Which abortion option should I choose?
This is a personal choice that you should make after some careful thought. There are limits, though. Medical abortion (the pill) is not available if you are more than 10 weeks into your pregnancy and there are significant potential dangers of taking the pill beyond that point. You should read about and ask us about the differences between procedures we offer before you decide.
Why do you include an ultrasound when I just want the pill?
Simply put, it’s necessary to safeguard your health and avoid the serious complications that could result when taking the pill under certain (but common) circumstances. For example: One in every 50 pregnancies is ectopic (a tubal pregnancy), meaning that the early pregnancy begins to develop (most often) in the fallopian tube and never makes it to the uterus as it would in a normal pregnancy. Taking the pill for an abortion when you have a tubal pregnancy can lead to serious, even life-threatening conditions known as shock and sepsis. An ultrasound is a simple painless way to assure that you have a normal pregnancy and are within the critical guidelines necessary to safely take the pill. If you are not provided an ultrasound before taking the pill, you are at greater risk of serious complications.
I had a medication abortion (the Pill) a year ago resulting in sever cramps on and off for 3 weeks and lots of bleeding. I couldn’t return to work for a week, and my friends knew I was hurting. My doctor said that was normal. Is that true and will it be less painful the next time?
Unfortunately, your doctor is correct. Cramps and bleeding are both common with medication abortion and, to varying degree, part of the process induced by the medication. It is impossible to say whether the symptoms will be better or worse if you again choose the pill. If personal comfort and a quick recovery are important to you, you may be better off with a traditional abortion. Many patients return to work the next day after a traditional abortion, but we like to see them take a day off.
I am pain sensitive. How much more does it cost to be, “put under” during my abortion process.
There is NO NEED to consider unconscious sedation (being, “put under”) during your procedure. Our office has perfected a well-developed pain management process that is part of every traditional abortion procedure and included in the cost.
My friend got a medication abortion from another clinic and found out it didn’t work. She had to go back and pay the whole cost again. How can I make sure that doesn’t happen to me?
Sadly, some abortion providers feel no responsibility for failures of their procedures. Wherever you choose to get an abortion, you should make sure they provide NO Cost follow-up should the procedure fail. You can also protect yourself by choosing a traditional abortion over the pill as it has a much lower incidence of incomplete abortions. As long as you follow our guidelines, we provide full no cost follow-up for all abortions procedures to protect you against the situation you described.
How long before Sex after the procedure?
We advise 1 week.
Do I have to have a driver?
If you elect the relaxant, you do need a driver, otherwise no.
Do I have to get the shot for relaxation?
NO! It’s completely optional.
Do I have to come back after I take the pill? What if I live out of state?
Yes, a return visit is very important. It ensures your safety after having the medication abortion. If you live out of state, we will not take a risk with your health, so we cannot prescribe the pill for a medication abortion in that case. The safe alternative would be a traditional (vacuum aspiration) abortion.
Can I use tampons after the procedure?
We recommend that you wait 1 week before using tampons.
Am I still able to get pregnant after this procedure?
Absolutely. It is not uncommon for women to become pregnant soon as 2 weeks after the procedure.
How long do I have to wait to work out again?
We recommend that you wait 1 week before returning to an exercise regime.
