Up to 18 Weeks of Pregnancy

Surgical Abortion

First Trimester Abortion
We offer First Trimester abortion services between 5 and 14 weeks (See Pregnancy Calculator below) from the first day of the last normal menstrual period. We perform surgical abortion by suction D & C. The average visit to the Center is approximately 3-5 hours.

We offer three levels of anesthesia for our patients: (1) Local anesthesia knumbs the cervix only; (2) Twilight anesthesia will put you in a state of semi consciousness but not fully asleep; and (3) General anesthesia is an injected medication that renders you unconscious during the procedure. You will regain full consciousness soon after the procedure. The choice of anesthesia is yours. There is no difference in the price whichever method you choose.

All patients receive Xanax and Cytotec. Xanax is an anti-anxiety medication, which will help you relax. Cytotec is a medication which softens and dilates the cervix, which makes the procedure safer and shorter to perform. It also results in far less intra operative pain. Further it reduces the medications needed for anesthesia. We are one of the very few centers across the country to use these remarkable drugs to make the entire procedure easier and much safer for our patients.

On the day of your procedure, here are the basic steps that you will need to follow:
Register with receptionist. We will gather information regarding medical history, personal information, and take care of the issue of insurance or payment. We accept most insurance programs as well as Maryland Medical Assistance.

If you would like to save approximately 30 minutes from your office visit on the day of your procedure, you can print out the forms, fill them out and bring them with you when you come to have your procedure.

Please Complete: Patient Registration / Consent for Purposes of Treatment / Health History / First Trimester Surgical Abortion Consent Form

A female staff member (each is a trained counselor) will bring you to a private examination room. Note: Escorts are not permitted to accompany you into medical areas of the Center. We will keep your escort informed of your progress and give them estimates of when you will be ready to leave. We will also call them if they prefer to leave and come back when you are ready.

We will perform a sonogram to verify and measure the pregnancy. A small blood sample will be drawn and tested for the Rh factor (if needed you will receive a RhoGam injection after the procedure). She will review your medical history, discuss your decision to terminate the pregnancy, and offer information on contraception options for the future. You will have ample opportunity to ask any and all questions. She will give you the Xanax and Cytotec. At this time, while you are still fully coherent, we will discuss post procedure birth control with you and give you a sample supply of birth control pills.

After the Pre-Op examination and meeting, you will return to the waiting area while the medications take effect.

You will be called into the procedure room where the nurse will administer the IV sedation or general anesthesia, whichever you chose. Once the sedation or anesthesia has taken effect, the abortion will be performed by a board-certified gynecologist. Suction D & C is one of the safest and most common procedures in this country and only takes a few minutes.

After your procedure, you will be accompanied to the recovery room where you will relax for approximately thirty to forty-five minutes. Our staff will carefully monitor your condition. You will be released when you are sufficiently awake and your escort is available to take you home.

Second Trimester Abortion
If you are in your second trimester 14-18 weeks (See Pregnancy Calculator below) a different procedure is used. This procedure changes somewhat as the number of weeks increases. We use dilation and extraction (D&E) for second trimester patients. This surgical procedure is very similar to a D&C for the patient, but is more complex for the physician.

This is normally a two day procedure. You should have someone with you during the night between the two days. There is a hotel next door to our medical center for accommodations in the immediate area.

On the first day, you will be given Misoprostol, a medication that softens and dilates your cervix. You will use this medication as directed, starting on the morning of the second day until your cervix is dilated sufficiently for the procedure. You will come to our office in the morning where we can observe your condition.

If needed, the physician will insert a Foley catheter to dilate your cervix.

Once the cervix is dilated, a combination of a suction curette and specially designed forceps are used to remove the products of the pregnancy.

Complications are possible, but rarely occur.

If you would like to save approximately 30 minutes from your first office visit, you can print the required forms, fill them out, and bring them to your first visit.

Please Complete: Patient Registration / Consent for Purposes of Treatment / Health History / Second Trimester Surgical Abortion Consent Form

Medical (Non-Surgical) Abortion
This relatively new method of abortion is performed for pregnancies up to 9 weeks and is over 98% effective. Even the minimal risks from a suction D&C are completely eliminated with medical abortion. The procedure is non invasive and completely safe.

On your first visit, you will be fully informed of the risks and benefits of the new non-surgical method of pregnancy termination. We will review your medical history and perform a gynecological examination with a sonogram to determine the exact duration of your pregnancy. A small blood sample will be drawn to test for the Rh factor. If needed, you will receive an injection of RhoGam during this visit.

If you would like to save time on the day of your first office visit, you can print the required forms, fill them out, and bring them with you.

Please Complete: Health History

Your medical history will be reviewed for any contra indications. Our physician will discuss your choice of non-surgical abortion, and you will have the opportunity to ask any questions. If you are eligible for the non-surgical abortion and choose to proceed, you will receive RU486. You will then be given Misoprostol tablets and instructions on how to insert them into your vagina, which you will do 48 hours after taking RU486.

Prescriptions for Darvocet (for cramping) and Tigan (for any nausea and vomiting) will be prescribed to you.

The Misoprostol tablets should be inserted 8 to 48 hours after taking the RU486. The vast majority of women will completely expel the uterine contents within 24 hours of the Misoprostol insertion. You will experience vaginal bleeding similar to a heavy menstrual period and cramps that may be intense. You will most likely experience heavy cramping within 7-8 hours from taking the RU486 and very likely the discomfort will only last 3 hours or so.

Do not use any other medications (such as Advil, Aleve, Midol, Bufferin, etc.) than those you have been given because they contain anti-prostaglandins that may interfere with the emptying of the uterus. You should not engage in sexual intercourse once you have inserted the tablets.

Approximately, one week after you insert the Misoprostol tablets you will be evaluated to determine the completeness of the pregnancy expulsion. Our physician will perform a sonogram. If your pregnancy termination has been complete, contraception will be discussed and the appropriate method may be prescribed. Most women will continue to bleed lightly for two to four weeks after expelling the uterine contents. If the pregnancy tissue has not passed, you will be scheduled for a D&C.

NOTES on medications:

Mifepristone, commonly referred to as RU486 is FDA approved and works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is needed to maintain a very early pregnancy.

Misoprostol is a prostaglandin like medication which has been FDA approved for several years. The drug has been used in obstetrics to induce labor and to treat stomach ulcers. The most commonly reported side effects are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea of brief duration. No other side effects or adverse reactions have been reported at the dosage used in this method of pregnancy termination. Misoprostol will help the uterus to expel the pregnancy.

PREGNANCY CALCULATOR

To best determine approximately how far along you are in your pregnancy enter the date of your last normal Menstrual Period below -- then click "CALCULATE".

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