Counseling for an abortion

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Counseling for an abortion

For your own future well-being, it's important that you make a well-informed decision when you are considering an abortion. Counseling early in a pregnancy helps you reach a positive outcome, regardless of whether you continue with the pregnancy. Think through your choices, and seek counseling from a knowledgeable professional, such as:

• Your health professional.
• A professional counselor.
• A family planning clinic.
• An adoption service agency.
• Your religious organization.
• A genetic counseling service.

Some pregnancy counseling centers are opposed to abortion. If you are considering abortion, seek a professional who will advise you on all of your options.

If you feel unclear after consideration and counseling, try counseling from another source. However, to ensure a healthy outcome, try to avoid delaying your decision for too long.

Counselors will answer questions you have about your pregnancy and provide information about your choices, which are:

• Having a baby and dedicating yourself to supporting and raising him or her to adulthood.
• Having a baby and placing the baby for adoption.
• Having an abortion (both medical and surgical methods).

Depending on your decision, a counselor can help you with:

• Prenatal care and where it is provided.
• Adoption and the location of adoption agencies.
• Abortion and where it is provided.
• Birth control and how to obtain it.
• Insurance coverage or other reimbursement for abortion or for prenatal care, delivery, and pediatric health care.
• Psychological counseling services available in the community.

Credits

Last updated:	October 06, 2006
Author:	Healthwise Medical Writer
Reviewed By:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine, Lori A. Boardman, MD, ScM - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Healthwise Content Area Manager, Healthwise Associate Editor