Jacksonville Women's Health

ABORTION COUNSELING HELPFUL LINKS

Pregancy Options

(http://www.pregnancyoptions.info) has important information on abortion and decision making tools.

Choice Link Up

(https://www.abortioncarenetwork.org/) is a pro-choice directory listing for information about reproductive health and rights.

Exhale

(http://www.4exhale.org) post abortion counseling

4 Relationship Problems and How to Solve Them

Peace After Abortion

(http://www.peaceafterabortion.com) is the site is based on the book, “Peace After Abortion”. Although most women who have abortions do not experience negative feelings, some women may struggle with their feelings. You will find information here to help you understand the origin of your emotional and spiritual pain. You will also find the stories of other women who have experienced distress related to an abortion.

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ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

Center for Reproductive Law and Policy

(http://www.crlp.org) an independent, nonprofit legal organization dedicated to ensuring that all women have access to reproductive health services. Site offers fact sheets, reports, articles, and news on topics on abortion.

Feminist Majority Foundation

(http://www.feminist.org) The Foundation’s mission is to create innovative, cutting-edge research, educational programs, and strategies to further women’s equality and empowerment, to reduce violence toward women, to increase the health and economic well-being of women, and to eliminate discrimination of all kinds.
aapa.org

National Organization for Women

(https://now.org/) is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States.

National Organization for Women

(https://www.ivfauthority.com) is a complete guide to understanding In Vitro Fertilization.

NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund

(http://www.nowldef.org) continues to be at the center of every major social and economic justice concern on the women’s rights agenda. NOW LDEF pursues equality for women and girls in the workplace, the schools, the family and the courts, through litigation, education, and public information programs.

Alan Guttmacher Institute

(http://www.guttmacher.org/) the mission of the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI) is to protect the reproductive choices of all women and men in the United States and throughout the world. AGI provides reliable, balanced, nonpartisan information on sexual activity, contraception, abortion and childbearing.

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RELIGION AND ABORTION

Catholics For A Free Choice

(http://www.catholicsforchoice.org) a social justice organization devoted to research, policy analysis, education and advocacy on issues of gender equality and reproductive health.

National Council of Jewish Women

(https://www.ncjw.org/) is a volunteer organization that works through a program of research, education, advocacy and community service to improve the quality of life for women, children and families and strives to ensure individual rights and freedoms for all.

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NON- SURGICAL ABORTION

Early Option Pill

(http://www.earlyoptionpill.com) Danco Laboratories, a women’s health pharmaceutical company, is the American distributor of Mifeprex and RU486. The site has comprehensive information on the abortion pill, the first FDA approved pill for ending early pregnancy.
geron.org

participatorymedicine.org

Does an abortion hurt?

You may experience some mild discomfort and some pressure. The sedation we offer will help you relax during this procedure. In some cases patients may drift off into a light sleep.

Can I have sex after an abortion?

We ask that you wait at least 3 weeks from the time of your abortion before engaging in sexual activity.

Can I get pregnant after an abortion?

Yes. In fact, you can become pregnant right after your abortion so it is best to begin contraception immediately.

 

Will my doctor be a man or a woman?

The choice is yours. For your comfort, we have both male and female doctors available.

Is abortion safe?

Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures performed in the US and it should not cause any complications with future pregnancies.

Can I return to work?

Yes, you may return to work with in 3-5 days. Restrictions may vary, depending on your treatment. All of this will be discussed with you at your visit.

Patient Instructions

• Dress comfortably
• Bring a maxi pad for your ride home
• Do not eat or drink 2-3 hours prior to your appointment
• Bring someone to drive you home
• Please do not bring small children to the office
• Remember to bring your ID

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Special Instructions if you are a minor:

Florida Law requires patient under the age of 18 must have parental notification.

This means our Physician must speak to the mother, father or legal guardian only to verify they are aware that the patient (minor) has an appointment 48 hours from the time of verification. This time allows communication between minor and parents or Legal Guardian.

If Parental Notification is not an option, minors may obtain a Judicial Bypass. This must be done through the court system and does not take very long. We can assist with this process at no additional charge to the patient. Please call our office for assistance.

Lab Work

A brief medical history will be taken and evaluated. A urine sample will be obtained and used to confirm a positive pregnancy test. Your vital signs will be taken, and a small amount of blood will be needed to check your iron and for Rh typing. If it is determined that you have Rh negative blood, RhoGAM will be administered immediately following the abortion procedure. This medication is necessary to prevent problems in future pregnancies.

Sizing Ultrasound

An ultrasound is performed on every patient to confirm intrauterine pregnancy and determine gestational age. This is essential to rule out ectopic pregnancy. An ultrasound can also give the physician vital information needed to best perform the procedure. Click here for Pregnancy Calculator

Counseling

The counseling session is intended to ensure all patients are aware of their options and are comfortable with their decision to terminate their pregnancy. It is also important that patients fully understand the procedure and how to take care of themselves afterward.

We provide this in a private setting, not a group, which enables us to get to know each patient on an individual and personal level. This time is also used to discuss birth control options.

Medication and Anesthesia Options

Every patient will receive a local anesthetic to numb the cervix. Depending on your choice of sedation, Valium and Ibuprofen may also be given to help you relax. Additional sedation options include Nitrous Oxide Gas, IV Sedation.

