By EKalman August 30, 2021 - 7:07am

Abortion is legal in many countries, but different countries have different laws. There are about 26 countries that ban abortion without any exception. There two main ways of ending a pregnancy: in-clinic abortion and the abortion pill. They are both safe and effective, but they are different in usage. There are several methods of in-clinic abortion, but these methods differ due to a pregnancy week. In most cases, people have abortions during the first 12 weeks. In the United States are several states that allow performing abortion up to the 24th week, but in most states, abortion is prohibited after 20 weeks. Keep reading and learn about legal abortion methods and their price.

1. Medical abortion
This type of abortion doesn’t require surgery, it can be performed at home or a clinic. Medical abortion means that you will take 2 pills that will end a pregnancy. This method works until the 10th week of pregnancy. This type of abortion isn’t for everyone, because this method has contraindications. You will take one pill at the office and the second pill you will take in a few hours of up to 4 days after the first pill. This method has side effects that include:
- Diarrhea
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Etc

Medical abortion needs a few days of recovery, because of discomfort. Periods will start again in a few weeks after abortion. Ovulation will start in about 3 weeks after an abortion, and as you know, after ovulation you can get pregnant again. You should avoid sex for a week or more after abortion. In general, medical abortion costs from $300 to $800, but some insurance companies will cover abortions, but it depends on your plan.

2. Methotrexate and misoprostol
Methotrexate is a drug that helps people to stop cancer cells from multiplying, but also this drug helps to stop multiplying of embryo’s cells. And misoprostol helps to contract the uterus to release the content. This method works up to the 7th week. This method is rarely used as planned abortion, because in most cases, MTX is used when pregnancy is out of the uterus. A doctor will recommend not this type of abortion if you have contraindications, like IUD, severe anemia, blood clotting problems, etc. The procedure implies that you will take a pill in your doctor’s office, and the second pill in a few days (from 4 to 6), you can take these pills orally or by inserting them into the vagina. This abortion method has similar side effects to medical abortion:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Chills
- Low-grade fever
You will have to take a few days off from work due to discomfort. Your periods will restart in a month or two after an abortion. MTX shouldn’t affect your ability to get pregnant in the future. You should keep away from sex for a week or two after an abortion. MTX costs from $300 to $1000, it depends on the state and clinic. Some insurance companies will cover it, but it depends on your plan.

3. Vacuum aspiration
Vacuum aspiration is a type of surgical abortion that implies suction to end the pregnancy. Most of the doctors recommend performing vacuum aspiration up to the 16th week. This method can be used as the main abortion method or as the ending of failed medical abortion (very rare case, from one to two percent). Vacuum aspiration also has contraindications, for example, blood clotting problems, pelvic infections, serious health problems, etc. This method of abortion performs in the doctor’s office: firstly a doctor will insert a speculum into the vagina and it sucks the fetus and placenta from the uterus. This procedure isn’t painful, but you will have some side effects:
- Bleeding
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Cramps
- Etc

Sometimes people may have an abortion on the same day as their first appointment. It lasts around 10 minutes, but you will have to stay in a clinic, hospital, or doctor’s office for a few hours to be sure that the abortion is completed successfully. As with other abortion options, you will have to take a few days off due to discomfort. You shouldn’t have sex for a week or two after an abortion. Your periods will return in a few weeks (from 4 to 6). Vacuum aspiration costs from $600 to $1000, it depends on the clinic and the week of pregnancy, the higher the week the bigger the price. This procedure won’t affect your ability to get pregnant.

4. Dilation and evacuation
Dilation and evacuation is a surgical abortion method that performs in doctor’s offices, hospitals, or clinics. It performs after the 14th week of pregnancy. Mostly, this method is used when a woman had a doubt about abortion but agreed to abortion after the 14th week, or when a woman has some troubles with the fetus. The fetus can have medical troubles or some abnormalities. This procedure implies that you will get anesthesia and will check if you don’t feel anything. After that, a doctor will gently insert a speculum in the vagina and will use dilators to open the cervix, and a doctor will use forceps to remove the pregnancy tissue and use suction to remove the remaining tissue. This procedure has fewer side effects than previous methods:
- Bleeding
- Nausea
- Cramping

These symptoms can last up to two weeks after the operation. As in previous abortion methods, you will have to leave a job for a couple of days due to discomfort. Periods will restart in a couple of weeks, and you will have to avoid sex for a week or two. Dilation and evacuation costs around $1500. The price depends on the clinic and a pregnancy week. In some cases, insurance companies will cover it.

5. Induction abortion
Induction abortion is a rare type of abortion in the United States. People choose this type if they can’t have dilation and evacuation. In most cases, induction abortion is performed after the 24th week. Induction abortion means that you will take medication that will start labor, which causes the uterus to empty. After that, a doctor will clean the uterus using special tools. This method performs in hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices. Induction abortion has almost the same side effects as medical abortion:
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Chills
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Crampings
- Etc

This type of abortion has the same recommendations about recovery, but you should avoid sex for up to 6 weeks. Women should stay for one or two days after the abortion. This type of abortion costs around $3000 and more. In some cases, insurance companies can cover the bill.

The bottom line
All in all, people should use contraception to prevent an unwilling pregnancy. There are different types of contraception, you should choose the best one for you. If you have an unwilling pregnancy, you should have an abortion as fast as you can, because it will save your money and nerves.