Abortion Information in Houston
Considering Abortion?
Get Information Before You Decide.
Women’s Pregnancy Center (WPC) provides free pregnancy testing, limited ultrasound for qualifying clients, pregnancy options information, and a confidential place to talk through your situation.
You do not have to have everything figured out before you come in.
WPC does not perform, prescribe, arrange, or refer for abortions.
How Far Along Am I?
Dating based on your period is an estimate. It can be less accurate if your periods are irregular, you do not remember the first day of your last period, or you ovulated earlier or later than expected. An ultrasound can also be used to estimate gestational age.
Ultrasound measurements during the first trimester are considered the most accurate ultrasound method for establishing or confirming gestational age.
An ultrasound provides an estimate—it cannot determine the exact day conception occurred.
Medication Abortion
What Is the Abortion Pill?
Medication abortion uses medications to end a pregnancy without a surgical procedure.
The FDA-approved regimen uses two medications:
- Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone needed for a pregnancy to continue.
- Misoprostol is taken afterward and causes the uterus to contract and empty, resulting in cramping and bleeding.
The FDA has approved mifepristone, when used with misoprostol, to end an intrauterine pregnancy through 10 weeks of gestation, or 70 days from the first day of the last menstrual period.
Other medication-abortion regimens, including misoprostol alone, may also be used by healthcare professionals.
What Can I Expect During a Medication Abortion?
Cramping and vaginal bleeding are expected as the uterus empties. Bleeding may be heavier than a normal menstrual period. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, headache, dizziness, weakness and fever can also occur.
The amount and duration of bleeding and cramping can vary from person to person.
A follow-up plan is important to determine whether the pregnancy has ended and whether additional medical care is needed.
Can the Abortion Pill Treat an Ectopic Pregnancy?
No.
Mifepristone and misoprostol used for medication abortion do not treat an ectopic pregnancy.
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a pregnancy develops outside the main cavity of the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. An untreated ectopic pregnancy can rupture and cause serious internal bleeding.
If you have symptoms that could indicate an ectopic pregnancy, seek medical evaluation immediately.
Procedural Abortion
Procedural abortion is performed in a healthcare setting. The procedure used depends in part on gestational age and individual medical circumstances.
Vacuum Aspiration
During the first trimester, procedural abortion is commonly performed using vacuum aspiration, sometimes called suction aspiration or suction curettage.
The cervix is opened, or dilated, and a thin tube connected to suction is used to remove the contents of the uterus.
Pain-management options may include local numbing medication, pain medication or sedation depending on the facility and circumstances.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
Procedural abortions later in pregnancy are commonly performed using dilation and evacuation, or D&E.
The cervix is dilated and medical instruments and suction are used to empty the uterus. Cervical preparation may begin before the procedure.
The exact procedure, medications, anesthesia or sedation used will depend on gestational age, the healthcare facility and the individual's medical circumstances.
As with other medical procedures, complications can occur. These may include heavy bleeding, infection, retained pregnancy tissue or, less commonly, injury to the cervix or uterus.
What Can an Ultrasound Tell Me?
An ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of structures inside the body.
Depending on how early the pregnancy is and what can be seen, an ultrasound may provide information about:
- Whether a pregnancy can be seen within the uterus
- Estimated gestational age based on measurements
- Whether cardiac activity is detectable
- Whether more than one pregnancy is visible
Cardiac activity cannot always be seen very early in pregnancy. Not seeing it on an early ultrasound does not by itself determine that a miscarriage has occurred.
Similarly, not seeing a pregnancy inside the uterus on one early ultrasound does not automatically mean the pregnancy is ectopic. The pregnancy may simply be too early to visualize, or additional medical evaluation may be needed.
What Can't a Limited Ultrasound Tell Me?
A limited ultrasound answers specific questions. It is not the same as a comprehensive obstetric ultrasound or fetal anatomy examination.
A limited ultrasound cannot guarantee that a pregnancy is healthy or that no pregnancy complications or fetal abnormalities are present.
It also should not be used by itself to diagnose or rule out every possible complication.
If findings or symptoms raise concern about ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or another medical condition, additional evaluation by an appropriate healthcare professional may include a diagnostic ultrasound, examination and/or blood testing.
About WPC's Limited Ultrasound
WPC offers limited ultrasound appointments to qualifying clients after a positive pregnancy test.
WPC's ultrasound service does not replace prenatal care, emergency medical care, comprehensive OB/GYN evaluation or diagnostic imaging ordered by your healthcare provider.
WPC does not diagnose or treat ectopic pregnancy.
If you have symptoms suggesting an emergency, do not wait for a WPC appointment.
Do I Need an Ultrasound Before Taking the Abortion Pill?
An ultrasound is not medically required before every medication abortion.
Some U.S. states have laws mandating an ultrasound before an abortion, often requiring the provider to display and describe the image or play fetal cardiac activity sounds. Check your state laws before pursuing an abortion.
According to ACOG, someone with reliable pregnancy dating, regular menstrual cycles and no symptoms or risk factors for ectopic pregnancy may not require an ultrasound before medication abortion.
However, an ultrasound may provide useful information when:
- You are unsure when your last period began.
- Your periods are irregular.
- Gestational age is uncertain.
- You have symptoms or risk factors that raise concern about ectopic pregnancy.
- A healthcare professional believes additional evaluation is medically appropriate.
WPC provides limited ultrasound services to qualifying clients, but WPC does not determine whether medication abortion is medically appropriate for you.
What Is an Ectopic Pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside the main cavity of the uterus, usually within a fallopian tube.
