What are my abortion options?

What are my abortion options?

The decision of whether or not to get an abortion is a personal one only you can make. But you don’t have to do it alone. We’re a safe, confidential place you can count on to answer your questions about abortion.

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At Expectations Women’s Center, we get it — some of us were once in your shoes, facing our own unplanned pregnancies. The feelings of fear, confusion and anger you may be experiencing are normal. We’re here for you.

Our goal is simple: to empower you with fact-based information so you can make the healthiest decision for you.

On this page you’ll find information on the different abortion procedures, cost of abortion, risks of abortion, and more. If you have additional questions, we hope you’ll reach out to us. We provide pregnancy options information free of charge at our locations in Williamsport, PA, and Lewisburg, PA.

How far along can you get an abortion?

If you live in Pennsylvania, and your pregnancy is less than 24 weeks, abortion is a legal option. After 24 weeks, abortions in Pennsylvania are only permitted in cases of life or health endangerment.

What is the average cost of an abortion?

The cost of an abortion varies greatly depending on the type of abortion and your insurance coverage.

How early can an abortion be performed?

An abortion can be done as soon as you have the answers to a few questions — Are you 100% certain you’re pregnant? Do you have a viable pregnancy? How far along are you? A pregnancy confirmation and dating ultrasound answers all three questions.

The abortion options you have will depend on how many weeks you are from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). A pregnancy confirmation ultrasound can confirm you have a viable pregnancy (1 in 4 pregnancies result in miscarriage), that your pregnancy is located in the uterus, and how far along your pregnancy is – three important things to know before you choose an abortion procedure. If you haven’t had an ultrasound to confirm and date your pregnancy, we offer free ultrasounds as a part of our pre-abortion assessments at both of our locations in Lewisburg, PA, and Williamsport, PA.

If this isn’t a good time to be pregnant, there are options. Our pregnancy confirmation and dating ultrasounds can be done as a part of our pre-abortion assessment. Know your options. Choose with confidence.

Pre-Abortion Assessment

Pregnancy Testing
Limited Obstetrical Ultrasound Exam
Gestational Age Determination
Pregnancy and Abortion Options Consultation
Medical, Insurance, and Community Support Referrals

*We do not provide extended OB/GYN or pre-natal care, birth control prescriptions or devices, fertility testing, abortion services, referrals for abortion or STI/STD testing.

Medical Abortion

Abortion Pill (Mifeprex, Mifepristone, RU-486)

Abortion Pill (Mifeprex, Mifepristone, RU-486) Details
- Up to 9 weeks from the first day of your last period.
- How much does the abortion pill cost? Varies depending on insurance coverage.
- This type of abortion involves taking two different drugs – one to stop the growth of the pregnancy (mifepristone) and one to contract the uterus (misoprostol) to remove the fetus. The first pill is usually taken in a doctor’s office, and the second pill is often taken at home – hence why many call this an “at home abortion.”
- Another option, rather than taking both medications orally, is to have a misoprostol tablet placed in one of three places – your vagina, between your teeth and cheek, or under your tongue.
- Misoprostol can be used alone, via a tablet inserted into the vagina (less effective than other types of medical abortion).
- Regardless of which method medical abortion you have, it’s important to note the misoprostol will cause pain and bleeding – the severity will depend on how far along your pregnancy was.
- If you have a pregnancy outside of the uterus (an ultrasound would identify if this is the case), and your pregnancy is within seven weeks from the first day of your last period, then a slightly different approach may be used. Methotrexate, the first drug, would be administered through a shot or vaginally, and the misoprostol would be taken after at home.
- Risks of a medical abortion include:*
  - Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
  - An ongoing unwanted pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
  - Heavy and prolonged bleeding
  - Infection
  - Fever
  - Digestive system discomfort
*Risks provided by Mayo Clinic.

Surgical Abortions

Vacuum Aspiration Abortion / Suction Aspiration Abortion

Vacuum Aspiration Abortion / Suction Aspiration Abortion Details
- Up to 16 weeks from the first day of your last period
- How much does a vacuum aspiration abortion cost? Varies depending on insurance coverage.
- Like the name suggests, a vacuum aspiration uses suction to pull the fetus and placenta out of the body. This abortion procedure won’t take more than a matter of minutes, but you will likely need to stay and be monitored for a few hours to ensure the abortion is complete.

Dilation and Evacuation

Dilation and Evacuation Details
- After 14 weeks from the first day of your last period
- How much does a second trimester abortion cost? Varies depending on insurance coverage.
- This surgical abortion uses vacuum aspiration, forceps and dilation and curettage (D&C) and is often a two-day procedure.
- The first step is to open or dilate your cervix so that the doctor can remove the fetus.
- Once the cervix is dilated, usually the next day, the doctor will use forceps to remove the fetus and placenta, suction to remove the uterus and a curette (kind of like a scoop) to scrape your uterine lining.
- Risks resulting from D&C include*:
  - Perforation of the uterus.
  - Damage to the cervix.
  - Scar tissue on the uterine wall (potential for abnormal, absent or painful menstrual cycles, future miscarriages and infertility)
  - Infection.

Induction Abortion

Induction Abortion Details
- - 13-27 weeks from the first day of your last period
  - How much does an induction abortion cost? Varies depending on insurance coverage.
  - It’s unlikely an induction abortion would be an option for you, as it’s rare in the United States.
  - This abortion procedure begins with medicine that puts you into labor, so that your uterus contracts to release the fetus. The doctor may want help from suction or a curette (kind of like a scoop).

Abortion Options Checklist

Whether you have an at home abortion or a surgical abortion, the procedures should not be taken lightly. It’s important to ensure you do your research on the procedures, the abortion clinic and the medical team providing your care. We have several resources to help you in our locations in Williamsport, PA, and Lewisburg, PA. We also offer virtual appointments. To get started, here are a series of questions to help guide you as you research your abortion options:

Are you 100% sure you’re pregnant?

Have you had an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy viability, location, and how far along you are?

Have you been screened for Rh factor and/or received a Rhogam shot?

Have you confirmed the doctor performing the abortion has admitting privileges at a hospital to care for you in case of an emergency? (Ideally, you should have documentation proving this.)

Does the abortion clinic have any lawsuits filed against them? Have they had any women hospitalized and/or suffer complications after an abortion procedure they perform?

You’re not alone.

If you’re looking for a safe, nonjudgmental place to talk to someone about abortion options, schedule a confidential confirmation of pregnancy appointment. We have locations in both Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

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Education Resource

We empower you with fact- and evidence-based education, so you can make informed decisions about relationships, pregnancy, abortion, adoption and parenting.

Privacy Matters

At Expectations Women’s Center, we believe your private life should be kept private. We’ll be here to help you as you navigate life, but we’ll keep your decisions confidential.

Free of Charge

All of our services are offered free of charge, so whether you want someone to talk to, a pregnancy test or an ultrasound, we won’t let money get in the way.

We’re committed to serving you.

All services at Expectations Women’s Center are provided in a
non-judgmental way without regard to sex, age, race, income, nationality, religious affiliation, disability or other arbitrary circumstances. We provide respectful, compassionate, and non-discriminatory care for every individual.

We're here for you. Call us.

Lewisburg Office: 570-523-6872
Williamsport Office: 570-321-8240

*We do not provide extended OB/GYN or pre-natal care, birth control prescriptions or devices, fertility testing, abortion services, referrals for abortion or STI/STD testing.

What are my abortion options?