…Three days after the abortion, I started on the pill. I take it every day but not at the same time. Sometimes I forget but take it a couple of hours late.  I had unprotected sex two weeks after the abortion.  Is there any way I could have gotten pregnant?

During pregnancy, the body produces high levels of human gonadotropic hormone, or HCG.  Urine pregnancy tests work by measuring whether or not HCG is present.  Because HCG levels rise quickly at the beginning of a pregnancy, HCG can still be present in the blood and urine for up to six weeks after a miscarriage or abortion procedure. This can cause a false positive on pregnancy tests.

However, if you’re not ready to be pregnant, it’s important that you take your pill within the same hour every day. Taking your pill late makes it less effective at preventing pregnancy! If you’re having trouble remembering to take your pill, consider other birth control options, like the patch, the ring, the shot, Implanon, or IUDs, which don’t require you to remember quite as often (or at all!).

And consider wearing condoms 100% even though you’re on a hormonal birth control method. Condoms can help prevent infection; they also serve as a great back-up birth control. (Check out this great question from the archives: “Can you still get pregnant on birth control?”)  Visit Teen Clinic if you want to talk with a practitioner about how you can best prevent unintended pregnancy.

In Colorado, minors do not need parental consent to receive an abortion. However, state law does require that they notify their parents/guardian at least 48 hours before the procedure.  A minor can choose to notify her parents herself (with a certification form), or she may choose to have her abortion provider send notification by certified mail.  She may also ask a judge to excuse her from this requirement, particularly if telling her parents would place her in danger.

In other words, no. If you are under 18 and seeking an abortion in Colorado, you are required to tell a parent unless you are in danger or a victim of incest/abuse.

In some states, parental notification is not required. To learn more about abortion laws by state, check out this Guttmacher Institute Fact Sheet.  If you are pregnant and not sure what to do, give Teen Clinic a call. We offer free, unbiased decision counseling and referrals.

Yes. In Colorado, there are no restrictions on when an abortion can be performed. While some clinics in the state choose not to perform abortions at four months, others do offer this service. To find a quality provider, visit www.prochoice.org.

Teen Clinic does not offer abortions. We do offer free, unbiased decision counseling. If you’re not sure whether parenting, adoption, or abortion is your best plan, it’s a great idea to make an appointment to see one of our counselors. Your parent or partner is welcome too! Learning more about your options can help ensure that, whatever decision you make, it’s the right one for you.

In Colorado, it is required by law that minors notify their parents if they are having an abortion. It is not required that parents consent to this procedure. To learn more, check out this question.

Teen Clinic does not provide abortion services, including medication abortions.  However, we do provide pregnancy and STI prevention services, treatment for infections, and unbiased decision counseling for pregnant teens, free of charge.

It’s good to know that in Colorado, minors do not need parental consent to choose an abortion. However, state law does require that they notify their parents/guardian at least 48 hours before any abortion procedure.  A minor may choose to notify her parents herself, bringing a signed certification form to her appointment, or she may choose to have her abortion provider send notification for her by certified mail. She may also ask a judge to excuse her from this requirement, particularly if she believes notification would place her in physical danger.

At Teen Clinic, we do dispense Emergency Contraception, or Plan B, that can prevent pregnancy for up to five days after unprotected intercourse.   Plan B is available on a walk-in basis to both men and women at our Boulder and Longmont locations.  Plan B will not negatively affect an existing pregnancy, and is not an abortion.

For more information on abortion, see the National Abortion Federation’s website.

In Colorado, all abortion patients sign a legal document certifying they are at least 18 or are legally emancipated.  That’s because Colorado law requires minors—anyone under 18—to notify their parents at least 48 hours before they have an abortion. Some clinics will check your ID; some may not. Even if you’re over 18, it’s a good idea to bring identification in case they do.

Ninety percent of all abortions are provided during the first trimester, which is up to fourteen weeks gestation. A small percent (9.9 %) are performed during the second trimester. A very small percent (0.1% of all abortions) are performed in the third trimester, usually because of severe health problems in the fetus or the woman.  As for legality, each state has their own regulations on the timing of abortion procedures. For more information, check out the National Abortion Federation website.

There are many rumors out there about sexual health, including inducing miscarriage. Teen Clinic urges you to ignore the rumors and seek out the advice of a reliable health care provider. Teen Clinic does not recommend alternative therapies to cause abortion or other medications that are not approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).

Teen Clinic does not provide abortion services. We provide prevention services for pregnancy and STIs, as well as treatment for infections. We do have unbiased decision counseling when a woman is pregnant. In a safe and supportive counseling session, women and their partners may explore the many issues that may impact their decision, whether abortion, adoption or parenting.

For more information on abortion services and to find a provider, go to the National Abortion Federation website.

After a surgical abortion procedure, patients can begin any birth control method immediately – including an IUD. In fact, it’s healthy to insert the IUD right after the procedure. If someone has a medical abortion, it’s healthy to wait two weeks before getting an IUD. Women who go through an abortion procedure are able to become pregnant if they are having unprotected sex. Speak with your doctor or visit Teen Clinic to explore what birth control option is best for you.

Yes. Both medication and surgical abortions are safe procedures without long lasting effects on your reproductive health or future fetal development. Women who have safe abortions performed by a qualified doctor in a sterile environment usually have no long lasting complications. In fact, fertility can return immediately after an abortion procedure or it may take a few weeks.