Considering Abortion in New Mexico?
Get the Facts First!
If you’re considering abortion in New Mexico, you’re not alone. The compassionate team of medical professionals at Grace Place Family Health Center in Farmington, NM is here to help you make an informed and empowered decision and take your next steps.
Confirm Your Pregnancy
The first step is to confirm your pregnancy. Grace Place Family Health Center provides free medical-grade pregnancy tests and ultrasounds to determine how far along you are in your pregnancy and whether or not the pregnancy is developing properly inside the uterus.
Having this information will inform your abortion options going forward.
Be Informed
Next, be informed about the different types of abortion and their associated risks.
What is Surgical Abortion and How Does it Work?
In a surgical abortion, a suction device is used to remove the embryo or fetus from the uterus through the vagina. This procedure is performed at an abortion clinic and you are sent home the same day. However, if complications arise, you may need to go to the emergency room to receive treatment.
How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
Although it’s referred to as a pill (singular), the abortion pill actually consists of two medications: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone is taken first. It cuts the supply of the hormone progesterone to the embryo, which is needed to maintain the pregnancy. Without a steady supply of progesterone, the embryo stops growing and eventually dies. Misoprostol is taken 24-48 hours later. This medication causes the uterus to contract and expel the embryo, which ends the pregnancy.
What are the Risks of Abortion?
- Incomplete Abortion. An abortion may not successfully remove all of the fetal tissue. This can occur in a surgical abortion but is more common with the abortion pill. A surgical procedure may be required to remove retained tissue to prevent infection or stop the bleeding[1].
- Failed Abortion. The abortion pill regimen doesn’t always cause an abortion. A failed abortion means that the pregnancy is intact, with a live baby. Some women opt to continue their pregnancies when this happens. A surgical abortion is often done for an incomplete or failed abortion[2].
- Infection. The insertion of instruments or retained fetal tissue may lead to infection. Infrequently, total body infection, known as sepsis, occurs and can be life-threatening. Pelvic infection can cause scarring of the pelvic organs, which can lead to future complications such as infertility and an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy[3][4][5].
- Negative Impact on Future Pregnancies. Studies have shown a link between surgical abortion and an increased risk of premature birth and low birth weight in future pregnancies[6][7][8][9][10].
- Hemorrhage. 1 out of 100 women who use the abortion pill up to 10 weeks LMP need a surgical procedure to stop the bleeding[11].
- Organ Damage. The cervix and/or uterus may be cut, torn, or punctured by instruments. This may cause excessive bleeding and require surgical repair. If the uterus is punctured, the bowel and bladder may be injured. The risk of these types of complications increases with the length of the pregnancy[12].
Get Tested for STIs
It’s crucial to get tested for STIs regularly, as many don’t have obvious symptoms. Additionally, STIs can increase your risk of developing a post-abortive infection[13].
Grace Place Family Health Center provides free STI testing and referrals so you can protect your health.
Abortion Information in Farmington, New Mexico
Our compassionate team is ready to serve you. Get the facts you need and the care you deserve at Grace Place Family Health Center.
Grace Place Family Health Center does not provide or refer for abortion services.
Sources
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2020, December 2). Abortion – Surgical. MedlinePlus. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002912.htm
- American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. (2020). Medication abortion up to 70 days of gestation. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 136(4), 855-858. doi:10.1097/ aog.0000000000004083. Retrieved from https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2020/10/medication-abortion-up-to-70-days-of-gestation#
- Stevenson MM, Radcliffe KW. Preventing pelvic infection after abortion. Int J STD AIDS. 1995 Sep-Oct;6(5):305-12. doi: 10.1177/095646249500600501. PMID: 8547409.
- Bridwell RE, Long B, Montrief T, Gottlieb M. Post-abortion Complications: A Narrative Review for Emergency Clinicians. West J Emerg Med. 2022 Oct 23;23(6):919-925. doi: 10.5811/ westjem.2022.8.57929. PMID: 36409940; PMCID: PMC9683756.
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Mayo Clinic. (2022, April 30). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352594
- American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. (2019). Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Retrieved June 14, 2023. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/pelvic-inflammatory-disease
- Swingle, H. M., Colaizy, T. T., Zimmerman, M. B., Morriss, F. H. (2009). Abortion and the risk of subsequent preterm birth: A systematic review with meta-analyses. The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 54(2), 95–108.
