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Procedures
are available as soon as a woman has missed her
period, this eliminates unnecessary time delays
and provides immediate access to health care.
We
know it can be difficult to make reproductive healthcare
choices....particularly when deciding not to continue
a pregnancy. We provide women with safe, legal,
and confidential services in a compassionate and
supportive setting.
SURGICAL
ABORTION
Early surgical abortion is a very safe and effective method of pregnancy termination.
With early vacuum aspiration abortion, complications are extremely rare and
the risk of injury or infections is minimal. Patients complete a medical history
form which include any current or past health problems, surgeries, pregnancies
and allergies. Initial evaluation will include height, weight, blood pressure,
hemoglobin (anemia) testing, and RH blood typing. The procedure is performed
by vacuum aspiration (D&A) which is a vacuuming of the contents of the
uterus, no cutting is involved. Early surgical abortion is highly successful
(higher than 99% success rate), requires only one office visit to complete,
takes only a few minutes to perform (the procedure takes approximately 3 to
5 minutes), is predictable ( you know when the procedure is complete), there
is minimal if any discomfort, bleeding is usually minimal and medical staff
is always present. You are ambulatory immediately after the surgery and able
to resume normal activities the next day.
MEDICAL ABORTION
Medical (non surgical) abortion is a process where two medications are used
in sequence, the first to stop the pregnancy and the second to expel it from
the uterus. It takes several office visits, it is not completely predictable
(the abortion usually occurs within 24 hours,), bleeding can be very heavy
and cramping can be severe. Both bleeding and cramping usually lasts longer
than with a surgical procedure. Heavy bleeding and severe cramping are not
complications but a normal part of the non surgical abortion and are to be
expected. The failure rate with a non surgical abortion is greater than with
the surgical abortion and requires a surgical procedure if unsuccessful. It
can be more natural, like a miscarriage, but does require that you notify and
have available a support person who is aware of what you are doing, in the
event you need immediate medical attention. This procedure is not recommended
for patients who live further than one hour away from the facility.
EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION
Emergency contraception, or emergency birth control, is used to keep a woman
from getting pregnant when she has had unprotected vaginal intercourse. "Unprotected" can
mean that no method of birth control was used. It can also mean that a birth
control method was used but did not work - like a condom breaking. Other things
can happen as well that put a woman at risk for getting pregnant. A woman may
have forgotten to take her birth control pills. She may have been abused or
forced to have sex when she did not want to. Emergency contraception should
never be used as a regular method of birth control. There are effective methods
of birth control that women can use on a regular basis to prevent pregnancy.
How does emergency contraception work?
The two hormones prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg or change the lining
of the uterus in such a way that a fertilized egg can not implant. The emergency
contraception must be used with 72 hours of having unprotected sex. But, the
sooner, the better. If you have had unprotected sex more than once since your
last normal
menstrual period, and at least one of these times was more than 72 hours ago,
you may already be pregnant. If you are already pregnant, the Morning After
Pill, will not work. If you do not use the MAP, researchers have found your
chance of getting pregnant is from 1% to 30%. The MAP can cut down your risk
of pregnancy by 75% if used in the first 72 hours. The MAP is not 100% effective,
so you could still get pregnant using it. The risk is that the hormones in
the MAP could harm the developing pregnancy. If you know you absolutely do
not want to be pregnant and you would have an abortion if the MAP did not work,
then you are the right candidate for the MAP. If you became pregnant on the
MAP and would not have an abortion, then you should consider another course
of action.

Fees are quoted according to the duration of the pregnancy and medical considerations. Our fee schedule is based on the length of pregnancy(gestational or menstrual age). All fees are payable at the time of surgery. Please inquire about acceptable methods of payment and our office policy regarding insurance plan coverage. Our facilities do not accept personal checks. If using a credit card, the card holder must be present
Serving Texas & Our Nation For Over 30 Years
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