Explanation of the Procedure

At the procedure visit you will talk with a counselor about your decision, aftercare, and birth control. You will receive a medication to help with cramps if you are having surgery. A nurse or assistant will escort you to a pre-operation room to take your vital signs before bringing you to a private procedure room.

Prior to surgery you will meet the doctor and have an opportunity to ask him any last minute questions. If you have chosen to be awake for the procedure, you have the option of receiving an additional medication to help reduce anxiety. If you choose to take this medication, a nurse will give you a shot in the arm approximately 20 minutes prior to the start of the abortion.

If you have chosen to be "asleep", a nurse anesthetist will place a needle in your arm, which will deliver a pain-blocker and sedatives intravenously. You will not feel anything or remember anything.

A female nurse or assistant will accompany you into the procedure room. The doctor begins the procedure with a pelvic exam, followed by an injection of a local anesthetic into the cervix (the lower part of the uterus). If you are awake, you may feel a pinching or burning sensation.

The opening of the cervix is then stretched with a series of progressively sized metal rods called dilators. Some patients need a special dilator, called Lamicel, which is inserted in the cervix 1-2 hours prior to the start of the procedure. You may experience mild to severe cramps during the dilation process.

When the cervical opening is large enough, a blunt-tipped tube (a cannula) is inserted into the uterus. The cannula is attached to a vaccuum aspirator, and a light suction removes the pregnancy tissue from the uterus. A spoon-shaped instrument (a curette) may be used for a final cleaning of the uterine lining.

The surgery usually lasts about 5 - 8 minutes. If you are having IV sedation, you will experience a "twilight sleep" for about 10 minutes. Afterwards, you will rest in the recovery room, where a nurse will monitor your vital signs for about 30 to 60 minutes.

You can expect to spend 3 - 5 hours at AWC on the procedure day if you are awake, or 4 - 6 hours if you are under sedation, possibly longer if you choose to do everything in one day. Since few physicians provide this service, we schedule as many patients as we can. If one patient needs extra time, you can be assured that we will offer you that same courtesy. Therefore, much of your time could be spent waiting.

A staff person is on call 24 hours a day for emergencies.
Call us first if you have a problem.