- Shah, P. S., Zao, J. (2009). Induced termination of pregnancy and low birthweight and preterm birth: A systematic review and meta-analyses. British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 116(11), 1425–42. doi: 10.1111/j.1471- 0528.2009.02278.x.
- Moreau, C., Kaminski, M., Ancel, P.Y., Bouyer, J., et al (2005). Previous induced abortions and the risk of very preterm delivery: Results of the EPIPAGE study. Br J Obstet Gynaecol,5,112(4):430–37.
- Ancel, P.Y., Lelong, N., Papiernik, E., Saurel-Cubizolles, M.J., Kaminski, M (2004). History of induced abortion as a risk factor for preterm birth in European countries: Results
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, (2016). Mifeprex TM medication guide. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/media/72923/download
- Paul, E. S. Lichtenberg, L. Borgatta, D. A. Grimes, P. G. Stubblefield, & M. D. Creinin (Eds.), 2009. Medical abortion in early pregnancy in Management of unintended and abnormal pregnancy: Comprehensive abortion care (pp.122-29). Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
- Carlsson, I., Breding, K., & Larsson, P.-G. (2018, September 25). Complications related to induced abortion: a combined retrospective and longitudinal follow-up study. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6156848/
Frequently Asked Questions
Abortion Questions
What if I'm thinking about an abortion?
If you’re asking, “should I have an abortion” in the Farmington, NM area or looking for information about abortion in New Mexico, Grace Place Family Health Center can help by determining whether you’re pregnant or not and provide you with information.
If you’re thinking about having an abortion it’s important to first confirm that your pregnancy is viable and find out how far along you may be with an ultrasound. We offer an abortion information consultation that includes a pregnancy test and ultrasound, STD testing, and providing you with information about what to expect and consider regarding abortion.*
It’s important that you don’t feel pressured or coerced into making a decision – it’s a decision that should be consensual and informed so that you know what to expect whatever you decide. We’re here for you judgement-free and ready to go over your options with you.
Call us at (505)327-4747 or send us a message to schedule a pre-abortion consultation at our Farmington, NM clinic.
*We do not perform or refer for abortions.
What is a Surgical Abortion?
Surgical abortions are done by opening the cervix and passing instruments into the uterus to suction, grasp, pull, and/or scrape the pregnancy out of the uterus. The exact procedure is determined by the baby’s level of growth.
If you’re considering abortion or looking for more information about your options and about abortion, we offer an abortion information consultation at our clinic in Farmington, NM.* Give us a call at (505)327-4747 or send us a message. All of our services are free and confidential and we do not profit from your decision.
*We do not perform or refer for abortions.
What is the Abortion Pill?
If you’re looking for information about the abortion pill in Farmington, NM you’re welcome to call us at (505)327-4747 or send us a message to ask your questions.
At Grace Place Family Health Center we offer pre-abortion consultation to confirm whether you have a viable pregnancy, how far along your pregnancy may be, and provide you with information on all of your options and what to expect.*
*We do not perform or refer for abortions.
What if I change my mind after I took the abortion pill?
Abortion pills work by blocking progesterone in the uterus. The first drug in the Abortion Pill Protocol is called mifepristone. Miferistone blocks progesterone, which is needed to sustain a growing pregnancy. A new protocol, known as the Abortion Pill Reversal, has been developed which uses natural progesterone to attempt to reverse an abortion after the first pill and rescue the pregnancy, however timing is important. For more information text us 24/7 or to find a participating medical professional you can also call 877-558-0333 or for more information visit: theabortionpillreversal.
Where can I find support near me after having an abortion?
Our support services are completely free, judgement-free, and confidential. For over 30 years we have helped our clients in the Farmington area looking for support and recovery to heal from the emotional effects an abortion can have. Whether your experience was recent or years ago we’re here to support you through our post-abortion recovery program.
Call us at (505) 327-4747 or send us a message on our contact page for more information.
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Schedule Your Appointment
Take the first step by confirming your pregnancy with a free pregnancy test at Grace Place Family Health Center.