Learn about your options

If you are considering your options to end or continue your pregnancy, you are not alone. We’re here to help you explore your options, so that you can choose what is best for you to lead a happy and healthy life.

Decisions about pregnancy are very personal, and each person’s situation is different. At the end of the day, only you know what’s right for you.
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Whatever you decide, the important thing is that the decision is yours.

‍People who are pregnant have three options:
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Parenthood

Giving birth and raising the child.

Choosing to become a parent means choosing to carry the pregnancy to term and raising your child. This means that you are responsible for all of the aspects required to raise a child, including physical, emotional, financial, and legal responsibilities.
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These questions can be a helpful starting point for deciding whether you’re ready to have a child:
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- Am I ready to be responsible for all of my child’s needs?
- Will I be able to raise my child in a safe and loving home?
- Am I in the right financial position to raise a child?
- What kind of support will I have from my family, friends, and the father?
- Is someone pressuring me to become a parent?
- Am I mentally ready to go through pregnancy and childbirth?
- Do my partner and I both feel good about staying together and parenting together?
- How do I feel about co-parenting if we break up, or parenting alone?

Adoption

Giving birth and placing the child with another person or family permanently.

Adoption means carrying your pregnancy to term, giving birth, and then giving someone else the permanent legal responsibility to raise your child.

People choose adoption for their own personal and valid reasons. There are different adoption laws in every state, so it’s important to speak to an adoption agency.

These questions can be a helpful starting point for deciding if adoption is right for you:
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- Do I feel comfortable letting someone else raise my child?
- Do I feel ready to care for a child now?
- Would I consider abortion or parenting?
- Am I ready to go through pregnancy and childbirth?
- Am I ready to deal with feelings of loss that I might have?
- Are there people in my life that will support me through this process, which includes pregnancy, childbirth and adoption?
- Is someone pressuring me to make a decision that’s not really what I want?

For more information on choosing adoption, please visit:

Choice Network Planned Parenthood

Abortion

Using medicines or having a procedure to end your pregnancy.

If you are thinking about ending a pregnancy, you are not alone. About 1 in 4 women in the US have an abortion by the time they’re 45 years old.
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‍For ending a pregnancy in the first trimester, there are a few options:

A medication abortion at a clinic
A medication abortion online (like with Hey Jane)
An in-clinic procedural abortion

Medication abortion (the abortion pill)

A medication abortion is when you can take pills to end a pregnancy at home (or a location of your choosing). It is approved for pregnancies up to 10 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period. The pills cause bleeding in order to pass the pregnancy, similar to an early miscarriage.

You can get a medication abortion two different ways:

At a clinic: You will have an in-person visit with a medical provider, who will give you the abortion pills to take at home.
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Through a telemedicine consultation online, like with Hey Jane: Your consultation is done from your home, and you will receive the medications in the mail - the same medications that you would get from a clinic.
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In-Clinic Procedural Abortion

Procedural abortion in the first trimester is performed by a trained provider at a healthcare facility. Gentle suction is used to remove the pregnancy. It can be used for pregnancies up to 12-14 weeks*, depending on your state’s laws.

*Depending on your state’s laws, procedural abortions may be possible after 14 weeks. To learn more about your state’s laws or to find a clinic near you, please visit our Resources page or ineedana.com.
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All of these options are safe and effective, so your choice should be based on what’s important to you.

See more in the comparison chart below.

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Comparison of Methods for First Trimester Abortion

In-Clinic Medication Abortion

Hey Jane Medication Abortion

In-Clinic Procedural Abortion

How far along in the pregnancy can I be?

Up to 10 weeks from the first day of your last period.

Up to 12-14 weeks, depending on your state’s laws.*

What will happen?

You will have an in-person visit with a medical provider who will give you the medicines.

You will take 2 different medicines to take over the course of about 2 days. These medications will cause cramping and bleeding (like an early miscarriage).

Most of the time the abortion is over within 24 hours after you take the second set of pills.

The abortion happens at home.

After an online consultation with a provider, the medications will be mailed to you.

You will take 2 different medicines over the course of about 2 days. These medications will cause cramping and bleeding (like an early miscarriage).
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Most of the time the abortion is over within 24 hours after you take the second set of pills.

The abortion happens at home.

A medical provider uses gentle suction to empty your uterus.

