With the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, women across the United States are wondering what this means for their access to medical care related to abortion.
Each of the 50 states individually decides the restriction of abortion for their state. Your access to abortion will largely depend upon your residence.
No woman should be without access to a life-saving medical procedure.
In states restricting abortion access, health provisions allow abortions when the physician deems it necessary to save the mother’s life. These exemptions to abortion mean that women should always have access to emergency medical treatment, primarily if related to their pregnancy.
Read this article for more information regarding common pregnancy complications such as miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies and what care is available for these conditions.
Is Treatment for an Ectopic Pregnancy the Same as Abortion?
Ectopic pregnancy is where an embryo implants and grows outside the uterus, usually within a fallopian tube. Delayed treatment for an ectopic pregnancy can put the woman’s life at risk due to tubal rupture and heavy bleeding.
Since an ectopic pregnancy is an embryo implanted outside the uterus, doctors treat them with medication or surgical intervention. Because of the location, the treatment methods differ from those used to terminate an intrauterine pregnancy.
Is Treatment for a Miscarriage the Same as Abortion?
The difference between a miscarriage and an abortion is that the miscarriage ends the pregnancy naturally, while an elective abortion terminates a pregnancy deliberately. However, the medications are sometimes the same in cases of treatment.
For miscarriages, a physician uses medication to help expel the fetus and pregnancy remnants from the body to prevent infection. In contrast, an abortion provider terminates the ongoing pregnancy and removes the fetus and tissues.
What Abortion Access Is Available in Minnesota?
In our state, abortion is legal up to viability, which means the fetus can survive outside the womb. After the point of viability, abortion is only allowed if the woman’s life or health is at risk.
Next Steps
Lakes Life Care Center offers no-cost pregnancy services such as pregnancy tests and ultrasounds.
Knowing the age of the pregnancy can affect your eligibility for a medication abortion, which is FDA-approved up to 10 weeks of gestational age.
Ultrasounds can also alert you if you have an ectopic pregnancy or if your pregnancy is viable (growing).
We also provide no-cost options consultations where you can ask questions and learn about your options and local resources in a safe, confidential space. You are not alone! We are eager to support you, so contact us today to make an appointment!