If you or someone you know is thinking about abortion, it’s okay to feel a mix of emotions. What matters most right now is making sure you have space to think things through with care.

If you’ve landed on this blog, you’re probably looking for answers, clarity, or maybe just a little reassurance. That’s a great first step.

Abortion is a personal and important medical decision. As you consider your options, you deserve access to clear information, non-judgmental support, and quality health care. Whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to sort through it alone.

Here are some steps that you can take as you navigate this decision:

1. Do I Want to Have an Abortion? Acknowledge Your Feelings

Start by recognizing your emotions. When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, it’s normal to feel a mix of emotions, including confusion, fear, excitement, relief, or even anger. Are you feeling conflicted? Confident? Overwhelmed? Sometimes our emotions can feel overwhelming and make it harder to think clearly. It’s completely normal to feel a lot right now.

Acknowledging your emotions is important—but it’s also helpful to remember that this decision deserves thoughtful reflection, not just a reaction to how you’re feeling in the moment.

First, allow yourself space to process these feelings without judgment. Journaling or talking with someone you trust can help clarify your emotions. As you’re thinking about your pregnancy decision, consider: What is my head telling me to do? What is my heart telling me to do?

Take a few minutes to process and differentiate the thoughts in your head. What are your fears regarding this pregnancy? What good could come from this pregnancy? What are your fears about an abortion procedure? What good could come of that choice? She Might also has a great article to help you think through your feelings and decisions. Your feelings are valid—but they’re just one part of the bigger picture.

Making a well-rounded decision means looking at the full scope of what’s involved. When you take time to understand both the emotional and practical sides, you’re more likely to make a choice you feel confident about.

2. What is Abortion? Gather Accurate Information

Next, and possibly most important, it’s time to get accurate information about all your options. If you’re considering abortion, you need to understand the differences between medical abortion and surgical abortion, risks, side effects, and the access you may have to those options. You also have the right to know about your alternatives, including support for parenting and adoption resources. You should also be informed about miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, and ensure you’re not experiencing either of those. 

You can set up a consultation with a Clearway nurse (in-clinic or telehealth) to discuss your pregnancy options and ask any questions you have. If you’re considering medical abortion (using mifepristone/misoprostol to terminate a pregnancy), you should also know about abortion pill reversal.

If you have a desire to parent but don’t see how it’s possible, a Clearway advocate can work with you to find available support and resources. If you would consider adoption, we can connect you to local agencies that can work with you through the whole process. 

Along with accurate information about your options, you also need good information about your own reproductive health. This means getting a pregnancy test, STI test, and ultrasound (all available for free at Clearway Clinic). These serve to confirm your pregnancy, determine how far along you are, and reduce your risk of complications from an untreated STI. 

3. Assess Your Personal Circumstances

Oftentimes, reasons for considering abortion are circumstantial. Finances, school, housing, insurance, relationship challenges… there could be a whole variety of reasons this pregnancy doesn’t feel possible. As you reflect on these, they might be overwhelming you. Take a breath, and ask yourself, “If all these barriers were removed, what would I want to do?” 

If abortion feels like your only way out of a difficult situation, know that you’re loved, you’re seen, and there are resources available to you. Reflect on your current life situation, including:

• Health: Do you have medical concerns regarding this pregnancy? Do you need help accessing quality medical care? 
• Finances: What financial challenges are you facing, and what could help alleviate them?
• Housing: Do you need support finding safe and affordable housing?
• Education: Do you know the resources your educational institution has available for pregnant and parenting students?
• Support System: Do you have emotional or practical support from family, friends, or a partner?
• Life Goals: How might this decision impact your education, career, or personal aspirations?

When you visit Clearway, don’t hesitate to share what’s on your mind with your advocate.
She’s here to listen, support you, and help you sort through your concerns. Her role is to walk alongside you—offering guidance, resources, and encouragement tailored to where you are right now.

Sometimes, even small steps can make a big difference in how you feel—more empowered, more hopeful, and more in control of what comes next. Our goal is to help you find a clear path forward, especially if things have felt uncertain until now.

