"For an appointment or further information,
call us at (804) 254-1760 ext 20"
Some commonly asked questions about first trimester abortion:
What is the cost?
The fee ranges between $275 and $425 depending on how far along you are and whether you choose
to have conscious sedation or a local anesthesia and type of
abortion you choose. In addition to the procedure, our fee covers
all necessary tests, private counseling, sonography to evaluate
the length of your pregnancy, a pack of birth control pills
if needed and the post-operative check up. There are no hidden
costs for comprehensive care. We can accept a money order or
credit card (the cardholder must be available to sign the charge
slip). No cash or personal checks can be accepted. We will help
you determine if your insurance covers the procedure.
Who will perform my abortion?
Our doctor is a licensed physician, as required by Virginia
law. In addition, the service we provide meets our own strict
Planned Parenthood standards. As a member of the National Abortion
Federation (NAF), we follow its high standards of care also.
Our doctor is experienced, skilled and compassionate. Our counselors,
aides and nurses provide professional care and the kind of personal
support and care you expect from Planned Parenthood.
What is the process?
Call our medical center 254-1760 x20 to make an appointment
for Pre-Op visit a few days before your abortion. At this time,
we will do all the required lab tests including the sonography,
and you will meet with our nursing and counseling staff. Your
abortion will be scheduled at that time.
Will this all be confidential?
Absolutely. Our staff is committed to providing your care in
a confidential way. Because we know that this is a very private,
personal decision, we take extra measures to ensure your privacy.
Does anyone else have to know about this?
If you are under 18, state law requires that one of your parents
or a guardian be notified before you have an abortion. If this
is not possible, we can help you with the judicial by-pass system.
Surgical abortion? Non-surgical abortion? What is the difference?
During a surgical abortion the contents of your uterus is removed
by vacuum aspiration. This is done in the center by the doctor
using special instruments and takes about 5 minutes. A counselor
will be with you throughout the procedure. Most women experience
cramping and some discomfort. You can have the procedure done
with a local anesthetic or choose to have deep conscious sedation.
Conscious sedation is very effective in controlling pain, providing
a calming sedation. Many women who have sedation comment that
they did not experience pain during the procedure and do not
remember it. Unlike general anesthesia, women are able to return
to normal activities within a day.
A non-surgical (medical) abortion is brought about early
in the pregnancy by taking medications to cause your uterus
to expel/abort the pregnancy. The first medicine that you will
be given is Mifepristone( Mifeprex/RU486). It blocks the action
of progesterone, a hormone needed to maintain pregnancy and
changes the lining of the uterus causing an early pregnancy
to detach. It also helps soften and dilate the cervix. You take
this medicine at the center. The second medication, misoprostol,
causes the uterus to contract/cramp and expel the pregnancy.
To increase its effectiveness, this medicine is inserted vaginally
at home several days after your clinic visit. You will have
cramping and bleeding as the pregnancy is expelled. If you consider
having a non-surgical abortion, it is important to remember
that the medications used can cause serious fetal anomalies,
so once this process is begun, it must be completed. That means
a surgical abortion may be needed if the pregnancy is still
in place at the follow up visit (1-2%) or if there is excessive
bleeding (1%). If you choose to have a non-surgical abortion,
you must be willing to have a surgical abortion if needed.
What about complications?
Abortion, especially in the first trimester, is a very safe
procedure - surgical or non-surgical. Only a very small percentage
of women experience complications. Many complications are minor
and do not affect future ability to have children. Of course,
as with any medical procedure, there is no 100% guarantee. At
your Pre Op visit, the nurse will explain the procedure and
complications and answer your questions. After the procedure,
if you need help, our nursing staff is on-call 24 hours/day.
How long will it take?
On the day of your procedure, you will spend 1-2 hours at the
center although the actual surgical procedure takes 3-5 minutes.
The time spent includes time in the recovery room.
How will I feel afterwards?
Our nurse will give you instructions for taking care of yourself
after your abortion. The most important thing to remember is
that you will be able to function normally - resuming most of
your regular activities by the time you leave although you may
want to take it easy for a day or so.
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