Maybe you know you are not ready to become a parent, or you are worried about money, school, and what a pregnancy could mean for the future you had planned.
You may be struggling to know whether abortion or adoption would be the right option for you. There is no way to answer that question without first understanding what each option involves.
Abortion and adoption are very different paths. Abortion ends a pregnancy, while adoption involves continuing the pregnancy and making a plan for your child to be raised by another family.
Learning about both can help you think beyond what feels overwhelming right now and consider what each choice could mean for your health, your circumstances, and your future.
At Hope Pregnancy Center, you can receive confidential lab-quality pregnancy testing and an ultrasound and talk with our trained team about your questions and concerns. While we do provide information about abortion, we do not perform or refer for abortions.
Schedule your appointment at our center to help you get the clarity you deserve.
What Does Abortion Involve?
Abortion ends a pregnancy. The two main types are medical abortion (also known as the abortion pill) and surgical abortion.
The FDA has approved the abortion pill for ending an intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks of gestation.
A medical abortion uses two drugs. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, while misoprostol causes the uterus to contract, resulting in abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding as the pregnancy is expelled.
Possible risks include:
- Incomplete abortion
- Infection
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding
- Fever
A surgical abortion is performed in a clinical setting to remove a pregnancy from the uterus. The cervix is first opened using medication or instruments, allowing the provider to insert surgical tools.
Suction is commonly used to remove the pregnancy, sometimes along with instruments to remove remaining tissue.
Afterward, abdominal cramping, spotting, or vaginal bleeding can occur for several days. Possible risks include uterine perforation, cervical injury, infection, and Asherman’s syndrome, a condition in which scar tissue forms inside the uterus.
It is also worth considering your mental health and personal history. Some research has found an association between abortion and certain mental-health outcomes.
What Does Adoption Look Like?
Adoption means continuing your pregnancy and making a legal plan for another family to raise your child.
If you have not looked into adoption before, you may have an outdated idea of what it involves. Adoption plans can vary, and the level of contact between a birth parent, child, and adoptive family can depend on the arrangement you decide on together.
In an open adoption, the birth parent and adoptive family typically maintain some form of ongoing contact. A semi-open adoption may involve communication through an adoption professional or another third party. A closed adoption involves no ongoing contact between the birth parent and adoptive family.
Adoption agencies and licensed professionals can explain the process, help you understand your legal rights, and discuss what different adoption plans could look like. You also will never be expected to pay for adoption services, and financial assistance such as help with paying medical bills and other pregnancy-related care may be available.
Hope Pregnancy Center can provide referrals to reputable adoption agencies if you want to learn more about this path.
Talk Through Your Questions at Hope Pregnancy Center
You do not have to walk into an appointment knowing exactly what you want to do.
At Hope Pregnancy Center, you can receive free pregnancy services in a caring environment. You can ask questions about abortion, adoption, and parenting and receive referrals for additional support when needed.
If you are trying to decide between abortion and adoption, start by getting the information you need. Contact us to make your appointment at the center.
Hope Pregnancy Center does not perform or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.