"Back Up Your Birth Control with Emergency Contraception"
Call 804-254-1760 ex 20 for more information

The Virginia League for Planned Parenthood is offering Free Emergency Contraception on March 21, 2007 from 9:00 am until 7:30 pm in honor of Back Up Your Birth Control month. For those 18 and older, you will just need a valid ID with birth date. For women and men younger than 18, you will need a prescription. We can provide you with that and EC for free!

Questions? Contact Courtney Jones, Grassroots Organizer at Courtney.jones@ppfa.org or 804-355-4358 ex 14.

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"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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