Are you suddenly asking yourself a ton of questions?  Did you miss your period?  Did you use a condom? Have you been taking your birth control pills every day? These questions run through the minds of thousands of women every day. If you’ve already taken a pregnancy test, you might be thinking about another question, “How soon can you abort?”

Wondering how early you can get an abortion is a loaded question these days. Just a couple of years ago most people would tell you 6.0 weeks after your LMP (last menstrual period). The reason for that is because that is typically the earliest that an intrauterine pregnancy with a heartbeat can be confirmed. The importance of that information is undeniable.

If your pregnancy is not in the uterus (known as an ectopic pregnancy), an abortion will not end the pregnancy; you will need special medical intervention. So, it’s more than just wondering how soon can you abort, it’s also wondering how soon can you abort safely.

Secondly, is there a heartbeat? According to the Mayo Clinic, at least 10-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage (those are reported miscarriages). If your pregnancy does not have a heartbeat, you don’t need to have an abortion because either your body will take care of it naturally or you will need special medical intervention.

Most of the women we see who have an abortion do not take the decision lightly; they know it is a life-changing decision. Additional medical sites warn that women may have mental and emotional issues dealing with their abortion, so why would you have a procedure you may not need?

So, back to the original question, How soon can you abort?

Due to protocol changes during Covid, abortion pills can now be delivered to women without ever having to leave their homes, essentially making women their own abortion providers. The pills can be purchased without confirming the pregnancy with an in-person visit with a medical provider. The abortion procedure is then done at home. This may seem ideal when a woman is in panic mode or wanting to keep others from knowing, but the reality is that most women are not aware of the isolation they may feel, how the unanswered questions may plague them later, or how the weight of the decision will affect them down the road. 

Women have been fighting for equal healthcare treatment for years, now instead we are being offered at-home healthcare we administer to ourselves. How is that progress? Women deserve to have all facts and options at their disposal; we should demand this.

So, the answer about how early you can get an abortion, would be that it’s too soon if you have not had your pregnancy confirmed by an ultrasound. 

An ultrasound can give you the answers to the 3 questions you should be asking before you begin any abortion process: 

1. the age of your pregnancy (how far along am I?);
2. the location of your pregnancy (is it in my uterus?);
3. and the viability of your pregnancy (is there a heartbeat?).