A decision about abortion can be tough to face for many women. Practical concerns and personal reasons are often big considerations. But what if you have medical reasons for considering an abortion? What if a pregnancy might cause serious health risks? How can you know if an abortion is best for you? What if your feelings are conflicted even with having medical reasons for an abortion?
At Avenue Women’s Center, we understand that health concerns can impact a pregnancy decision. We’ve served women in the Chicagoland area for nearly 40 years with our free pregnancy decision services. Confirm your pregnancy with a medical-grade test, and learn more about your options during a private consultation with our expert staff. We care about providing you accurate, reliable, and nonjudgmental information about all of your options, including abortion. Call, text, chat, or email us today for your free appointment at any of our five locations!
Medical Reasons for Abortion
Many women begin to wonder about their health when they learn they’re pregnant. But for some, it becomes more than just thinking about what prenatal vitamins to take, or how they should adjust their diet and exercise habits. For these women, there might be serious health risks involved with continuing a pregnancy. You might have previously lost a pregnancy due to a miscarriage, and worried that it could happen again. Maybe your last pregnancy was high-risk, with medical emergencies and complications during or afterwards. You could have genetic disorders that run in your family, and you’re concerned about potential birth defects. You may have a medical condition that would be complicated with a pregnancy, cause an ectopic pregnancy, or even endanger your health. The medical reasons that contribute to your thoughts about having an abortion could be legitimate concerns, but are there other reasons factoring into your decision?
Medical Reasons and Your Emotions
As health concerns flood your mind, take a moment to consider what other factors might exist in your decision. Fear might be playing a role if you’ve had medical issues with pregnancies in the past. It can be terrifying to think about possibly going through something similar again. Or even if you haven’t personally experienced health risks, close family members might have, and their situation was enough to cause you concern. Whatever the case, your emotions might be running high and impacting your thoughts about abortion. Or perhaps you think an abortion is best for medical reasons, but your feelings are torn between other options. You might want to continue the pregnancy, but feel a deep sense of doubt when it comes to physically doing so. The reality beyond any possible concerns is that there is no guarantee you’ll experience serious medical risks with this pregnancy—even if you have in the past. Pause to put aside the medical considerations, and take stock of your thoughts and feelings regarding each of your pregnancy options.
Next Steps as You Consider Abortion
An important first step forward if you have health concerns is to learn more. You might have every reason to be concerned, but not have all the information about your pregnancy. Could your pregnancy continue normally if your health improved with lifestyle changes, hormone treatments, or close monitoring? Are there treatments or precautions available that you might not be aware of yet? What are some helpful next steps to consider if you’re thinking about abortion due to medical reasons?
- Address your health history, medical risks, and pregnancy concerns with your doctor, with more than one doctor, or a specialist. There might be more information to learn about your personal risks, as well as the opportunity to address any questions or concerns about a potential abortion.
- Learn more about your pregnancy with an ultrasound to rule out anything that might be going wrong such as a potential miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, etc. An ultrasound can shed light on what is occurring physically with a pregnancy to give you more information about how it’s developing and any cause for medical or health concern.
Take the next steps of your decision at Avenue Women’s Center. We believe your health is of the utmost importance in a pregnancy decision, and we care about providing you with all the information about your options, including abortion. Our free services include options consultations to address your unique questions and concerns with our expert and compassionate staff. All of our services are confidential, private, and nonjudgmental to help you make an informed decision you can feel good about. Contact us today to learn more!
References:
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). (2013, February). Pregnancy Choices: Raising the Baby, Adoption, and Abortion, FAQ 168. Retrieved from: https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Pregnancy-Choices-Raising-the-Baby-Adoption-and-Abortion?IsMobileSet=false.
- Onlymyhealth. Sachdev, Poonam, MD. (2013, January). Medical Reasons for Abortion. Retrieved from: https://www.onlymyhealth.com/medical-reason-abortion-1317621849.
Reviewed by Patricia Kuenzi, APN-CNP, MSN, ANP, PNP.
The information provided here is general in nature. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a medical professional. Before any medical procedure, it is imperative that you discuss your personal medical history, risks, and concerns with your doctor. If you have questions during or after a procedure, your doctor should be immediately contacted. Avenue Women’s Center is not an emergency center. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as bleeding and/or pain, seek immediate medical attention. Contact your physician, go to an emergency room, or call 911.