• Nitrous Oxide Gas is a gas you breathe through your nose. This medication helps you to further relax and the effects last only while you are breathing the gas.
• IV Sedation is a combination of medications given intravenously. The combination of medications works as a strong sedation and sometimes has an amnesiac effect. With this sedation you may not remember the actual procedure.

Both of these options are offered at no additional cost to you. If you choose to be sedated with IV Sedation, you must have someone to drive you from the facility after your procedure.

Since our partnership began just three years ago, six women who have come through our doors have made adoption plans and many more have looked to Choice Network for additional support.

We love Choice Network because they believe…
Adoption is honoring you.

There are over 300,000 waiting families looking to adopt per year. There is a loving and qualified family available for every child – a family waiting for you.

Adoption is about options. Over 80% of women choose open adoption.

You have the right to decide what type of relationship you would like with the child and their parents.

Here is a very basic outline of what the different types of openness are:

• Open Adoption: At least one visit a year, pictures and letters*
• Semi-Open Adoption: You receive pictures/letters from the family, but through the agency

 

* It is important to note that openness is not a legally binding concept in all states, your advocate will talk to you more about the laws of your state and precautions we take to work with the wishes of the birth parents in accordance with the laws.

Adoption is about economic independence.All expenses related to the pregnancy and adoption are paid for. Adoption is about your pregnancy.You will be assigned an advocate whose job is to ensure you are informed through out the process. Your advocate is available to you 24 hours a day for as long as you need. Adoption is professional and private. 100% of our clients appreciate the care and privacy that our agency provides for them. Adoption is about redefining choice.

 

Today could be the hardest day of your life, because it could be the day you learned about your unplanned pregnancy. The majority of pregnancies in America today are unplanned – you are not alone.

testing and treatment for:

1. urinary tract infections
2. yeast infections
3. sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomonis
4. test and treat symptoms for herpes and HPV
5. HIV testing and counseling

• Oral Contraceptives — our office offers a full line of Birth Control Pills
• Depo Provera — quarterly injection
• IUD Insertions — Intrauterine Device (10 years)
• IUS Insertions, New Mirena Intrauterine System (5 Years) available www.mirena.com

For more information about the types of birth control options, please click on the following links


www.femconfe.com
www.yaz.com
www.nuvaring.com

• Pregnancy tests are done in our office on a walk-in basis.
• In most cases, this takes about 5 minutes so an appointment is not necessary.
• There is no charge for our standard urine test.
• This test can detect a pregnancy as early as 2 weeks after a missed period. First morning urine is not needed.
• We offer another urine pregnancy test that can detect a pregnancy as early as 7 to 10 days after conception.
• Blood tests, which can detect pregnancy as early as 7- 10 days after conception can be ordered by the physician.

Emergency Contraception, commonly known as the “Morning After Pill”, can now be used within 120 hours (5 days) of an episode of unprotected intercourse.

This method is approximately 85% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Emergency Contraception involves taking two doses of medication 12 hours apart. The first dose should be taken as soon as possible, but no later than 120 hours from unprotected intercourse.

You should have a normal period within 3 weeks. If you do not, you should return to our office for a pregnancy test.

A full range of gyn services include:

• Emergency Contraception
• Free Pregnancy Testing
• STD / HIV Testing
• Pap Smears — Thin Prep Pap Test available upon request
• Ultrasound Sizing
• Birth Control Options
• Colposcopy
• Cryotherapy

Abortion by D&E (Dilation and Evacuation) is one of the safest and most commonly performed surgical procedures in the United States. For this procedure, you can expect to be in our office approximately 2 to 4 hours with less than five minutes for abortions performed during the first trimester and slightly longer for second trimester procedures (13 to 20 weeks).

[ pregnancy calculator ]

Abortion Procedure

The abortion procedure by D&E (Dilation and Evacuation) consists of the gradual dilation of the cervix and the use of vacuum aspiration to empty the contents of the uterus.

Most procedures can be completed in one visit. If you are 16 weeks or greater, the procedure will be completed over a two day period. For these procedures, the physician will insert small dilators (laminaria) into the cervix on the first day. The laminaria will remain in place overnight to allow the cervix to slowly dilate. You will return to the office the following day where the laminaria will be removed and the procedure will then be completed.

This is the safest and most comfortable process for terminating a pregnancy at this stage.



After the Abortion

The recovery period is an essential part of any surgical procedure. After the procedure, you will rest in our recovery room for a minimum of one hour. This time is to ensure your safety and well-being. Your vital signs will be monitored and you will be given a beverage and a snack. We will also give you birth control pills if requested and ensure you understand your post-operative instructions. Prescriptions will be given at discharge. These prescriptions can be filled at our office for your convenience or at any pharmacy if we do not have them available.

A member of our medical staff is on call 24 hours a day for questions or concerns.

Follow-Up

You should return to our facility three weeks after your procedure for a follow-up exam. At this visit, we ensure that you have a negative pregnancy test, check your vital signs and determine that your uterus has returned to its normal, non-pregnant size. If you would like to begin or continue birth control, you must have a current Pap Smear. If you are due for your annual exam, you may have your Pap Smear done at this visit.