The Emma Goldman Clinic offers first and second trimester abortions up to nineteen weeks and 6 days since the woman's last menstrual period. We believe that every woman has the right to determine the outcome of her pregnancy regardless of her age, marital status, race, or income.
If You Think You Are Pregnant
If you think you may be pregnant, get a pregnancy test if you have any of the following symptoms: a missed menstrual period, swollen or tender breasts, nausea, vomiting, appetite changes, frequent urination, fatigue, dizziness, or feeling bloated. Urine tests can be done by our clinic, your doctor, a family planning facility, or by using a do-it-yourself home test purchased from your local pharmacy. It may be preferable, as well as less expensive, to visit a health center. There, in addition to receiving your test results, you can usually get advice on pregnancy, birth control, or other health problems that might be causing your symptoms. An accurate test is best achieved on a specimen from the first urination of the day.
Urine tests vary in sensitivity, with some able to detect pregnancy as early as 10 days after conception. If you get a negative test but continue to have symptoms listed above, continue to get tested every two weeks and see a doctor if you have missed two periods. If you get a positive test, it is usually a good idea to get a pelvic examination if you have any doubt about the date or normality of your last period. This will give you fairly accurate information on how far along the pregnancy has progressed and how much time you have to consider your options.
Why Me?
Nature conspires to perpetuate the species. Sexual intimacy is a strong emotional and physical need. Even the best contraceptives, the staunchest moral sermons, and the most reasonable couple cannot always stop Nature from doing her job. Over one million unplanned pregnancies occur every year in this country.
Sometimes birth control fails. Sometimes access to sexual information and birth control devices is a problem, particularly for teenagers and those who are poor or live in rural areas. Sometimes individuals get confused by mixed social messages about sexuality. For example, on one hand we are bombarded with images of eroticism in advertising, movies, and music. On the other hand we hear messages from our earliest cultural influences, such as parents, teachers, and religious leaders, about how sex should be used for procreation.
These conflicting messages sometimes translate into inconsistent birth control activity. These are just some of the reasons why pregnancy occurs when it is not wanted. However, knowing reasons does not always help lessen the sense of unfairness or the shock and conflict felt upon learning that you are pregnant.