An ectopic pregnancy cannot develop normally and can become a medical emergency if it ruptures and causes internal bleeding.
Symptoms can include vaginal bleeding and abdominal or pelvic pain, sometimes particularly on one side.
Seek immediate medical attention for symptoms such as:
- Severe or worsening abdominal or pelvic pain
- Severe one-sided pelvic pain
- Shoulder pain
- Fainting or feeling faint
- Extreme dizziness or lightheadedness
- Vaginal bleeding accompanied by severe pain
- Severe weakness or symptoms of shock
If you believe you may be experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
When Should I Get Medical Help After Taking Abortion Medication?
Some bleeding and cramping are expected with medication abortion. However, the FDA Medication Guide for mifepristone advises contacting a healthcare provider promptly for certain symptoms.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if:
- You have very heavy bleeding:
- Bleeding enough to soak through two thick, full-size sanitary pads per hour for two consecutive hours.
- You develop a persistent fever:
- A temperature of 100.4°F or higher lasting more than four hours in the days after treatment.
- You continue to feel very ill:
- Abdominal pain or discomfort or symptoms such as weakness, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea—with or without fever—more than 24 hours after taking misoprostol can require medical evaluation.
If you cannot reach your healthcare provider and you are experiencing concerning symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
When Should I Seek Care After a Procedural Abortion?
Your abortion provider should give you specific instructions about what to expect and when to call.
Seek medical advice promptly for symptoms such as:
- Heavy or persistent bleeding
- Fever
- Persistent dizziness or lightheadedness
- Pain that is severe or worsening rather than improving
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- Other symptoms your healthcare provider has instructed you to watch for
Seek emergency care for severe symptoms, fainting, signs of significant blood loss or severe abdominal or pelvic pain.
What Can WPC Help Me With?
If you are unsure what to do next, you can come to WPC before you have made a pregnancy decision.
We provide services at no cost, including:
- Free pregnancy testing
- Our lab-quality urine pregnancy testing can help determine whether pregnancy hormone is detected.
- Limited ultrasound for qualifying clients
- After a positive pregnancy test, you may qualify for a limited ultrasound appointment.
- A place to talk
- You can meet with someone who will listen to your concerns, circumstances and questions.
- Pregnancy-options information
- We can provide education about pregnancy and pregnancy options and help you think through your next steps.
- Resources and support
- WPC offers practical resources, education, referrals and ongoing support during pregnancy and after a baby is born.
What WPC Does Not Provide
WPC does not:
- Perform abortions
- Prescribe or dispense abortion medication
- Refer for or arrange abortions
- Provide prenatal care
- Provide emergency medical care
- Diagnose or treat ectopic pregnancy
- Replace care from your OB/GYN or other healthcare provider
- Determine whether abortion is medically appropriate for you
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a pregnancy test tell me how far along I am?
No. A urine pregnancy test detects the pregnancy hormone hCG but does not establish gestational age. Pregnancy dating is generally estimated using the first day of your last menstrual period and, when appropriate, ultrasound measurements.
Can an ultrasound tell me how many weeks pregnant I am?
An ultrasound can provide an estimate of gestational age based on measurements. First-trimester ultrasound measurements are generally the most accurate ultrasound method for pregnancy dating.
Can ultrasound tell exactly when I conceived?
No. Ultrasound can estimate gestational age but cannot identify the exact date conception occurred.
Can an ultrasound rule out an ectopic pregnancy?
An ultrasound can provide important information about pregnancy location, but an early or limited ultrasound does not always provide a definitive answer.
If the pregnancy cannot yet be seen inside the uterus—or symptoms raise concern—additional diagnostic ultrasound, blood testing and medical evaluation may be necessary.
Does seeing cardiac activity mean there cannot be a problem with my pregnancy?
No. Detectable cardiac activity provides information about the pregnancy at the time of the ultrasound, but it does not guarantee the outcome of the pregnancy or rule out every complication.
Does not seeing cardiac activity mean I miscarried?
Not necessarily. It may simply be too early in pregnancy for cardiac activity to be detected. Medical professionals use several findings, measurements and sometimes repeat testing before diagnosing early pregnancy loss.
Do I have to get an ultrasound before taking abortion medication?
Not in every situation from a medical standpoint. Whether ultrasound is recommended depends on factors such as how certain your pregnancy dates are, your symptoms, ectopic-pregnancy risk and your healthcare provider's clinical assessment.
Some U.S. states have laws mandating an ultrasound before an abortion, often requiring the provider to display and describe the image or play fetal cardiac activity sounds. Check your state laws.
What if I am experiencing severe pain or bleeding?
WPC is not an emergency medical facility.
Severe abdominal or pelvic pain, fainting, extreme dizziness, shoulder pain or very heavy bleeding can require immediate medical attention. Call 911 or go to an emergency department if you believe you are experiencing an emergency.
How much does an appointment at WPC cost?
WPC's services are provided free of charge.
Does WPC provide or refer for abortions?
No. Women's Pregnancy Center does not perform, prescribe, arrange or refer for abortions.
You are still welcome to come to WPC if you are considering abortion and want pregnancy testing, information, support or, if you qualify, a limited ultrasound.
You Deserve Answers Before You Decide
A positive pregnancy test can bring a lot of questions.
You don't have to answer them all at once.
At Women's Pregnancy Center, you can take time to ask questions, talk about what you're facing and receive free pregnancy services and support in a private, caring environment.
Call 713-774-0126 to schedule your free appointment.
Medical information on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose a medical condition or replace advice, diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional. WPC does not provide emergency medical care. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.