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| Is Abortion Right for You? | The majority of women look to their husbands, partners, families, health care providers, clergy, or someone else they trust for support as they make their decision about an unwanted pregnancy. And many women go to the clinic with their partner. But you should know that you don't have to tell anybody. Specially trained educators at women's health clinics can talk with you face to face. You may take someone with you. You will talk about your alternatives - adoption, parenting, and abortion. You may be asked if someone is pressuring you to perform an abortion.
Teens are emboldened to engage parents in their decision to have an abortion. But telling a parent is only needed in states with obligatory parental participation laws. Such laws compel a woman under 18 to tell a parent or get parental agreement before having an abortion. In most of these states, if she can't talk with her parents - or chooses not to - she can appear before a judge. The judge will think over whether she's mature enough to decide on her own. If not, the judge will decide whether an abortion is in the teen's best interests. In any case, if there are complications during the procedure, parents of minors may be informed.
Things that should be considered before abortion:
No one is pressuring me to have an abortion.
I despise women who have abortions.
I have strong religious beliefs against abortion.
I’d rather have a child at another time.
I can afford to have an abortion.
I can afford to have another child.
I care about what other people will think about me.
I can handle the abortion experience.
I would do anything to end this pregnancy.
Think about whether or not your answers assume that abortion might be right for you.
You can get abortion information and assistance at Planned Parenthood and other family planning centers, women's health centers, youth centers, and departments of health or social services.
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