experience of having an abortion?
- Would I need to ask for parental consent before I have an abortion?
- Would I be willing to go before a judge to obtain an abortion if necessary?
- Do I care what other people think about whether I should have an abortion?
- Would I do anything to end this pregnancy?
Think about what your answers mean to you. Consider discussing your answers with your partner, someone in your family, a friend, a trusted religious advisor, a healthcare provider, or a counselor.
Note:
The Duke Student Health Center provides all-options pregnancy counseling through the Office of Health Promotion. Call 681-WELL (919-681-9355) to schedule an appointment with Lindsey Bickers Bock, MPH, to discuss pregnancy options. The counselor will help you make your own decision about what is right for you at this point in your life.
Information last reviewed June 2009