What is a medical abortion? Is it safe?

A medical abortion is induced by medications that end your pregnancy.

There are two medications that can be used to end early pregnancy: mifepristone or methotrexate. Mifepristone is also known as the Abortion Pill or RU486. Either Mifepristone or methotrexate is taken together with another medication, misoprostol, to induce an abortion. Although rest is recommended, most women recover quickly and can resume work the next day.

Medical abortion is typically performed using Mifepristone (Abortion Pill). This is the best known medication for ending early pregnancy. It is 95-99% effective. It is convenient, because you can schedule a specific time to induce the miscarriage.

Methotrexate has a higher failure rate, can only be used up to 7 weeks of pregnancy, and has a more unpredictable bleeding pattern. Methotrexate is mainly prescribed for ectopic pregnancies (or pregnancies that are outside the uterus).

How is it done?:
The doctor determines if you are eligible for the Abortion Pill by doing an ultrasound, and making sure you are between 5-9 weeks pregnant. You take the first Abortion Pill (mifepristone) in the doctor's office.
You take the second set of medicines (misoprostol) at home, 24-72 hours after taking mifepristone. Within hours, most women experience strong period-like cramps and bleeding.

You return to the doctor's office to make sure the medical abortion was successful.

How does a Medical Abortion Work?

Mifepristone is a pill. It works by blocking the hormone progesterone, which is necessary to sustain pregnancy. Without this hormone, the lining of the uterus breaks down, the cervix (opening of the uterus or womb) softens, and bleeding begins.

Mifepristone (the abortion pill or RU-486) is a medication that was first licensed in France and China in 1988. Since then it has been used safely by millions of women worldwide. It was approved for use in the U.S. in September, 2000.

Misoprostol. Within a few days after taking either mifepristone a second drug, misoprostol, is taken. Misoprostol tablets cause the uterus to contract and empty. This ends the pregnancy.

SECOND TRIMESTER ABORTIONS

If you have been pregnant from 13 to 24 weeks, you are in your Second Trimester of your pregnancy. Abortions performed during the second trimester of a pregnancy are called dilation and evacuation (D&E). This procedure is performed during two consecutive days.

On the first day, you will submit samples of blood and urine, and receive an ultrasound to determine how long you have been pregnant. After our nurse determines the length of your pregnancy you will be attended to by a team of warm, friendly healthcare professionals in the operating room.

You will be asleep for approximately 3-7 minutes during the procedure. Once asleep, the surgeon may give you an injection through the abdomen and into the uterus, depending on the length of your pregnancy. The surgeon will then insert a speculum into the vagina so that the cervix can be seen. The surgeon will insert laminaria, which are thin dilators, to dilate the cervix gently and comfortably overnight. You will return in the morning to have the pregnancy removed.

We ask that you remain with a 50 mile radius from our office after the laminaria have been inserted. Please remember that you must have an escort accompany you home on both days. You will return to our Bronx Office the next morning at 7:30am.

PREGNANT 13-24 WEEKS

On the second day of your Second Trimester Abortion, you will be attended by our experienced counselors, anesthesologists, nurses and doctors will monitor your vital signs and provide you with anesthesia. For the second day procedure, you will be asleep for approximately 5-15 minutes. Once asleep, the pregnancy tissue will be removed. The surgeon will insert a speculum in the vagina to improve access to the cervix. The cervical dilators will be removed and the pregnancy tissue will be removed from the uterus via the dilated cervix. The surgeon will apply gentle suction to the lining of the uterus to ensure that all pregnancy tissue was removed. Finally, the surgeon will massage your uterus to control bleeding and help the uterus contract to its normal size.

All second trimester abortion patients receive prescriptions of medications to take at home. You will take antibiotics to prevent infection. You will also take medication to help your uterus return to its pre-pregnant size.

You may return to the office for your free postoperative appointment within 2-3 weeks. A healthcare provider will discuss birth control with you at that time.

CALL 1-718-829-7000

The office is open for appointments Monday through Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM for appointments - please call 718-829-7000.

Appointments to see a physician are made by phoning the above number and can be set as early as the next day, evenings or on Saturday.

The professional care does not end when the patient leaves the office. A telephone HOTLINE is always open to patients 24/7.

Detailed information regarding the HOTLINE and AFTER-CARE instructions are given to all patients along with their post procedure medication and instructions for use.

Patients are advised to return to their referring physicians or agencies for their follow up examination two or three weeks after the procedure. For those patients who do not have this care available the examination is offered at no extra charge. Abortion services are a supplement to ongoing GYN care provided by the patient's own doctor.

Call 1-718-829-7000

We have been helping New York City residents as a premier Abortion and Women's Health office for the past 25+ years.

Please explore the site or feel free to speak to a counselor anytime for any additional information you may need...

When?

The office is open for appointments Monday through Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM for appointments - please call 718-829-7000.

Appointments to see a physician are made by phoning the above number and can be set as early as the next day, evenings or on Saturday.

The professional care does not end when the patient leaves the office. A telephone HOTLINE is always open to patients 24/7.

Detailed information regarding the HOTLINE and AFTER-CARE instructions are given to all patients along with their post procedure medication and instructions for use.

Where?

We are located on 2070 Eastchester Road, Bronx, New York 10461. Walk-ins are welcome.

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We accept all major credit cards. The fee for each procedure is all-inclusive. It covers relevant in-house laboratory work, sonogram, counseling, laminaria, anesthesia (general, twilight or local), Immune Globulin for RH negative women. Take-home medication and post-operative examination are all inclusive.

Patients must pay their full fee at their initial appointment. Personal and third party checks are not accepted. Payment can be made in cash, traveler's checks, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express). Most Insurance and New York State Medicaid are accepted. Please call 1-718-829-7000 for current prices and to verify insurance coverage.

Questions? E-mail us at info@abgynservices.com.

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