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Category: Just for Women

Think “Plan B” is Your Best Option? Get All the Facts First!

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The “morning after pill” or “emergency contraception” is something most women are at least familiar with. It sounds great because it’s just for emergencies. It’s your back-up plan. Its fast, safe, and easy. It’s contraception, not abortion.

But is all that really true? 
Let’s do a little medical digging to learn the truth (after all, this is your body – you should have all of the facts before putting something into it).

First, there are several over-the-counter versions of the morning-after pill. Plan B, My Way, My Choice, E-Contra are just a few of them. They are all comprised of the same hormone. They are all recommended to be taken within 72 hours and only for women under 155lbs. 

The brand Ella is in a different category. It requires a prescription from the doctor. It’s not a hormone and can be taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex and works for women up to 195lbs.

How does it work? 

The medication in any of these “morning after pills” works very similar to the drug in the abortion pill. It can block or delay ovulation, but, most importantly, it changes the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting.  According to Dr. Donna Harrison, a board member of AAPLOG, in an interview with OneNewsNow.com, “In a woman who is already pregnant, [Plan B] will cause an abortion, just like RU-486 does, because it’s the same kind of drug.”

Is it safe? 

Side effects include nausea, vomiting, cramping, tiredness, and dizziness. It can also cause changes in your period such as spotting or bleeding before a period. Even the Plan B website recommends not using it as a form of birth control. It also does not protect against HIV or any sexual transmitted diseases.

Is it really contraception?

By definition, contraception is the intentional prevention of conception (sperm fertilizing the egg).  Because Plan B works after unprotected sex for up to 72 hours (or 5 days with Ella), there is no good way to know if your egg is fertilized yet or not.  And since it works to change the lining of your uterus to prevent implantation, this would indicate that the egg is already fertilized by the time the Plan B kicks in.

Still unsure? 

You may still have questions. That’s normal. So, your best alternative is to talk to a licensed, practicing nurse in an environment that allows them to take their time and answer all of your questions thoroughly.

As it turns out, that is exactly what you can receive here. There is typically no waiting for an appointment – we can usually see you the same day, or the next day at the latest. And the best part is that a visit with us is always completely free of charge!

Get the facts before you make any decisions. You deserve to know!

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What Does An Abortion Cost?

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There is much talk about a woman’s right to an abortion. But seldom is it discussed what that abortion may cost a woman. We believe that if you are going to make a decision, you need to have all of the facts available to you in order to make the most educated decision that is best for you – for now and  your future.

So, what does an abortion cost? There is a financial cost of an abortion to be sure, but there are also physical and emotional costs to consider.

The Financial Cost of an Abortion
Financially, abortion costs vary depending on how far along the pregnancy is and what type of procedure is performed. They can range from several hundreds to thousands of dollars. That is why it is so important to be sure you have all the necessary facts before moving forward.

The questions you need answers to before having an abortion would be:  
Are you pregnant?  Home pregnancy tests are all different and some can be tricky to read. Also, many different factors can impact the reliability of home pregnancy tests.

Is it a viable pregnancy?  Many early pregnancies end in miscarriage naturally for a variety of reasons. Before spending money on an abortion, it’s important to find out if the pregnancy is healthy enough to continue on its own.

Could you have a STI? Certain sexually transmitted infections can cause serious and permanent complications if left untreated before an abortion.

The Steps You Need to Take in This Process
The first step in getting the answers you need in order to make an informed decision is to get a medical-grade pregnancy test performed by a competent medical provider. After you have verified that you are pregnant, you will need an ultrasound to confirm you have a progressing (viable) pregnancy. You also should be tested for STIs and treated if the test is positive. It is in your best interest to gather all your facts and options before paying money for a procedure to end a pregnancy that might end on its own anyway. 

The Physical Cost of an Abortion
Secondly, there is the physical cost to consider. It can be difficult to understand the physical toll of an abortion on a woman’s body, but there are some important things to consider. Hemorrhage, cramping, infection, hormonal imbalance, infertility, and death are just some of the potential consequences.  These physical effects can be intense and some of them can impact your health and fertility permanently.

