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Does it hurt?
Like most medical procedures some pain and/or
discomfort may be involved. For some women
the procedure is very painful while for others,
they feel only very mild cramping. About 80%
of our patients state that the procedure wasn’t
as painful as they had imagined it would be.
Sedatives, including Valium, IV sedation,
and Nitrous Oxide gas, are available to help
you with anxiety and pain management.
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How long will I be at the clinic?
You should expect your appointment to last
between 3 and 4 hours with the procedure lasting
approximately 5 minutes.
If the procedure only lasts 5 minutes, why
am I at the clinic for so long?
Your appointment includes paperwork, lab work,
an individual information session, the procedure,
and some recovery time.
When can I return to work/school?
We want you to refrain from heavy lifting
and rigorous activities until after your check
up appointment. Many women return to work
and/or school the day after their procedure.
You may return to normal activities as soon
as you feel up to it but if you experience
an increase in your cramping and/or bleeding
you will need to decrease your activity level.
Is my appointment confidential?
Confidentiality is one of our biggest concerns.
No one can obtain information about you or
your procedure without consent. Our staff
respects a patient's right to privacy and
will not release any information without written
consent and proof of identification.
I’m a minor. Can I have an abortion without
my parents knowing?
The State of Florida now requires parental
notification (not consent!) for any minor
seeking to terminate their pregnancy. If you
are unable to tell your parent(s) about your
decision to terminate a pregnancy, we will
not be able to provide abortion services.
If your parent(s) or legal guardian knows about
your decision to terminate, he or she will
need to accompany you to your appointment,
and they will need to bring photo identification
and/or legal documentation proving that they
are indeed your parent or legal guardian.
If you are a minor and unsure how to proceed,
please call our office and we can provide
you with additional information.
Do I have to bring someone with me?
If you elect to use IV sedation or take Valium
you must have someone with you to drive you
home. In addition, if you are a minor you
must have a parent or legal guardian with
you. (See above.)
What should I wear?
You should wear a comfortable, two-piece outfit
(you will only need to undress from the waist
down), and underwear that you can put a pad
into. Sometimes the clinic is chilly, so bring
a long-sleeved shirt or sweater.
Can I eat before my appointment?
We don’t want you to eat anything one
hour before your scheduled appointment time.
You may have clear liquids (water, ginger
ale,
etc.) up until your appointment.
Why do you need to know my blood type?
It is important for us to know if you have
a positive or negative Rh factor to help ensure
the safety of future pregnancies. Women with
a negative Rh factor require a Rhogam injection
with each pregnancy, regardless of the outcome.
This injection keeps the body of an Rh negative
woman from building up antibodies against
Rh positive blood. Bringing documentation
of your blood type with you will save you
from having to have your Rh factor typed on
the day of your appointment.
Is it common to have an abortion?
According to the National Abortion Federation,
nearly half of all U.S. women of reproductive
age have an abortion before the age of 45.
All types of women, from different races and
ethnic groups, ages, religions, and socioeconomic
backgrounds have abortions.
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