For the woman who has fewer concerns about discomfort, total privacy and time in our office.

After your fee is paid, an ultrasound and lab work will be done. You will then fill out a medical history and consent forms and will meet with an educational counselor who will answer your questions and review your medical history.

While you are in our office, birth control methods will be reviewed and most women can be started on the birth control Pill before leaving the clinic. The birth control shot is also available the day of the abortion procedure if you choose. Please speak with a staff member when scheduling if you have questions about this highly effective method of birth control.

Patients who choose Local Sedation Plan C will be given a pelvic exam to check the position and size of the uterus. Either the assistant, the nurse, or the doctor will check your blood pressure with the arm cuff. A small clip will be placed on your finger. This is called a pulse oximeter, and will be left on throughout your abortion procedure to check your heart rate and the oxygen level in your blood. Your physician will explain what he/she is doing so that there will be no surprises. Your assistant is there to lend support, talk to you and help you relax.

The procedure begins as the doctor injects Lidocaine into the cervix and the surrounding area. This drug is similar to Novocaine at the dentist's office. You may feel a pinch or a slight sting, a ringing in your ears, and you may even have a funny taste in your mouth. Do not be alarmed...these are normal side effects, and will pass quickly.

The doctor will begin to dilate the cervix. The cervix is a tight, round muscle which closes off the uterus from the vagina. It does this to keep germs in the vagina away from the uterus, and it supports the uterus during pregnancy. It has a natural opening called an "os". The os will be gently stretched to give an opening approximately as big around as your little finger.

Dilation will take approximately one and a half to two minutes. During dilation you will experience a few minutes of moderate to strong cramping. Every woman reacts to pain/discomfort differently, but every woman will have less discomfort if she relaxes as much as possible. If you will relax your legs and let them go limp in the stirrups, your abdomen will automatically relax, and that helps lessen the cramping you feel. Controlling your breathing will help lessen the cramping even further. Your assistant will help you get into an even rhythm with your breathing. Take a deep breath through your nose, hold it for a count of five, then
blow out through your mouth, letting your whole body relax. After the dilation is complete, the cramps will probably lessen somewhat during aspiration.

After the cervix is dilated, the aspiration process begins. The aspirator is a machine which produces a vacuum, a gentle suction. A tube is attached to the aspirator which is then attached to a vacurette (a plastic straw-like tube much like what your dentist uses to suction your mouth). The vacurette goes through the cervix into the uterus, and the suction removes the pregnancy and the lining of the uterus. This will take approximately two to three minutes. When the suction is complete, the physician will use a curette, a blunt, spoon-shaped instrument to feel the inside walls of the uterus to make certain the uterus is empty. The entire abortion procedure at 12 weeks or under will take five to six minutes or less. Since you are awake and aware, you will hear the aspirator making a humming noise. This is just a machine noise, and does not have anything to do with your body. Cramping will continue to decrease after your abortion procedure is complete.

You will stay in your room for about 15 minutes so that your assistant can monitor your bleeding and your vital signs. After that time she will help you dress, and will walk with you to your recovery area. We will ask your guest to join you in that area if you choose. one of the assistants will briefly remind you of how to take care of yourself, check your bleeding and vital signs and will make certain you have all appropriate medications and prescriptions. After about 15 minutes you are discharged from the medical area. Please get something to eat soon after leaving the clinic as you will probably feel better if you do.

Please remember that complications of abortion in the first 12 weeks are rare, a first trimester abortion being at least 8-14 times safer than childbirth. Although the rate of complications will increase once you pass the 12th week of pregnancy, even at the 18th week of pregnancy, abortion is still a safer procedure than childbirth.

The most common complication associated with abortion is infection. This is not because of the abortion itself, since all the instruments used in abortion have been sterilized, but most often occurs because some patients do not follow the detailed verbal and written suggestions we give for taking care of themselves after the abortion. For a few weeks following the abortion procedure the cervix and uterus are vulnerable to infection, so patients simply must follow instructions to help prevent infection of the cervix and uterus.

Occasionally a pregnancy, pregnancy tissue or uterine lining is missed by the suction, and is retained in the uterus. If there is a missed abortion, or if retained tissue does not pass on its own with bleeding after your abortion, it is possible that a resuctioning of the uterus could be necessary. Your physician does check the uterus to attempt to make certain a missed abortion has not occurred. This is one reason why a follow-up visit is very important after an abortion.

One of the possible complications is perforation (puncture) of the uterus or laceration of the cervix. Anytime instruments are used in or around these soft organs there is a risk of tearing or puncturing them. According to the Center for Disease Control, this occurs in about 1% of abortion procedures nationwide. If this complication should occur, the most common treatment is hospital observation to make certain the uterus repairs itself. Only in the most extreme cases would surgery be required.

All patients are instructed to return here for a post-operative check-up. If you choose not to come to New Woman Health Care, it is imperative you see your own physician or Health Center. You must tell your physician that you have had an abortion, and approximately how far in the pregnancy you were. This check-up is considered the final step to assure the abortion was complete, and that you are on your way to a healthy reproductive future.

Please remember that New Woman Health Care would be happy to help you with the birth control pill, Depo-Provera which is know as the birth control shot, an IUD, a diaphragm, and if necessary, emergency contraception...the Morning After Pill, as well as regular pelvic exams and Pap smears.