The Emotional Cost of an Abortion
The hidden cost of an abortion, the emotional cost, is the one that few women consider because it’s a taboo subject in our culture. Abortion is supposed to bring relief to a woman’s situation, so when she has post-abortion feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt, regret, shame, or thoughts of suicide instead, these feelings have added impact because they come as a surprise to her. These emotions can manifest soon after the abortion or surface years later. Since she was the one who made the choice to have an abortion, the post-abortive woman may feel like she has no right to these intense feelings. Emotional healing is possible after abortion, but many women say they would have made a different choice if they had known the devastation abortion would cause in their lives.

For more articles on the effects of abortion, check out:
The Very Real Effects of Abortion – Physical Facts You Need
The Very Real Effects of Abortion – Emotional Facts You Need
You can also read about our post-abortion program here:
Awakenings

At Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid) our goal is to empower women to make educated choices about their health and well-being.  We provide medical and educational services before, during and after pregnancies for women and their partners. We can provide answers to all the questions they should be asking before having an abortion…all at no cost! We also offer programs for women who have experienced an abortion in the past and are seeking help and healing.

Your first step, no matter where you are in the process, is as easy as clicking a button to schedule an appointment to come in and just talk with one of our client advocates. No agenda, no pressure, no judgment. Just answers that you are looking for.

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Embracing the Rhythm: Understanding a Woman’s Menstrual Cycle

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The menstrual cycle is a remarkable and intricate process that occurs within a woman’s body. It is a natural occurrence that allows for the possibility of pregnancy and signifies a woman’s reproductive health. Despite its significance, the menstrual cycle has often been shrouded in mystery and taboos. In this blog post, we aim to shed light on this topic and empower women by providing a comprehensive understanding of their menstrual cycle.


Understanding the Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is a recurring series of physiological changes that a woman’s body goes through in preparation for pregnancy. It typically lasts around 28 days, but can vary from woman to woman. The cycle is orchestrated by the complex interplay of hormones, primarily estrogen and progesterone, and involves several phases:

Menstruation: The cycle begins with menstruation, often referred to as “the period”, the shedding of the uterine lining. This phase lasts for about 3-7 days, and women may experience varying levels of discomfort or pain, known as dysmenorrhea.

Follicular Phase: After menstruation, the follicular phase begins. During this phase, the pituitary gland releases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates the ovaries to develop several follicles. One follicle will eventually become dominant and mature, while the others will regress.

Ovulation: The mature follicle releases an egg during ovulation, usually around the 14th day of the cycle. This is the most fertile period for women, as the egg can be fertilized by sperm and lead to pregnancy.

Luteal Phase: After ovulation, the ruptured follicle transforms into the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone. This hormone helps prepare the uterine lining for implantation. If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates, hormone levels drop, and the next menstrual cycle begins.  The physical and emotional changes that happen during this phase are referred to as premenstrual syndrome (PMS).


Understanding Menstrual Irregularities
A woman’s menstrual cycle may not always follow a perfect 28-day pattern. Being aware of common irregularities such as longer or shorter cycles, irregular bleeding, and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis will help woman recognize the irregular signs, seek medical advice, and maintain a healthy lifestyle that contributes to her overall well-being.

Menstrual Cycle and Fertility Awareness
Understanding the menstrual cycle can empower women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and family planning. Fertility awareness methods (FAM) enable women to track their menstrual cycles, identify fertile periods, and use this knowledge to either achieve or avoid pregnancy.

FAM techniques include tracking menstrual flow, monitoring basal body temperature, observing changes in cervical mucus consistency, and using ovulation predictor kits. These methods can also provide insights into hormonal imbalances or irregularities that may warrant medical attention.

(Image courtesy of https://byjus.com/biology/menstrual-cycle/)

Understanding and embracing a woman’s menstrual cycle is crucial for her overall well-being, reproductive health, and empowerment. By educating ourselves and others about this natural process, we can break the barriers of stigma and ignorance surrounding menstruation. Let us celebrate the incredible strength and resilience of women and work together towards a world where menstruation is seen as a normal and respected part of life.

Here at Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid), we care about every aspect of a woman’s body. We are truly here to offer care for your health. If you want to speak to one of our nurses about what’s going on with your body – whether that is periods, pregnancy or post-abortion care – it’s as simple as clicking the button and scheduling your free appointment. We’re here for you.


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Just a “Little” Pregnant – When You Can’t Read the Home Pregnancy Test

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I just KNEW I was pregnant. This wasn’t my first rodeo, as they say, and all the signs were there. I was exhausted all.the.time! My breasts were tender, and the real clincher, my period was late. So why did my home pregnancy test come up negative? I thought maybe it was a bad test, so I took another one…still only one line instead of two. Unconvinced, I bought a third pregnancy test the next day. This time, I got two lines, but one was really faint. Now what? Was I really pregnant? Was I just a little pregnant?

