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Counseling for an Abortion

For your own future well-being, it's important that you make a well-informed decision when you are considering an abortion. Counseling early in a pregnancy helps you reach a positive outcome, regardless of whether you continue with the pregnancy. Think through your choices, and seek counseling from a knowledgeable professional, such as:

Your health professional.
A professional counselor.
A family planning clinic.
An adoption service agency.
Your religious organization.
A genetic counseling service.

If you are considering abortion, seek a professional who will advise you on all of your options.

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If you feel unclear after consideration and counseling, try counseling from another source. But to ensure a healthy outcome, try to avoid delaying your decision for too long.

Counselors will answer questions you have about your pregnancy and provide information about your choices, which are:

Having a baby and dedicating yourself to supporting and raising him or her to adulthood.
Having a baby and placing the baby for adoption.
Having an abortion (both medical and surgical methods).

Depending on your decision, a counselor can help you with:

Prenatal care and where it is provided.
Adoption and the location of adoption agencies.
Abortion and where it is provided.
Birth control and how to obtain it.
Insurance coverage or other reimbursement for abortion or for prenatal care, delivery, and pediatric health care.
Psychological counseling services available in the community.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Rebecca H. Allen, MD, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last Revised	September 22, 2010

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: September 22, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.