Types of Abortion

Viability is the stage of pregnancy when a fetus has developed enough that it is able to survive outside the uterus with medical help. When it happens depends on how the fetus is developing and can be different for every pregnancy. A health care provider can determine whether a pregnancy has reached viability.

Before you can get an abortion, you’ll have a counseling appointment with a health care provider, who will talk you through your options and next steps, including choosing how you’d like to manage pain. You may also have an ultrasound to figure out how far along the pregnancy is.

Depending on the laws in your state, you may be able to have the abortion the same day as your counseling appointment. In states that have “waiting periods,” you may need to come back another day for the actual procedure. For example, some states have a 24-hour waiting period. That means that once you have the counseling appointment, you have to wait 24 hours to get the abortion.

Keep in mind that some states have laws that allow you to do your counseling appointment virtually, and then do your ultrasound (if it’s required) and abortion at the same appointment, if you have to travel a long distance to get an abortion. These laws prevent you from having to travel a long distance twice or having to stay far from home during the waiting period. If you are going to have to travel a long way for your abortion, ask if virtual counseling is an option when you call to make your appointment.

The further along in pregnancy you are when you get an abortion, the more complicated and more expensive it can be and the harder it can be to find an abortion provider. How far along you are can also affect what type(s) of abortion are available to you, since the abortion pill (medication abortion) is only available through around 14 weeks of pregnancy (and at many providers, it isn’t even available through 14 weeks of pregnancy). Also some states don’t allow abortion past a certain point in pregnancy.

It’s important to take the time you need to make a decision about whether you want to get an abortion. Just keep in mind that the sooner you seek abortion services, the less expensive and easier it will be, and the more options you might have.