Straight answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Will I be uncomfortable coming to Gynemed Surgical Center?

No. We are located in a private medical office park where passersby are unaware of what we do. You can arrive and leave with anonymity.
Is this procedure performed by a certified Medical Doctor?

Yes. Our physicians are board certified and highly experienced. Doctor O’Neil, owner of Gynemed Surgical Center, has been an Ob/Gyn for over 30 years. Our physicians have the knowledge and the expertise to ensure that you are safe and feel little or no discomfort.

Is this procedure painful?

No. You will feel minimal discomfort during and after the procedure. We administer Xanax and Cytotec medications that help reduce anxiety and soften the cervix for the procedure. You might feel cramping like a heavy period.

Is a medical abortion safer than a surgical abortion?

The decision of which procedure is right for you is partly a personal choice, but depends on the length of the pregnancy.
Here are a few pros and cons of each:

» Medical Abortion (Abortion Pill) – is done mostly at home. There will be some discomfort as the procedure causes cramping. We will give you pain medication to reduce the discomfort as much as possible. You 90% of the patients will pass the fetal tissue sometime within 48 hours after beginning the process. If the patient does not pass the pregnancy tissue a surgical abortion will be necessary and the fee is not included in the original fee.

» Surgical Abortion – is done with suction D&C or D&E here in our center. Depending on the length of your pregnancy.

  • Your entire stay at our facility will be approximately 4-5 hours for a First Trimester (D&C) abortion.
  • You can return to work the next day.
  • You will need a support friend to accompany you to the center and drive you home afterwards.
  • A Second Trimester (D&E) abortion is a two-day procedure.

What if I cannot afford the cost of the procedure?

Should you require assistance in obtaining funding — we will guide you in applying for funding. Please call our office and ask our staff to help you with this process.

What will my family, friends or co-workers think?

There is no reason for them to know. This is a private decision by you and a private procedure. In most cases, you will only need to take off one day from work. However, if you come on a Saturday, you don’t need to take any time off.

My husband/boyfriend is against me having an abortion.

Making the decision to terminate a pregnancy can be difficult. If you do not think you are ready to handle the responsibilities of raising a child, you should not be forced to have a baby by your husband or boyfriend. Ideally, you and your partner should come to a decision together, but in the end the choice is yours.

My religion teaches that abortion is a sin.

Whatever your religion, it’s likely that they also teach that God is forgiving and merciful. As humans, we make mistakes. We believe God forgives us and helps us learn from our mistakes. If you are Catholic and would like to talk to other Catholics who are Pro-choice, we have several help lines you can call.