Abortion Safety Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Before an Abortion
57 minutes ago
4 min read
If you've recently discovered you're pregnant and are considering abortion, you may have questions about your pregnancy, your health, and what to expect.
Before making a decision, it's important to have accurate information about your pregnancy and understand the medical considerations involved.
Here are 10 important questions to consider before an abortion.
1. Have You Confirmed Your Pregnancy?
A late period or pregnancy symptoms alone cannot confirm pregnancy. A pregnancy test detects human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced during pregnancy.
Alight offers free, confidential pregnancy testing to help you get answers and understand your next steps.
2. Do You Know How Far Along You Are?
Knowing the gestational age of your pregnancy can help you understand what options may be available to you. An ultrasound can help estimate how far along you are.
Alight can refer clients with positive pregnancy tests to a separate on-site medical office for a free ultrasound.
3. Have You Confirmed the Pregnancy's Location and Viability?
An ultrasound may help determine whether the fetus is developing inside the uterus and whether the pregnancy is viable.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. This can become life-threatening and requires medical evaluation. The drugs used for a chemical abortion are not a treatment for ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies require separate medical or surgical treatment.
Miscarriage also occurs in approximately 10–20% of known pregnancies. If pregnancy loss or an ectopic pregnancy is suspected, appropriate medical follow-up is important.
*An ultrasound alone cannot rule out an ectopic pregnancy.
4. Have You Considered the Possible Emotional Effects?
Everyone's emotional experience with abortion is different, but some people experience sadness, grief, guilt, and/or uncertainty. Consider how you feel about your pregnancy, whether you feel pressured by anyone, and whether you have people you trust to support you. You deserve the opportunity to talk through your feelings without judgment.
5. Do You Understand the Possible Physical Risks?
Abortion involves physical risks, which vary depending on the method, gestational age, and individual health circumstances.
Possible complications include:
Heavy or prolonged bleeding
Infection
Incomplete abortion
Injury to the uterus or surrounding organs during surgical abortion
Rare but serious complications, including sepsis
Common side effects of medication abortion may include:
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Cramping and abdominal pain
Ask a qualified healthcare provider about the specific risks and warning signs.
6. Do You Understand Your Legal Rights?
You should never be threatened, pressured, intimidated, or forced into having an abortion. This is illegal in all 50 states and anyone who uses force or coercion could be subject to criminal liability. Visit The Justice Foundation to learn more.
7. Do You Understand the Different Abortion Procedures?
The two primary abortion methods are:
Chemical abortion: Uses the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol to end a pregnancy and expel the fetus from the uterus.
Procedural abortion: Involves a surgical procedure to remove the fetus from the uterus.
Ask a qualified healthcare provider about how each method works, what to expect, and potential risks.
8. Have You Considered Fetal Development?
Understanding fetal development can help you make an informed decision about your pregnancy.
Consider learning about how pregnancy is dated, when different organs and body systems begin developing, and how development changes throughout pregnancy. An ultrasound may also provide information about the pregnancy's development.
9. Have You Been Tested for STI/STDs?
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including chlamydia and gonorrhea, can sometimes be present without noticeable symptoms.
Untreated infections can cause complications, and certain infections may also increase the risk of complications with procedural abortion.
Ask your healthcare provider whether STI screening is appropriate for you and whether any treatment or additional precautions are needed.
10. Do You Understand All Your Pregnancy Options?
Before making a decision about your pregnancy, take time to learn about all three options:
Parenting: Continuing your pregnancy and raising your child.
Adoption: Continuing your pregnancy and making an adoption plan.
Abortion: Ending your pregnancy through chemical abortion or surgical abortion.
Each option comes with different considerations. You deserve accurate information and the opportunity to ask questions without pressure.
Have Questions About Your Pregnancy? Alight Can Help.
Alight offers free, confidential pregnancy testing, referrals for free ultrasounds through a separate on-site medical office, and pregnancy options consultations.
Our team can answer questions, provide information about parenting, abortion, and adoption, and connect you with additional resources.
Take the time to get answers. Contact Alight to learn more about our free services.
Sources
Allen, R., & O'Brien, B. “Uses of Misoprostol in Obstetrics and Gynecology.” Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2(3), 159–168 (2009). Read full article.
Cleveland Clinic. “Ectopic Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments.” Cleveland Clinic, January 18, 2023. Read full article.
Hall, J. B., & Anderson, R. T. “The Abortion Pill Harms Women: Insurance Data Reveals One in Ten Patients Experiences a Serious Adverse Event.” Ethics & Public Policy Center, April 28, 2025. Read full article.
Mayo Clinic. “Miscarriage: Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic. Read full article
The Justice Foundation. “Center Against Forced Abortions (CAFA).” The Justice Foundation. Read more. Accessed November 9, 2026.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Questions and Answers on Mifepristone for Medical Termination of Pregnancy Through Ten Weeks Gestation.” FDA. Read more. Accessed November 9, 2026.
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