What I didn’t understand then was that many factors can affect whether a home pregnancy test shows no line, a very faint line, or a bright solid line when we really are pregnant. Just a few days after fertilization, a hormone called hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is released into the mother’s blood by the newly formed embryo. This hCG eventually makes its way into her urine and that’s what is detected by home pregnancy tests. These tests are qualitative rather than quantitative, meaning they don’t measure how much hCG is in the urine but, rather, test whether it’s there at all. A pregnancy test is considered positive if a detectable amount of hCG is present, no matter how bold or faint the second line is. Some possible explanations for a faint positive include:

  • Low hCG levels – This can happen if the pregnancy is very early, if the pregnancy is not viable, or if there has been an early pregnancy loss.
  • Dilute urine – Staying hydrated is great, but if the urine is too diluted, the test might not be able to detect the hCG in it. It’s best to test first thing in the morning when urine is most concentrated.
  • The test sat too long – Pregnancy tests all come with instructions describing the window of time in which it should be read. If the test sits for too long, the urine can evaporate, leaving a faint line even though the test is negative.
  • Expired test or human error – Be sure to check the expiration date and read and follow all written instructions.

I finally went to my doctor and she confirmed that I was pregnant. So, was I “just a little pregnant” when I got the faint line on my home pregnancy test? Well, consider this…By the time I suspected I was pregnant and took that first test, my baby had already doubled in size, implanted in my uterus, formed heart, lung, brain, kidney, blood, and other organ tissues, and absorbed nutrients from me. She even had facial features and the beginnings of arms and legs. In fact, each one of her cells, from the moment of conception, contained all of her own unique DNA. So even though it wasn’t 100% obvious to me, I was 100% pregnant.

Whether you’ve taken a test at home or not, there are some very good reasons to confirm your results at a pregnancy resource center like Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid). Why should you?

  • It’s free! In fact, all their services are free.
  • It’s a medical-grade test performed by people who are trained to do it correctly.
  • If there’s any doubt about the result or the timing of pregnancy, they can follow it up with an ultrasound to make sure, sometimes even the same day (yep, also free).
  • It’s confidential
  • They really care about you. Whether your result is welcome news or not, they can talk you through all your options with kindness and compassion.

Home tests can be hard to read sometimes. That’s why we provide medical-grade pregnancy tests here, along with a nurse, to help you not only get clear results, but to begin discussing your options and information.

The best part? It’s all at no financial cost to you.

Think you might be pregnant? Start with an easy-to-make appointment with us. No agenda . . . No judgment . . . Just helpful answers and options.

It’s the best first-step you can take!

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Worried About Being Pregnant . . . Getting Peace of Mind

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Walking Through Our Doors Looking for Help
It was late in the day when two young friends walked over from the abortion clinic next door to our Overland Park Center. Both wanted a pregnancy test, but could not afford one next door. They saw our sign and decided to come here instead. They were very nervous walking into our center.

First Step: Testing
Our Client Advocates offered them something to drink to help put them at ease and took them into separate counseling rooms. They individually shared with the advocates that if positive, they planned to abort as they could not possibly have a baby right now. Each had their own reasons, each couldn’t see beyond their current circumstances, and parenting was a very scary option. The client advocates offered a pregnancy test, as well as STI testing to each client, which they both accepted. While waiting for the results of the pregnancy test, they discussed with the young women their various options.

One young lady’s test came back negative, and the other young lady’s test came back positive.

Next Step: Getting the Information She Needed
The pregnant young woman was offered a sonogram (to determine pregnancy viability), which she accepted. She shared that she was afraid to tell her parents of her pregnancy, and she was unsure how her boyfriend would react to the news. When she saw her baby on the sonogram screen, a new look came over her face, one of surprise and awe. She smiled and asked questions about the development of the baby, and a change was very evident in her demeanor. She was given a lot of support and encouragement, and many resources were also offered. A follow-up appointment for her STI results was scheduled in one week. As she and her friend left, she said, “You guys are lovely!”

The Follow-Up Visit: A Complete Change
When the client returned the following week, there was a visible change in her body language. She almost had a spring her step! She shared that she had informed her parents of her pregnancy, and they were very supportive. Her boyfriend was also very supportive and they have been making plans for their life together as a family.

