There are two non-surgical early abortion methods: the Aspiration Procedure and the Abortion Pill. These safe and natural methods end a pregnancy before it has a chance to develop. Early methods of abortion may be used before the tenth week of pregnancy.
A Summary of Early Abortion Methods:
| EARLY OPTIONS™ | EARLY OPTIONS™ | ABORTION CLINIC | |
| Aspiration Abortion Method |
Abortion Pill Method |
Surgical Abortion (D&C) Method | |
| Non-Surgical Method | Yes | Yes | No |
| Recommended by the World Health Organization as safest abortion methods | Yes | Yes | No |
| Companion can be by your side | Yes | Yes | No |
| Completed in a private examination room | Yes | No | No |
| Completed at home | No | Yes | No |
| Minimal bleeding | Yes | No | No |
| Minimal cramping or pain | Yes | No | No |
| Return to normal activities in minutes | Yes | No | No |
| One Visit – No Follow up Needed | Yes | No | No |
What is Early Abortion?
A termination of pregnancy is best completed between five and ten weeks of pregnancy, before a pregnancy develops. An early pregnancy consists of a thickened tissue lining of the uterus (similar to the tissue that develops before menstruation) and a fluid-filled gestational sac about the size of a grape. Thus, early abortion methods are said to "bring down your period." The Abortion Pill blocks the hormones of pregnancy from acting on the uterus, and induces your period. The Aspiration Procedure provides a gentle pressure to release the menstrual lining from the wall of the uterus.
The Aspiration Procedure and the Abortion Pill are the most safe, gentle, and natural early abortion methods. These methods are simple to complete and can be offered in a private medical office. They are just as effective and have fewer complications than surgical abortion. These early methods are safer than surgical abortion (D&C) because they do not require scraping of the uterus, electric suction, or general anesthesia.
What is the Aspiration Procedure?
The doctor uses a quiet, handheld instrument to remove the pregnancy tissue. The Aspiration Procedure feels similar to a Pap test and is completed on a regular medical examination table. It only takes 3-5 minutes! You can resume your normal activities immediately. The Aspiration Procedure used to be called "menstrual extraction".
There are many advantages to the Aspiration Procedure. It is safer than a surgical abortion because there is no scraping, no electric suction, and no sedation. It is simpler than the Abortion Pill because there is less cramping, less bleeding, and it is completed in one visit.
What is the Abortion Pill?
A medical abortion is completed in the privacy of your own home.
The abortion pill can be used to 9 weeks of pregnancy. You can take the abortion pill in the comfort of your own home. The abortion pill blocks the hormones of pregnancy and causes an early miscarriage. The abortion pill is a three step process:
- You take one pill in the doctor's office.
- You take another set of pills at home, 24-72 hours later. The second set of pills causes the uterus to contract and induces an early miscarriage. There is typically several hours of cramping. At Early Options, we provide you with strong pain medications to help relieve this cramping.
- You must have a follow up with the doctor to make sure the pregnancy is terminated.
The World Health Organization endorses our non-surgical methods
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated in its Technical Guidelines on Safe Abortion: Aspiration and medical abortion are preferred methods for abortion in the first trimester. Both these methods are safe, effective, and suitable for the primary level of care and should be available at levels of care with greater capacity and in many private clinical settings.
IPAS, an international organization dedicated to safe abortion care adds: Regrettably, many health facilities still use the sharp curettage or dilation and curettage (D&C) method. The WHO guidelines state that because women's risk of complications is substantially higher with sharp curettage than with vacuum aspiration or medication abortion, this method should be used only when vacuum aspiration and medication abortion are unavailable. Ipas.org/topics/abortion_technologies.aspx.