The procedure itself takes about 5-10 minutes.

The abortion happens at a healthcare facility.

How painful is it?

You may have mild to strong cramps during the abortion. Over-the-counter pain pills can help.

You may have mild to strong cramps during the procedure. Over-the-counter pain pills can help.

How much will I bleed?

Heavy bleeding (usually as heavy or heavier than your period) starts a few hours after the second medication and lasts for several hours.

Lighter bleeding may continue off and on for a few weeks.

You may have light bleeding for 1-7 days after the procedure.

How much does it cost?

For both types of abortion, the exact cost depends on where you go and insurance policies.

Our Resources Page has more info on financial assistance and how to find in-person care.

Hey Jane is a one-time cost of $249. We are not able to accept insurance at this time but we do offer a sliding scale program and financing options if you need financial support.

Our Resources Page has more info on financial assistance and how to find in-person care.

For both types of abortion, the exact cost depends on where you go and insurance policies.

Our Resources Page has more info on financial assistance and how to find in-person care.

How well does it work?

The pills work about 95-98% of the time. If they do not work, you may be able to take the pills again or you'll need an in-clinic procedural abortion.

The procedure works about 99% of the time. If it does not work, you may need to have a repeat procedure.

Is it safe?

An abortion with pills is very safe.
Complications are very rare.

Please see our FAQ for more info.

The abortion with pills is very safe.
Complications are very rare.

Please see our FAQ for more info.

The abortion procedure is very safe. Complications are very rare.
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Please see our FAQ for more info.

What are the advantages?

- You won’t have shots, anesthesia, or instruments in your body.

- It may feel more natural, like a miscarriage.

- The abortion happens at home (or another comfortable place you choose) after an in-person visit with a medical provider

- You can decide if you want to be alone or with someone during the abortion

- You won’t have shots, anesthesia, or instruments in your body.

- It may feel more natural, like a miscarriage.

- The entire consultation and treatment happens at home (or another comfortable place you choose), no travel required

- You can decide if you want to be alone or with someone during the abortion

- You won’t have blood tests or ultrasounds

- Flexible appointment scheduling

- It is over in a few minutes.

- It works 99% of the time.

- Medical staff members are with you during the abortion.

- It can be done later in the pregnancy than an abortion with pills and patients experience less bleeding

What are the disadvantages?

- It takes a couple days to complete

- It cannot be done as late in pregnancy as a procedural abortion

- Bleeding can last longer than with a procedural abortion

-It cannot end a tubal or ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus)

- It takes a couple days to complete

- It cannot be done as late in pregnancy as a procedural abortion

- Bleeding can last longer than with a procedural abortion
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-It cannot end a tubal or ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus)

- A clinician must insert instruments inside the uterus

- You have less control over the abortion procedure

- You have to have the treatment in a medical facility

- It cannot end a tubal or ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the uterus)

* Depending on your state’s laws, procedural abortions may be possible after 14 weeks. We only discuss first trimester abortion options here. To learn more about your state’s laws or to find a clinic near you, please visit our Resources page or ineedana.com.

How many weeks into pregnancy do I need to make a decision?

There are different factors to consider, including the type of abortion you want (medication or procedural), what state you live in (and if it restricts abortion after a certain number of weeks), and how far along your pregnancy is. Hey Jane treats patients up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, but there are in-person clinics where you can get abortion care beyond that point. Appointment availability can range from a few days to several weeks, so it’s important to try to have the abortion as soon as possible, if that’s what you choose.

Be careful when looking for a reliable health center. There are fake clinics called ‘crisis pregnancy centers,’ managed by anti-abortion groups. At these facilities, they may not offer you all the facts about your pregnancy options. Visit our Resources page for more.

If you might continue your pregnancy, start taking a daily prenatal vitamin.

How will state-specific laws affect my pregnancy options?

Depending on how far along your pregnancy is, you may have different abortion options available to you—some of this depends on the laws in your state. It may be harder to find a healthcare provider to do an abortion after 11 or 12 weeks of pregnancy in some states, so it’s important to try to have the abortion as soon as possible, if that’s what you choose.

To find out more about what is legal in your state and where to go if you are at a later stage in your pregnancy and want an abortion, visit Ineedana.com or the National Abortion Federation hotline. The Guttmacher Institute also provides a state-by-state breakdown of current Abortion Laws - see An Overview of Abortion Laws. All links can be found on our Resources page, too.

