What are the different types of abortion?

By Attia @ Planned Parenthood | Nov. 21, 2019, 9:22 p.m.

Updated August, 2022

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which means that states can now ban abortion. Some states have banned abortion or created lots of restrictions. But abortion is still legal in many states, and it's legal to go to a different state to get an abortion. Abortion is NOT banned nationwide.

Laws about abortion are changing very quickly. You can find more information about laws in your state and how to get an abortion from your local Planned Parenthood health center or abortionfinder.org.

What are your different forms of abortion?

There are two kinds of abortion — the abortion pill and in-clinic abortion. Medication abortion (also known as the abortion pill) consists of using two different medicines called mifepristone and misoprostol to end a pregnancy. This medicine causes cramping and bleeding to empty your uterus. It’s kind of like having a very heavy and crampy period, and the process is very similar to an early miscarriage.

You can take the abortion pill 11 weeks after the first day of your last period. If you’re past 11 weeks, you may be able to get an in-clinic abortion. Your doctor or nurse will give you detailed directions about where, when, and how to take the medicines. You may also get some antibiotics to prevent infection.

In-clinic abortion (also called a surgical abortion) is a medical procedure. It works by using suction to empty your uterus. How late you can get an abortion depends on the laws in your state and what doctor, abortion clinic, or Planned Parenthood health center you go to. It may be harder to find a doctor or nurse who will do an abortion after the 12th week of pregnancy, so it’s best to try to have your abortion as soon as possible.

You can get information on how to make an appointment for an abortion at one of our health centers or at abortionfinder.org.

Tags: Abortion, abortion pill, in-clinic abortion