What will happen at the clinic:
When you arrive at the clinic, you will be seen by a nurse who will explain the procedure and answer any questions you may have. You will then be seen by Dr. Scott before having the procedure done. The actual abortion procedure which is called a vacuum-suction curettage lasts only 5-10 minutes but you can expect to spend a full 3 hours or more at the clinic. The procedure is done under local anesthesia with conscious sedation. This means you will not be put to sleep. You will experience some discomfort similar to menstrual cramping. Possible transient mental impairment following the use of conscious sedation may occur, i.e., you can feel like you have had some alcoholic drinks. You cannot go home alone unless you go by taxi.
You cannot drive yourself home, or drive later in the day or operate hazardous equipment the same day as the abortion, or take public transit alone. You also should not make any decisions requiring a judgment call the same day following the procedure.
Patients who are 12 or more weeks pregnant:
Patients who are less than 12 weeks pregnant will usually not require insertion of a cervical dilator, so the instructions that follow apply only to patients who are 12 or more weeks pregnant. Patients who are 12 or more weeks pregnant will be seen on the day of their appointment and will have cervical dilators inserted. A cervical dilator is a thin cylinder of a material that can be inserted into the cervix. Over several hours it thickens to gradually open up the cervix. You will then return the next day for the abortion procedure. You can expect to spend 3 hours at the clinic each day. Both days you cannot go home alone unless you go by taxi. Once the cervical dilators have been inserted, you cannot drive yourself, operate hazardous equipment or take public transit alone until the day following the abortion.