How do I know if I'm pregnant and how long I've been pregnant for?

Most people find out that they are pregnant if they are sexually active and miss their period. Symptoms of early pregnancy include nausea/vomiting, breast tenderness, and fatigue (feeling tired). The only way to know for certain if you are pregnant is with an ultrasound or pregnancy test (a urine or blood test). You can do a urine pregnancy test from the first day you missed your period and after. Before this time, the level of hormones made by the pregnancy might be too low to show up on the test. Learn more on when to take a pregnancy test here.

If your period is regular (it comes around the same time every month), you can use the date of your last period to figure out how far along the pregnancy is. Count from the first day of your last menstrual period, include that day and start counting up until today. If you have an irregular period or have been on birth control recently, this might not be accurate. In this case, we suggest seeking care at a healthcare facility. Find out where to get in-person care on our Resources page.

Is medication abortion with Hey Jane safe?

Abortion, regardless of the type you have, is very safe. Having an abortion does not cause breast cancer, nor does it make it harder to have children in the future.

Hey Jane uses the same evaluation procedures and medications as an in-person medication abortion. Therefore, if you follow the instructions, we expect that it will be equally effective and safe. Complications from this treatment are very uncommon - they occur in less than 1% of patients. When used correctly, the medications work up to 98% of the time.

Hey Jane has several potential advantages over an in-person abortion with pills:

- You don’t have to go in person to a clinic, which may make it more convenient and less costly.
- You may be able to schedule the consult sooner than you could go to a clinic for treatment.
- It may be more private because you can speak with a Hey Jane provider from your home.

Hey Jane may also have disadvantages for some:

- If someone other than you opens the package that you're mailed, they could find out that you are having an abortion.

Since Hey Jane does not require blood tests or ultrasounds:

- Your risk for an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus) may be increased. Ectopic pregnancies are very rare.
- It is possible that your pregnancy dating (how far along you are in your pregnancy) could be inaccurate. Taking the abortion pills later in your pregnancy is not unsafe; however, you can have more bleeding or the treatment may not work.

While very unlikely, if the treatment does not work or if you any problem occurs, your Hey Jane provider will make sure you get the care you need every step of the way.

Is abortion safe? What are the risks?

Abortion is very safe, regardless of which kind you have. In fact, abortion is one of the safest medical procedures out there.

Complications occur in less than 0.4% of people for medication abortion, and less than 1% for in-clinic procedural abortion.

There are a lot of rumors about abortion and many aren't true. Abortion does not lower your chances of getting or staying pregnant in the future. Abortion does not cause infertility or cause birth defects in a future pregnancy. In fact, you can get pregnant almost immediately after having an abortion.

Having an abortion does not increase your risk for breast cancer and does not cause depression or mental health issues.

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Medication Abortion

Medication abortion is about 4 times safer than aspirin and 14 times safer than continuing a pregnancy.

Complications are rare and most are not serious.

The most common complication is a continued pregnancy. If the pregnancy continues after taking the abortion pill, you may be able to take more medicine or you will need to have an abortion procedure.
Serious risks, such as heavy bleeding and infection, are very rare.

One type of pregnancy that cannot be ended using pills is an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside the uterus) - ectopic pregnancies are very rare. Medication abortion does not end an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies can be life threatening, so it's important to follow up with a doctor if you still feel pregnant one week after taking the pills. Contact your doctor immediately if: you do not have bleeding within 24 hours after taking the medications, you continue to feel pregnant about 7 days after taking the medications, or you have worsening abdominal pain more than 24 hours after taking the medications.

Who can I talk to about my options?

For more support or if you need help with your decision, check out All-Options. They offer free, private counseling and support by phone or text.
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For religious and spiritual support for abortion and pregnancy options, FaithAloud is an another hotline from All-Options.
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If you want to speak to someone in-person, many family planning clinics have medically trained staff that can give you information about your options. To find a clinic near you, visit Ineedana.com, where you can also find information on abortion laws by state.

See our Resources Page for more.

Services

Medication abortion

Emergency contraception

UTI treatment

Herpes treatment

Yeast infection treatment

Bacterial vaginosis treatment

Birth control

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