I am seven weeks pregnant and scared. I am not prepared to bring a child into the world. I have been seeing my baby's father for only two months, and he isn't prepared to have it either. I want to get an abortion, but everyone tells me that the clinic is like a meat market and that I will regret it. I also hear that it hurts really bad when you have it done. Can you please help me and explain how the procedure is?

-- Kerrie

You and only you can decide whether you are ready to become a mother. You should explore and consider all your options -- keeping the baby, giving it up for adoption or having an abortion. There are many very good clinics and women's centers throughout the country whose staff can give you unbiased, non-judgmental information about all these options, and respect the option that you choose as being best for you at this particular point in your life. Planned Parenthood has offices in just about every major city and in many smaller communities as well. You may want to see your own gynecologist; even if she does not perform abortions (if that is what you ultimately choose), she will be able to counsel you and refer you appropriately.

As far as what to expect should you choose an abortion, after the initial counseling process, the procedure is technically like a D&C for any reason. To minimize any pain, you may be offered an IV and sedation or even general anesthesia, but most likely you will be given an anti-inflammatory to help with cramping and perhaps a mild sedative by mouth. After a speculum is placed and the cervix is cleansed, the cervix is gently dilated; this does cause cramping. An instrument is introduced into the uterus and the pregnancy is removed by suction and scraping -- again this is crampy. Afterward, you will recover for an hour or so before being discharged. Make sure that a licensed physician performs the procedure.Contraception is also usually discussed, and you may be given a pack of birth control pills or a shot of Depo-Provera.

The decision to keep or to terminate a pregnancy is a very personal one; whatever your choice, I hope the one thing you come away with after this experience is to always use effective contraception if you are not ready to bear a child. And with any new relationship, you should also use a condom to protect yourself and your partner from sexually transmitted diseases.