Women and adolescents and other persons with childbearing capacity have the right to decide about our bodies, our families and our future. Choosing whether we want to have children or not, when, how and with whom, more than a privilege, is an internationally recognized right. An unwanted pregnancy is therefore a major obstacle to the achievement of our life projects.
Fortunately, there are options for both preventing and terminating unwanted pregnancies. We talk about contraception and abortion as the pillars of sexual and reproductive health. Having access to both, as well as to comprehensive sexuality education, gives us greater control over our bodies and our future. It also expands our possibilities to choose and to aspire to better living conditions.
If an unwanted pregnancy appears in your life, regardless of your age, it is essential to know that there are several options for you and becoming a mother is only one of them. The decision to continue or terminate your pregnancy belongs to you alone. Choosing to become a mother, to reproduce or not, is fundamentally your choice. Even if you are in a stable relationship, even if you are married or in a couple, a teenager or a minor.
Of course, in order to make your decision you need quality information. Nowadays we know that it can be difficult to find it because there is a lot of misinformation and falsehoods, both on the Internet and on other platforms.
We have created this note thinking of women, adolescents and people with gestational capacity interested in learning more about the options they have after learning of their pregnancy, or also, if you simply require verified and reliable information about abortion and sexual and reproductive health.
Abortion is an Option
First we want to make it clear to you that abortion is a possible, viable and safe option. Although it is still taboo, illegal and even criminalized in many countries, the international legal framework and our right to decide supports us. Abortion is your right. Remember, your desire and your choice is the most important thing to follow.
If you are thinking about or have already made the decision to terminate your pregnancy, it is good to know that there are two types of abortion: medical abortion and instrumental (or surgical) abortion. The main difference is that instrumental abortion is a more complex medical procedure. In order for it to be a safe procedure, it requires all the necessary conditions for a procedure in a health center, from trained medical professionals, medical supplies and others.
Since in Venezuela and many other countries around the world voluntary termination of pregnancy is still illegal and the health system does not guarantee access to a medical institution to perform it, an elective abortion is not the most accessible option. As a clandestine practice, the sites and people who perform it cannot necessarily guarantee your safety.
But there are other options for those women, adolescents and people with gestational capacity, who wish to terminate their pregnancy, for whatever reason. You may not know it or you may have heard of a woman who has done it, but, keep in mind that you can access an abortion with pills or the well-known abortion pills, to end your pregnancy safely.
Abortion Pills
Medical abortion is a safe alternative as long as you know the procedure, safety measures, risks, advantages and disadvantages involved. Before you act, we suggest you read, inform yourself and make an informed decision.
If you have already made the decision to terminate your pregnancy with abortion pills, keep in mind that you will probably require accompaniment and guidance, such as the one we have available at Aya Contigo. If you are going to have an abortion with pills, we recommend that you read this information first.
The first thing you need to know is that the use of abortion pills is mostly recommended in pregnancies of less than 13 weeks or 91 days. Therefore, it is very important for you to know how many weeks of gestation you are if you have already decided to terminate your pregnancy. We remind you that you must count from the first day of your last menstrual period. There are online tools that can help you know more precisely what week you are in, such as this pregnancy calculator. .
Explore more - How to Have a Safe Home Abortion According to WHO
If you are within the indicated range and your pregnancy does not exceed 13 weeks, you can opt for an abortion with pills. Don't worry, even though you may be afraid, millions of women and people with gestational capacity have gone through this situation in the world and have come out of it with flying colors. Their experiences have allowed them to establish safe protocols, which greatly reduces the risks you may have when taking abortion pills.
The Pill is Called Misoprostol.
There are two types of abortion pills or two types of medications used for abortion: mifepristone and misoprostol. Medical professionals claim that abortion pills work best if both medications are taken together. But we know that, if it is sometimes complex to find just one, getting two can be even more difficult and expensive. So, the most affordable alternative is misoprostol alone. Abortion with misoprostol is safe as long as we are within the indicated range and follow the respective recommendations.
For this reason, misoprostol is found in most countries and is easier to find than mifepristone. Of course, finding a prescription can be uphill, so keep that in mind.
The procedure in case it is with one or both types of pills is different and in any case it is always good to be aware that there is a possibility that you will have to go to a medical center if any complication occurs. For this reason, it is ideal that you can inform someone you trust that you will be undergoing the procedure so that they can help you in case of any unforeseen eventuality.
However, most abortions with pills are usually uncomplicated. The main side effects of using abortion pills to terminate a pregnancy are cramping and bleeding. This is understandable as they are indicators that they are having the desired effect. The intensity of the pain depends on many factors, but you can always take ibuprofen for some relief.
After hours of taking the pills be aware that bleeding will begin. It may start with clots or something similar to menstruation and depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, these clots may be larger. If you should need to go to the hospital because your bleeding is prolonged, you can rest assured: there is no way for the medical staff to prove that the miscarriage was the result of taking the pills.
If you want to know the step-by-step for abortion with pills and if you want to get in touch with women who have accompanied abortions with pills, we recommend downloading the app Aya Contigo and get in touch with our guides. We hope this information will be useful to you.
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