Abortion

You may be considering abortion as you think about your pregnancy and what comes next. This is a significant and personal decision, and you deserve space to process your thoughts and emotions along the way.

Abortion ends a pregnancy and can be performed through different methods depending on how far along you are. Understanding your options, along with the physical and emotional considerations, is an important part of making an informed decision.

Our team is here to provide clear information, answer your questions, and support you as you explore all of your options.

Get All the Facts

If you’re considering an abortion, you have a legal right to be fully informed before making any decision. Options Mankato offers abortion education so that you understand what to expect from the medical procedure.

It’s important to take a pregnancy test and get an ultrasound before you have an abortion (1) to confirm that you are indeed pregnant, (2) to determine how far along you are, and (3) to rule out an ectopic pregnancy (when the fertilized egg implants in a location outside of the uterus that cannot support the pregnancy). Untreated ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition for the mother and is responsible for 5-10% of all pregnancy-related deaths (NIH, 2023).

If you take the abortion pill when you aren’t pregnant, you will have to suffer symptoms similar to a miscarriage needlessly. And if you take the abortion pill with an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, the abortion pill will not terminate the pregnancy, it delays receiving essential medical treatment, and it significantly increases your risk for developing severe complications that could be life-threatening.

Options Mankato offers both pregnancy testing and ultrasounds free of charge.

There are two types of abortions: medical abortion and surgical abortion.

Medical Abortion

Medical abortion is commonly referred to as the “abortion pill,” although it is not one pill, but multiple pills in two phases. The first pill ends the pregnancy, and the second set of dissolvable pills causes cramping so your body expels the pregnancy. Medical abortion is conducted up to 11 weeks after the first day of your last period. Many choose to order the pills online, which is less regulated and doesn’t always provide necessary education and care.

One in ten women who take the abortion pill suffer from serious side effects requiring emergency care (EPPC, 2025).

Possible side effects of medical abortion include:

• Tenderness or pain

• Nausea/vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Headache

Additionally, medical abortion is associated with certain risks, including:

• Fever

• Infection

• Heavy, prolonged bleeding

• Incomplete abortion (some pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus, requiring another procedure)

• Uterine rupture (higher risk among women with prior c-sections)

What if I change my mind?
If you have second thoughts after taking the first abortion pill, it may not be too late. Call the Abortion Pill Reversal Rescue Network hotline at 1-877-558-0333 within 48 hours to receive a prescription of progesterone to offset the effects of the first pill. It’s recommended to have an ultrasound appointment as soon as possible after starting Abortion Pill Reversal to determine the success of the protocol and next steps.

Surgical Abortion

Surgical abortion is conducted in a medical clinic to surgically remove the embryo or fetus and pregnancy tissue. While available early on in pregnancy, surgical abortion is typically performed after 11 weeks when medical abortion is no longer an option. The two methods of surgical abortion are vacuum aspiration abortion (used until 14-16 after your last period, in which the embryo is suctioned out) and dilation and evacuation (D&E) (performed between weeks 14 and 24 of pregnancy, in which the fetus is removed with a combination of forceps and suctioning).

Risks of surgical abortion include:

• Bleeding

• Infection

• Pain during the procedure

• Allergic reaction to anesthetic

• Incomplete abortion (some pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus, requiring another procedure)

Other serious risks that may have long-term health effects include:

• Perforation of the uterus or damage to the cervix, which can affect future pregnancies

• Hemorrhaging (heavy bleeding)

• Injury to bowel or bladder

No-Cost Services & Support

At Options Mankato, you will find a safe, 100% confidential environment to ask questions and explore your options with one of our trusted staff members. We will listen to your thoughts and concerns as we walk this road together. We also provide no-cost pregnancy testing. If you receive a positive test result, our credentialed nurse sonographer can perform a no-cost ultrasound. We are here for you - there is hope!

Please note that we do not offer or refer for abortions. However, we are committed to providing evidence-based medical education about abortion procedures and risks. Contact us today to make your confidential appointment to discuss your options.