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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is abortion legal?
A. Yes. Abortion was made legal nationwide
in 1973. Some states and clinics have restrictions on abortion.
Q. Where can I get a pregnancy
test?
A. We offer
FREE pregnancy testing 9am- 4:45pm Monday through Friday and on the
Saturdays we are open 9am- 3:45 pm. A home pregnancy test is very accurate
and is enough verification to make an appointment.
Q. How early in a pregnancy
(how soon) can I schedule?
A. The
pregnancy needs to be identified by ultrasound. This happens around 5 weeks
from the last menstrual period (LMP). That is the earliest a scheduled
appointment is made. The abortion pill can only be done from 5 through 7.6
weeks LMP at this office. A surgical abortion can be done at our office
from 5 to 28 weeks LMP and further for maternal and fetal indications.
Q. How late in a pregnancy (how
far) can I schedule?
A. This
clinic offers services to the 28th week from the last menstrual period and
further under certain circumstance. The
procedure for abortion in the second trimester and third trimester are
different. You should
contact the office to find out exactly what you should be prepared for based
on the last normal menstrual period or ultrasound result you have had.
Q. Do I have to see a doctor
before making an appointment?
A. If you
have no medical conditions, you do not need to see a doctor before
scheduling here. We are able to do everything needed to serve you safely.
If you have a preexisting medical condition (such as a heart condition), you
may be required to see your physician. It is important to share any
preexisting conditions and let us determine what we need to serve you
safely.
Q. Do I need to tell my doctor
I am having an abortion?
A. There is
no need to contact your doctor before scheduling with us unless you have a
preexisting medical condition that requires a medical clearance.
If you choose a nonsurgical (abortion pill) and live more than 2 hours from
the clinic, we will require the name and telephone number of your doctor and
local hospital to use only in case of emergency.
Q. Do I need a ride?
A.
It is strongly recommended that you have
someone available to drive you home the day of surgery. You will not be
able to drive for a number of hours after the medications we give you are
administered. If you do not have a ride we will need to adjust the time of
your appointment and how long you will be in the office.
Q. Do I need to bring my
parents with me if I am under 18 years old?
A. There
are no parental consent or notification laws enforced in New Mexico and
therefore no requirement to bring your parents. Since an abortion is a
medical procedure we encourage any woman under 18 years old to involve her
parents or other guardian or trusted adult in the decision.
Q. Can I bring someone with me
to my appointment?
A.
Yes, especially if you feel their support
will be helpful to you. There is a comfortable waiting room for anyone
accompanying a patient. Additionally we want to have someone drive you
home.
Q. Can my significant other be
with me during the procedure?
A.
The person you bring with you will not be
able to be in the surgery room with you. We will include your companion in
as much of the office process as possible. Our trained counselor will be
with you at all times to help keep you comfortable and assist the doctor.
Q. Does it hurt?
A.
We are very
good at pain control.
In fact, most
of our patients have report that they do not experience the procedure as
being painful. We routinely use Sublimaze and Versed for pain management.
What also helps is the counselor who will accompany you throughout the
procedure. She will assist you with relaxation techniques and be there for
you. Soft music and soft lighting also help, as does the supportive
atmosphere within the clinic. The combination of all these ingredients -
anesthesia, relaxation techniques, and a supportive, soothing atmosphere -
has proven to be very effective in the management of pain.
Q. How long does it take?
A.
If you under 14 weeks from the last menstrual period by ultrasound, the
entire process - including counseling, lab work, tests and the abortion - is
usually completed in one three to four hour visit. This is true for both
the surgical and nonsurgical pills process.
If you are 14 weeks to 24 weeks by ultrasound, counseling, lab work, tests
and other preparatory work will be performed the first day. In addition,
laminaria will be used to dilate your cervix gently and safely. Click
here for information on laminaria insertion.
At 14 weeks to 18 weeks, the abortion will then be scheduled for the
following day.
At 19 weeks to 24 weeks, a second
day of laminaria will be used to further dilate the cervix and the abortion
will then be scheduled for the third day. After 19 weeks, although rare,
there may be an additional laminaria change on the morning of the third day
and the procedure would be completed later in the afternoon. Because we can
never anticipate exactly how well the cervix will dilate, you should be
prepared to spend all day in our clinic on the day of your abortion as we
work with your body for a safe termination.
No matter how long you have been pregnant, actual surgery only takes 5 to 25
minutes, depending on your medical condition.
Q. Will I have cramping and
bleeding?
A. After a surgical abortion it is normal
to have some bleeding and cramping, similar to your menstrual period.
Depending on your activity, the bleeding and cramping can vary for a couple
of weeks. You will be given written and verbal instructions about what is
not normal. We want you to call us for any problems or concerns you may
have.
Q. Will I be able to have
children in the future?
A. The
National Abortion Federation (www.prochoice.org) publication fact sheet on
abortion safety reports," Surgical
abortion is one of the safest types of medical procedures. Complications
from having a first-trimester aspiration abortion are considerably less
frequent and less serious than those associated with giving birth. Early
medical abortion (using medications to end a pregnancy) has a similar safety
profile. Complication rates are somewhat higher for surgical abortions
provided between 13 and 24 weeks than for the first-trimester procedures."
There are a number of factors that affect
fertility (getting pregnant) and successful delivery of a baby. No one can
tell you exactly how those will be for you. Medical evidence shows that
having an abortion with no complications will not affect your ability to get
pregnant and have children.
Q. Will I be able to go back to
work/school right away?
A. The day
of a surgical procedure you should rest; and the following seven days you
need to avoid strenuous activities, long periods of time standing with out
rest, and heavy lifting.
The abortion pill process requires you to take a number of days off after
the second set of pills and possibly longer depending on how that process
affects your body.
Q. Are there protesters at your
clinic?
A. We
experience protesters at our clinic on Saturday. We ask that you do not
talk to them or engage with them in any way. If you have concerns, please
call us.
Q. How do I pay for an
abortion?
A. The cost
of an abortion depends on how far into the pregnancy you are based on the
ultrasound size. We can quote a fee based on the date of your last normal
menstrual period.
Many insurance companies cover abortion and we accept most insurance plans.
New Mexico Medicaid covers medically necessary abortion procedures. We need
to verify any insurance before you come in for an appointment.
If you do not have insurance or Medicaid, please contact the office for a
discussion of cost and payment. |