This young woman almost made a life-changing decision out of fear of the unknown. It was through the support and services of Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid) that she realized that she was stronger than she realized, and didn’t have to go on this journey alone.

Additional Helpful Articles:
I Was Pregnant . . . And Needed Some Serious Help!

When Pregnancy Wasn’t Part of Your Story

Where Do You Go For Answers When You Are Pregnant?

If you are going through a similar experience to either of the young ladies above, you might have seen yourself a bit in either of  their stories. One young lady got the peace of mind she was looking for, and the other – while not receiving the news she initially hoped for – still had a positive ending because of one choice: to walk in the doors of Two Lines (formerly Advice & Aid). Because of that choice, she found help, hope, resources, support . . . all of the things she needed most.

Take your first step today towards taking back control of your own situation. Make an appointment with us.

No pressure
No agenda
Simply the information you need, an understanding friend, and hope!

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Miscarriage or Abortion:  What do the terms mean?

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Due to the recent Supreme Court ruling, there has been an explosion of information and debate over the issue of abortion.  If you are scrolling Twitter or Instagram or listening to the news, you will see debates raging over what is legal now and what isn’t.  One misunderstanding is that women will not be able to get care in the hospital for a miscarriage because Roe has been overturned.  Why is this idea out there?  The confusion is partly because some people don’t know the difference between miscarriage and abortion, and because the treatment for an incomplete miscarriage is similar to what is done during a surgical abortion.

First, it is helpful to explain the difference between miscarriage and abortion.  A miscarriage (sometimes called a spontaneous abortion) is the natural loss of a developing baby before 20 weeks of pregnancy.  Many times, it is unclear why the loss of the baby occurs.  When a woman is miscarrying a pregnancy, she will have pelvic pain, cramps, and bleeding. Normally, her body will expel the contents of the uterus completely over a few days, but sometimes, this process does not complete on its own, and some tissue stays in her uterus.

If a woman still has some tissue from a failed pregnancy in her uterus, it can put her at risk for infection.  Doctors diagnose this condition and treat it with a surgical procedure called a D & C, or dilatation and curettage.  In this procedure, the cervix (the opening to the uterus) is opened enough to pass an instrument into the uterus to scrape the lining and remove anything remaining from the pregnancy.

So, how is an abortion different, and why is there so much confusion?  An abortion is the elective termination of a viable pregnancy, or in other words, it is ending a living pregnancy by choice.  In a miscarriage, the baby is no longer alive.  In an abortion, the baby is alive before the medication or the surgical procedure.  In a surgical abortion, a D&C is performed, similar to the procedure for an incomplete miscarriage.  The difference is that the procedure is used to end the life of a living baby.

The same confusion exists around stillborn babies.  A stillbirth is when a baby dies in the uterus after 20 weeks.  Claims have been made that hospitals in some states will refuse to treat stillbirths because this is also an abortion.  This is false.  Treatment of a stillbirth is not an abortion because the baby is no longer alive. 

Wrong information has also been floating around about treating ectopic pregnancies.  Ectopic pregnancies are pregnancies that are growing somewhere besides the uterus, frequently in the fallopian tube.  As they grow, they can cause tissue damage and internal bleeding for the mother.  These pregnancies can’t survive, and they pose a serious threat to the mother’s health.  They are treated with medication or surgery, usually.  Treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is not illegal anywhere in the United States because it is vital medical treatment, not an elective abortion. 

The meaning of words is important.  Miscarriage and choosing to abort a pregnancy are not the same thing.  Medical treatment of an incomplete miscarriage, a still birth, or an ectopic pregnancy is legal in every state in the U.S., including the ones that have outlawed elective abortion. 

It’s vital that women know the truth so that they don’t avoid seeking treatment for these conditions out of fear, and put their health at risk.

Two Lines Pregnancy Clinic (formerly Advice & Aid Pregnancy Center) offer peer counseling and accurate information about all pregnancy options. In keeping with our non-profit, pro-woman mission, while we do not offer or refer for abortion services, we do strive to provide medically accurate information.

If you wish to have a further discussion or get more information on the difference between abortion and miscarriage, feel free to talk to one of our many nurses here at our center. All appointments are completely without cost to you, and can easily be scheduled online.

Whether looking for information, experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, or need post-abortion care, we are here to serve you.

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