Abortion Services

Introduction

General Information

Early Surgical Abortions Up To 10 Weeks

Medical Abortions Up To 9 Weeks

Surgical Abortion From 10 Through 13 Weeks

14 Through 23 Weeks (Second Trimester)

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Medical Abortions Up To 9 Weeks

We have been providing medical abortions with Mifeprex and misoprostol since Mifeprex was first released in this country in 2000.  With this approach, the patient will receive a full explanation of the procedure at our office, have an ultrasound to determine the weeks of gestation, and then be given an oral dose of Mifeprex.  Between 24 and 48 hours after receiving the Mifeprex at our office, the patient then inserts four tablets of misoprostol between her lip and gum.  Within an hour or two she will begin to experience moderate to severe cramping which will likely continue for two to six hours until the pregnancy tissue is passed.  In effect, she experiences a miscarriage in the setting of her choice.

This option is effective and available up to a gestation of 9 weeks, counted as weeks from the first day of the last period.  Women experience this process in their own home or some other comfortable environment.  They are advised to have made arrangements for childcare and have a supportive person with them in case any problems develop.

The patient returns to our office the following week where she receives an ultrasound to confirm that she is no longer pregnant and that the uterus is empty.  Sometimes several follow-up visits are required to confirm a completed procedure.


Early Abortion:  Surgical or Medical?

Medical abortion allows women to avoid surgery and experience the difficult part of the process in a comfortable environment of their own choosing.

Early surgical abortion is quicker and more convenient, results in a more rapid disappearance of pregnancy symptoms, in particular nausea, and requires less follow-up.

Medical abortion, though generally quite safe, carries a higher risk of failure (continuing pregnancy), retained tissue, and serious bleeding when compared to early surgical abortion.  Many of our patients find medical abortion more painful than surgical abortion as we perform it.

In summary we believe in providing each woman a choice in the matter of the best way to terminate a pregnancy. When a woman makes an appointment for an abortion at our office she need not decide which type of procedure she will choose until after she has discussed her individual situation with our medical assistant and physician.  Both options will be available to her.