4. What Do I Believe About Abortion? Think About Your Values

Your personal, cultural, or religious beliefs may play a significant role in your decision. Sometimes, in moments of panic, we make decisions that conflict with our core values or beliefs. Later on, this can lead to emotional turmoil, feelings of guilt and shame, and delayed grief. Take time to reflect on your belief system, independent of external pressures. Does abortion coincide or conflict with your beliefs? Do you have peace with that decision? What did I think about abortion before I became pregnant?

You need to make a decision that you feel at peace about, so along with your thoughts, feelings, and circumstances, consider your beliefs and values. 

5. Am I Eligible? Consult with a Healthcare Professional

Schedule an appointment with a trusted healthcare provider. They can confirm the pregnancy, discuss your options, answer questions, and provide medical advice tailored to your health and circumstances.

As mentioned above, we are a free women’s health clinic offering pregnancy confirmation services. Clearway is a great place to start, whether you know what pregnancy decision you will make or not. We are a first step, where you can get good information and non-judgmental support. 

Whether you are considering abortion, adoption, parenting, or are undecided right now, you can access our services and get the information you need. You matter. Whatever you’re going through, we’re here for you. 

6. Who Will Be There For Me? Seek Support

You need a safe, nonjudgmental space to explore your feelings and options. You might have this in family, friends, or your partner, but it can also be helpful to find someone outside the situation who can view it more objectively. This may be a mental health professional or social worker; you can also meet with a Clearway advocate for confidential and compassionate support. 

If you’re looking for practical help, our Pregnancy Resources page highlights just a few of the many resources local to MA that we can connect you to. 

Sometimes, we feel like we have to accomplish our goals all on our own. But that’s not true! It’s okay to ask for help; it’s okay to seek support. You may not be able to pay back the people who help you, but you can always pay it forward one day. You are not alone! Whenever you overcome obstacles with support from those who love you, it equips you to be that supportive person for someone else one day. Community is a gift—find it, invest in it, and enjoy it.

7. Consider the Legal and Practical Aspects

Abortion laws vary by location. Research the legal requirements in your area, including gestational limits, waiting periods, and consent laws. 

If you’re considering medical abortion, it’s important to take the right steps to protect your health and safety. Abortion pills are not FDA-approved past 10 weeks, and you should never order abortion pills online from an unknown source. You also need to have access to follow-up services and emergency care to confirm there are no complications, such as infection or incomplete abortion. 

It’s also necessary to consider the emotional impact of abortion. Some women experience grief, loss, and regret after abortion. In some cases of medical abortion, a woman may see the fetus when it passes out of her body, which can lead to emotional trauma. Whatever your experience, you should know there is support available. At Clearway, we offer free abortion healing programs for women and men, including a virtual monthly drop-in support group.

8. Take The Time You Need To Decide

You might feel like you need to make a decision today, right now. However, rushed choices can often lead to regret or unresolved emotions. 

When you get an ultrasound to confirm your pregnancy, it will also determine the gestational age (how far along you are). This information is essential, as it shows you how many weeks/days you still have available to make your decision. Abortion options depend on gestational age and the policy of the state you’re in. 

If you can, take at least a week to decide. Consider all your options, your long-term hopes for your life, talk to trusted and supportive people, listen to stories, and find resources. You deserve to make your decision from a place of confidence and clarity—not pressure or panic.

Being informed and feeling empowered makes all the difference.

9. Be Brave!

Deciding whether or not abortion is the right choice for you is not easy. Ultimately, this is your decision, but you don’t have to make it immediately or alone. Even reading this blog shows that you’re taking the time to think it through—and that’s a good thing! 

Seek out accurate information, compassionate support, and professional guidance. You matter, and you have a choice. If you need immediate support, scheduling a consultation with Clearway is a great place to start. We’re here for you! 

Reviewed by Anna, BSN RN

Please note that we do nor provide, prescribe, or refer for abortions.