1. Do not allow anyone to sell you an abortion prior to the 8th week of pregnancy.
Providers will sell you an abortion but then will not "guarantee success" prior to the eighth week. The fetus is simply too small to locate. Abortion is already a blind procedure (by feel and guesswork) and when done prior to the eighth week, the danger of internal damage can be severe. The suction tube may perforate your uterus and bowel. More commonly, the abortion can be incomplete. Part of the fetus may be left behind, causing severe infection which could lead to infertility and, in some cases, toxic poisoning or even death. 

2. Get a blood test or laboratory quality urine test.
You may not be pregnant after all. Because of the conflict of interest involved, do not confirm your pregnancy at the abortion center. According to the Board of Registry for Medicine, some doctors have had their licenses revoked for performing unnecessary abortions. Carol Everett, a previous abortion provider, testified in Congress that she regularly sold abortions to women who were not pregnant but feared they were. The clients never knew and her abortion income was enhanced. Make sure someone tests you other than the abortion provider.

3. Check to see if the abortion center is a licensed medical clinic.
Abortion providers are not required by law to be licensed clinics and therefore are not required to provide the standard of medical care women deserve and expect. Abortion clinics are the only field of medicine that is unregulated. Make sure you only go to one that at least meets the minimum safety standards required for a medical clinic license. Some abortion providers may advertise themselves as licensed private practices. This gives a misleading sense of meeting high safety standards when the opposite may actually be true - ask and check!

4. Understand that abortion is surgery and has particular health risks.
Ectopic pregnancies: Studies show that the risk of an ectopic pregnancy is twice as high for women who have had one abortion, and up to four times as high for women with two or more abortions. Ectopic pregnancies account for 12% of pregnancy related maternal deaths.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): 30% of all women suffer PID following an abortion. PID leads to fever and infertility.
Breast cancer: An analysis of reputable studies done to date suggests that women who abort their first pregnancy in the first trimester face a 50% increase in the rate of breast cancer. This rate doubles with each successive abortion. For full documentation, see the Breast Cancer Risks and Choices brochure available at College Area Pregnancy Services.
Psychological/emotional trauma: 50% of post-abortive women report experiencing emotional and psychological disturbances that last for months or years. This includes acute feeling of grief, depression, anger, fear of disclosure, preoccupation with babies, nightmares, sexual inhibition, termination of relationships, emotional coldness, increased alcohol use, and thoughts of suicide. Many go into the clinic thinking, "This is my only choice," but come out saying, "What have I done?" Be prepared.

If you are considering abortion only because of your circumstances, change your circumstances. Your ambivalence indicates that you have conflicting feelings. Take time to ask yourself why you have these mixed feelings. Do not abort your conscience and values; they are what make you a strong woman. Fight to overcome your circumstances, rather than submit to them. We will be glad to help you.

5. If you change your mind, demand your money back, even when you’re on the table.
Abortion providers know that this is an intensely agonizing decision. They see women change their mind at the last minute because the thought comes, "I simply can’t kill my baby, no matter how difficult the circumstances." They may make you wait a long time for your refund hoping that once again you will change your mind. Know your rights and don't be pressured.

6. Understand your legal rights following your abortion.
Some abortion providers insist that all patients sign a statement saying they will not hold the clinic or the doctor liable for damages which might occur because of the abortion. However, this document has virtually no legal authority. If you are physically or emotionally injured, you always retain your constitutional right to seek financial compensation in a court of law no matter what you may have signed.