Considering Abortion in Kentucky? 

Get the Facts First!

If you’re considering abortion in Kentucky, you’re not alone. The compassionate team of medical professionals at Pathway of Hope 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. Pathway of Hope 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]. 

Pathway of Hope provides free STI testing and treatment so you can protect your health. 

Abortion Information in Greenville, KY

Our compassionate team is ready to serve you. Get the facts you need and the care you deserve at Pathway of Hope. 

Give us a call at (270) 377-0045  or schedule your appointment online today.

Please be aware that Pathway of Hope does not provide or refer for abortion services. 

Sources

1. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2020, December 2). Abortion – Surgical. MedlinePlus. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002912.htm 
2. 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#
3. 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. 
4. 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.    
5. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Mayo Clinic. (2022, April 30). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352594
6. American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. (2019). Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Retrieved June 14, 2023. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/pelvic-inflammatory-disease 
7. 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. 
8. 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.
9. 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. 
10. 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 
11. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, (2016). Mifeprex TM medication guide. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/media/72923/download 
12. 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. 
13. 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/