What is a surgical abortion? Is it safe?
Surgical abortion is one of the safest and most common surgical procedures performed in the United States, and our skilled New York Certified and Licensed Physicians are experienced in providing medical and surgical abortion during the first trimester of a woman's pregnancy. We understand that you are nervous and want your visit to be comfortable and easy. Your surgical abortion is performed according to the well tested protocol of the NYS Department of Health and the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities.The actual medical procedure usually lasts between five and fifteen minutes.
When you come to our New York surgical facility, you will be greeted and checked in at the front desk and asked to fill our paperwork with your medical history before you are taken to the laboratory for a pregnancy test and blood work. You will change into one of our pretty medical gowns and have a sonogram to accurately determine the length of your pregnancy.
Once we determine how long you have been pregnant, you will meet with a trained female counselor who will discuss your surgical procedure, and make sure you are comfortable with your decision to have an abortion. She will also tell you about your anesthesia, stress the importance of gentle postoperative care, and offer birth control options. She will also schedule an appointment for you to return to the facility in 2-3 weeks for your free follow upappointment.
Prior to your surgical procedure, you will meet our experienced physician and have a chance to ask any questions that you have about your medical experience. Your abortion will be performed in one of our certified operating rooms, by a team of warm, friendly healthcare professionals.
Throughout your procedure our anesthesia staff will monitor your vital signs continuously to ensure maximum safety. You will receive either a local anesthetic or a general anesthesia, which will put you to sleep for approximately 3-7 minutes. Once asleep, the surgeon will insert a speculum into the vagina so that the cervix can be visualized. The cervix will be gently opened using a series of thin dilators through which a plastic vacurette can be inserted into the uterus. The vacurette is connected to a suction catheter and a controlled light suction is used to remove the pregnancy tissue.
After your abortion procedure, you will rest in our recovery room where a nurse will monitor your vital signs. Once you are ready to get up, and are feeling alert and steady, you will be given cookies or a light snack to eat and join your escort or companion for your ride home.
It is imperative that you have a friend or companion with accompany you to your home. It is not safe for you to leave the facility after having anesthesia without someone to take care of you.
You will be instructed not to insert anything into your vagina for 2 weeks following your procedure. This includes tampons, intercourse and douching. Please refrain from using any Aspirin -- it can cause an increase in your bleeding.
You will receive a discharge information packet that includes our HOTLINE number and will highlight all the things you need to know following your procedure. You will also receive several prescriptions; one is an antibiotic and the other is a medication that helps contract your uterus so that it can return to its pre-pregnant size.
We have nurses on call 24 hours a day seven days a week and can answer any questions that might arise following the procedure. When you come to our office for a first trimester procedure, we will try to make your stay with us as comfortable and as brief as possible. You can expect to be in our office for 3-5 hours.
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.
