|
Abortion services
Abortion services are available at these health centers:
Indianapolis: Georgetown at 86th (view map)
8590 Georgetown Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268, (317) 872-3115 or (800) 352-1901
Bloomington (view map)
421 South College, Bloomington, IN 47403-1592, (812) 336-0219
Merrillville (view map)
8645 Connecticut St., Merrillville, Indiana 46410, (219) 769-3500
For hours of operation, procedure days, and other important information
contact the location nearest to you.
Planned Parenthood of Indiana observes all Indiana state laws while providing abortion services up to 13 weeks 6 days from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) (first trimester). Because the risks associated with abortion increase with the length of the pregnancy, abortions late in the first trimester are provided on a case-by-case basis based on the patient's medical history. If you are considering abortion, it is important to contact a medical professional early in the pregnancy to discuss your options and your individual medical history.
Minors (under 18 years of age) must have parental consent
from at least one parent. Minors unable to obtain parental consent,
or minors in extreme circumstances may seek a Judicial Bypass
from their local court. For more information about Judicial Bypass
contact a local attorney or the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana.
By Indiana state law all women seeking an abortion in Indiana
must receive certain information at least 18 hours prior to their
abortion procedure. This information must be provided in person
(face-to-face) by either an advanced practice nurse (nurse practitioner)
or a physician. For more information about this requirement contact
us at 1-800-230-PLAN.
Abortion procedures available at our health centers
Planned Parenthood of Indiana does abortions for women in their first trimester of pregnancy.
Medication Abortion
Women can choose to use a combination of drugs to end their pregnancies.
This is called medical abortion. Medical abortion does not require
surgery. The medications used are prescribed by a physician.
Mifepristone is 92-97% effective. Methotrexate is 90% effective.
A small percentage of medical abortions fail. In these cases,
surgical procedures are required to end the pregnancy.
Follow-up visits are important for women seeking medical abortions.
Candidates for medical abortion must be able to complete the
regimen of drugs and to make between one and three visits to
the medical provider.
Some women prefer medical abortion because it does not require
anesthesia or surgery, can be performed early, there is less cramping than with surgery, and it allows for greater privacy.
A woman cannot have a Medical abortion if she: is more than 56 days pregnant; taking anti-clotting medication or has blood clotting
disorders; has severe heart, liver or kidney problems; has seizures more than once a week; is taking any medicine that should not
be combined with Methotrexate, mifepristone, or misoprostol; cannot return for follow up visits; is unwilling or unable to
have a surgical abortion if the medical abortion is incomplete; is allergic to the medications.
Risks associated with medical abortion can include: incomplete abortion; allergic reaction; infection; heavy bleeding; undetected
etopic pregnancy; in very rare circumstances death can occur from complications.
Surgical Abortion
Women can also choose to end their pregnancies by surgical abortion. Surgical abortions can be done with gentle suction curettage; with dilation and evacuation; or with induction, depending
on the length of the pregnancy. Surgical abortion is the most effective method. It fails to end a pregnancy only 1 out of 500 times.
Suction Curettage
The usual method of early abortion is suction curettage. It is performed from about six to 13.6 weeks after the last period.
The procedure takes about 10 minutes. The vagina is washed with an antiseptic. Usually, a local anesthetic is injected into or near the cervix. Injectable painkillers or
general anesthesia can also be used. The opening of the cervix is gradually stretched. After the opening is stretched, a tube, attached to a suction machine, is inserted
through it into the uterus. The suction machine is turned on and the uterus is gently emptied. To be sure that the uterus has been completely emptied after
the suction tube has been removed; a curette (narrow metal loop) may be used to gently scrape the walls of the uterus. Suction
curettage takes about 10 minutes.
Some women prefer surgical abortion because: the procedure is over quickly and most bleeding is done at the health center and not at home.
Risks associated with surgical abortion include: allergic reactions to the anesthetics; incomplete abortion; infection; heavy bleeding;
cut or torn cervix- fewer than one out of 100 first trimester abortions; organ injury- in about 5 out of 1,000 first trimester
abortions; undetected ectopic pregnancy, which can be fatal if left untreated; in extremely rare cases death is possible from very serious complications
Abortion Q & A
Can anyone help me decide if abortion is right for me?
Most women look to their husbands, partners, families, health care providers, clergy or someone else they trust for support
as they make their decision. Specially trained staff at Planned Parenthood can talk to you in private about all of the options
available to you including: adoption, counseling, carrying your pregnancy to term, and abortion services. Our staff will work
to ensure that you make the decision you are most comfortable with and that no one is pressuring you to have an abortion.
Can I bring a family member, friend or partner with me?
You may bring someone with you. The decision of who to bring rests with you
Does my partner or a parent need to know?
Many women inform their partners and often partners accompany women on the day of the procedure.. However, you are not required
to tell your partner. Either way, our health center staff will ensure your complete privacy.
What is judicial bypass?
More than half of the teenagers who choose abortion talk about it with at least one parent. Telling a parent is required in
the state of Indiana. If the teenager cannot talk with her parents, or chooses not to, she can appear before a judge. The judge will
consider whether she is mature enough to decide on her own. If not, the judge will decide whether an abortion is in her best
interests. A teenager can be considered emancipated by:
- Being at least 14 years of age
- Not dependent on a parent for support
- Living apart from the minor's parents or from an individual in loco parentis
- Managing on their own (the minor's) affairs
- Has been married
- Is in the military service of the USA
|
