If you are in the early stages and wish to end a pregnancy, the next question is to choose the kind of abortion that is right for you and your personal circumstances. This is of course, largely a matter of individual choice. More and more women are beginning to believe that using the abortion pill has distinct advantages. It does have many advantages; however, there are certain limitations to be considered. Below is a comparison between having a medical abortion with the use of medications and an abortion procedure performed with surgery in a clinic setting.

The most important fact to consider for having a medical abortion is the length of the pregnancy. If a patient is beyond eight weeks pregnant, the pills are no longer a reliable option. Medical abortion attempted beyond eight weeks will almost always fail and a surgical procedure will then become necessary. Because of this, physicians will not dispense the medications used for a medical abortion. On the other hand, patients have the option of a surgical aspiration abortion which can be performed any time up to twelve weeks, with a success rate of 99%.

If both the options of using the pill or having the surgical procedure are possible, a patient may want to consider how many visits to the clinic will be necessary. For a surgical abortion, only one visit is required, which will last from three to four hours. The abortion by itself will take less than five minutes. For an abortion induced by pills, two visits within a three to four day period will be necessary. Patients are given the first medication to ingest on the first day; and will need to return to the clinic for the follow-up pill. Both options require a check-up visit which must be within a few weeks of the procedure.

Patients will want to consider the degree of discomfort they will experience with either of the options they choose. It will be very similar in both cases: They will feel mild to moderate cramping sensations when the tissue is expelled. With the pills, the cramping may last for up to three hours; with the surgical procedure, it will last less then fifteen minutes. In either case, patients will be given pain medication if required.

As far as costs are considered, the abortion pill procedure will usually cost about half as much as the cost of an aspiration abortion. Costs may vary among the different states and the facility chosen. For each procedure, the actual rate will depend on the length of the pregnancy.

Additionally, the recovery time differs with both procedures. Patients who have the surgical procedure usually only experience cramping during and for a short time following the procedure. Cramping and bleeding may last for several days with the medical abortion.

The type of abortion used will depend on each individual patient’s personal preference and her eligibility for the different types. Remember that the abortion pill procedure is no longer a viable option after the eighth week of pregnancy. When you visit a clinic, you will be offered more information about your options, the procedures, follow-up care, and skilled professionals will care for you at every step, to help you make the best possible choice.