An unplanned pregnancy might have you asking yourself some questions that you never imagined like: Should I get an abortion? Am I ready to be a parent? What does adoption even look like? We hear questions like this often at Informed Choices and we are here for you without any judgements. As one of our clients recently stated: “There is no right decision for me.” We understand it is a tough decision to make.
It can be overwhelming and that is okay, because that is a normal and valid thing to feel. Each of these options are life changing– it is something that will impact your life forever, whether it be positive or negative. Only you can decide which one is right for you, and it is important to know the realities and truths of the options available to you.
, You actually have three options: abortion, parenting or adoption. Before you make a decision or try to “fix” your situation, we believe it is helpful to both your mental and physical health to educate yourself on the three options available so you can make the most informed decision regarding your pregnancy. Unlike an abortion clinic, Informed Choices does not benefit financially from your decision because all our services are free of charge.
In this blog, we will focus on the option of abortion and if you can you really trust that it is safe and will not have adverse effects on you emotionally and/or physically in the short term or even long term. For information on adoption or parenting options, please contact us.
Abortion
Abortion, both chemical (the abortion pill) and surgical, is often made out to be a “quick fix” to an unplanned pregnancy. If you don’t know much about it, it seems like it would be a fast, safe, and effective option to end your pregnancy and the challenges around it.
Although abortion sounds like it would be the easiest choice to deal with an unplanned pregnancy, it often comes with the most long lasting trauma emotionally and even possible physical risks. Many women and men think abortion is a safe option to fix their unplanned pregnancy because it is legal, but they are often not informed by an abortion clinic or their doctor about the possible risks involved with this choice.
However, we believe it is important for everyone to know all the facts before making this life changing decision.
Possible Emotional Impacts
Studies have shown that many women and even men suffer from emotional trauma after an abortion, whether medical (the abortion pill) or surgical. This trauma is similar to PTSD and is known as post-abortion stress syndrome (PASS) or after abortion trauma. Women and men have reported feeling intense emotions such as regret, guilt, anxiety and depression both instantly and many years after their abortion. When untreated, studies have also shown that PASS can lead to substance abuse, self-harm, sexual escape, eating disorders and anxiety around children. If someone is unaware of this type of trauma, they might not know why they feel these intense emotions or are dealing with these types of addictions to try to escape and numb the pain they feel. The long-term emotional effects can be devastating for women and men because they are not informed of how an abortion can impact you both mentally and emotionally.
Possible Physical Impacts
In addition to the emotional risks, the physical risks are just as real. A case presented to the Supreme Court in July of 2021 regarding the health risks associated with abortion stated: “The legislative findings supporting the Gestational Age Act rest on strong empirical evidence. Study after study shows that abortions in the second and third trimesters—which we will call later-term abortions—correlate with multiple increased risks to women’s health. (SupremeCourt.Gov July 2021).”
Although the abortion pill and various surgical options are considered to be legal in America, the increased risk of death in women is something that cannot be ignored when someone is thinking about having an abortion. In addition to the risk of death, many women experience unwanted and unforeseen serious side effects that they were often not informed could happen.. These side effects can include anything from hospitalizations and serious infections to even infertility in the future (Abortion & Pregnancy Risks). The physical risks could potentially alter your entire life, which is not the “quick fix” many women are promised with an abortion.
How We Can Help
Our team at Informed Choices is dedicated to helping you in a compassionate, safe, and non-judgmental environment as you consider your pregnancy options and your health. We understand you may feel overwhelmed while experiencing an unwanted pregnancy and feel like there is no right option for you. While we don’t perform or refer for abortions, , we are able to provide you with all of the facts so you can make the best decision regarding your health, both emotionally and physically.
At Informed Choices, we provide free, lab-grade pregnancy tests with over 99% accuracy to any woman who is wondering if she could be pregnant or would like a confirmation test after taking an at-home pregnancy test. This is a great first step in regarding your pregnancy decisions, in addition to other free and confidential resources we can offer you.
All our services are free of charge, so call, text, or visit us online today to schedule an appointment, or stop by our center at any time for non-judgmental support in your pregnancy decision.
Grayslake, IL: Call: (847) 231-4651 – Text: (847) 650-5864
Crystal Lake, IL: Call: (815) 455-0965 – Text: (847) 421-1446