ABORTION OPTIONS
Things To Consider
ABORTION PILL
What Is The Abortion Pill?
The Abortion Pill, also called RU-486, uses two kinds of medication (mifepristone and misoprostol) to induce an abortion privately, safely and effectively in your own home. The abortion pill can be taken in early pregnancy and is an alternative to the in-office abortion procedure.
How Does The Abortion Pill Work?
Mifepristone is used with another prescription medicine called misoprostol, to end an early pregnancy, up to 11.0 weeks. Mifepristone is a pill that blocks progesterone, a hormone produced naturally by the body that helps maintain a pregnancy.
Misoprostol is taken 24-48 hours after the mifepristone. Misoprostol tells the uterus muscles to cramp and soften the cervix to pass the pregnancy tissue.
DAY 1
An ultrasound, lab work, and evaluation are performed in the office by our medical staff. The first pill, mifepristone, is taken in the office. You will leave with instructions for completing the process at home.
Birth control options will also be discussed and provided at this office visit if you want. You can become pregnant again right after having an abortion.
DAY 2 & 3
24-48 hours later you will take the second medication, misoprostol, at home. You may be given two doses of this medication to take at home, 4 hours apart. This can help make the medication abortion more effective sometimes.
After taking this medication, you will have bleeding and strong cramping while you pass the pregnancy. You may also have nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Plan to stay home for 12-24 hours.
FOLLOW UP
3-4 days after your office visit we will text you a reminder to do a self-assessment. If you answer ‘NO’ to any of these questions, you must call our office. In 5 weeks you will take a pregnancy test.
If you or we are concerned that the medications did not work or if your pregnancy test is still positive 5 weeks later, you should return to our office as soon as possible. You may still be pregnant.
FIRST TRIMESTER SURGICAL ABORTION | ABORTION CLINIC PROCEDURE
First Trimester Abortion – Performed In The Office
A first trimester abortion, or a D&C, is performed in the first three months of pregnancy. The procedure is two steps, first the physician will stretch open the cervix a little bit, usually less than the size of your thumb, and then a gentle suction is used to empty the uterus. This suction procedure is very common, safe and short, normally 5 – 7 minutes. We offer sedation or local anesthesia with this procedure.
The fee for this procedure includes pregnancy testing, admitting, pre-operative history and physical, ultrasound. medications given on the day of the procedure, post-operative medications and your post-operative care as authorized by our medical staff.
PRE-PROCEDURE
• Physical exam and ultrasound
• Ask questions / sign consent forms
PROCEDURE
• IV is started for sedation or local anesthetic injections, if you will be awake for the procedure
• Procedure is 5-7 minutes in most cases, performed by the physician
RECOVERY
• Rest for 30-60 minutes
• A nurse will monitor your bleeding and cramping
• You will have a light snack
• Receive discharge medication and instructions
EARLY SECOND TRIMESTER ABORTION | IN-CLINIC ABORTION OPTION
About Early Second Trimester Abortion
Early second trimester abortions require one office visit. We use the dilation and evacuation procedure, also known as a D&E. In the early in the second trimester, we use a medication to prepare the cervix instead of stick-like dilators that slowly expand over time.
The fee for this service includes pregnancy testing, admitting, pre-operative history and physical, ultrasound, lab work, cervical preparation, most pre-operative medications, the D&E procedure, RhoGAM (if required), sedation, medications given on the day of the procedure, most post-operative medications and your post-operative care as authorized by us. Referal
PRE-PROCEDURE
• Physical examination and ultrasound
• Have a chance to ask questions and sign consent forms
PROCEDURE
• Medication is provided to help soften the cervix, it can take 1-3 hours to work
• Have an IV started if you will be sedated for the procedure
• Procedure is 5-7 minutes in most cases, performed by the physician
GETTING TO THE OFFICE AND HOME SAFELY
On the day of your procedure, you must have a reliable ride home from the office. If you cannot make arrangements for a ride after the procedure you may be able to use a cab or a ride share car service after an extended recovery period. Please note that we cannot accommodate children or guests in of our office at this time. This includes waiting areas. Your guest can wait in the car, or we can give you a listing of public places near the clinic where they can wait for you.