Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Teen with Unwanted Pregnancy | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
I'm 15 years old and think I'm pregnant. If I am pregnant, the only option I have is to abort the baby. What methods of abortion are there and what can be done without parental consent? Thank you for your help!— A Worried Teenager | | | ANSWER |
December 4, 2001 | | | Dear Worried Teenager,
I am so sorry to hear that you are in such trouble. This is a lot of stress for you to deal with alone. A home pregnancy test, or a visit to your doctor or a women's clinic like Planned Parenthood can help you figure out if you are truly pregnant.
If telling one of your parents will not put your life or health in danger, consider sharing your problem, so that you can get some adult help to get you through this. Often, when a teen is really in trouble, her parents come through, even if they also feel hurt or angry. Research has shown that teenagers who can share their worries with a parent generally do better in the long run.
Abortion procedures depend on how far along you are in the pregnancy. For very early pregnancies, there is now a set of pills you can take that will cause you to miscarry at home. Alternatively, a suction D&C, in which a tube is inserted into the uterus to vacuum out the embryo and placenta, can be done any time between 6 and about 14 weeks. Beyond that time, up until somewhere between 20 and 24 weeks either a dilation and extraction (D&E) procedure or induction of labor would be used. Beyond that time, it is too late to terminate. The costs of an abortion will vary depending on which method is used, whether you are treated in an abortion clinic (less expensive) or a hospital, whether your health insurance covers abortion, and whether you choose to have an anesthetic.
Abortion services may be available to you without parental consent, depending on the laws in your state. Some states that don't require parental consent do require that one of your parents is notified. Again, though, please consider getting your parents involved, particularly if you are indeed pregnant. Decisions related to unwanted pregnancy, and going through an abortion are stressful for women of any age, and are an awful burden for a teenager to deal with on her own. Regardless of what happens, you may want to take a look at our information on birth control options, for future reference. Take care, and good luck to you.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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