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It
has become enormously clear that abortion represents
a crisis in our patients’ lives’.
Anything that makes the process more difficult, more
painful, or more exposing could diminish a woman forever.
Texas
Laws Have Changed...
As of January 1, 2004, a pregnancy
of more than 15 weeks can only be terminated in a hospital
or an ambulatory surgery center. These procedures CANNOT
be
performed in a clinic or physicians office.. AARON Women's Clinic of Houston
and Southeast Texas is the FIRST AND ONLY abortion provider with a certified
ambulatory surgery center which enables us to provide abortion services up
to 25 weeks. You will find a team of professionals who have specialized in
middle and late second trimester pregnancy terminations (16 to 25 weeks)
both elective and fetal anomaly (abnormal) indications for more than 30 years
with a complication rate less than continuation of a pregnancy to full term
and much less than the national average for providers. The counseling and
nursing staff are specially trained in the emotional and medical care of
second trimester patients. All procedures over 16 weeks are performed under
deep “PAIN FREE” anesthesia
administered by licensed anesthesia personnel. This medication is extremely
effective in eliminating all discomfort
which also increases the safety of the procedure.
Patients have a real-time ultrasound for determination
of gestational age (length of pregnancy) as a compulsory,
integral part of their initial routine
evaluation of medical history, laboratory tests, counseling and physical
examination. The procedure performed for terminations 16 to 25 weeks is cervical
dilation and instrumental evacuation (D&E) which is the safest method
of second-trimester abortions. The advantages of the D&E procedure for
the second trimester patient are significant and have been well substantiated
by evolving literature. The following are excerpts. The complications rates
are lower in most respects (to comparison with amnio-infusion and prostaglandin
techniques)...the time of the procedures is predictable...The patient does
not experience a prolonged and painful labor, which may be unproductive...Another
significant advantage is the greatly reduced time of the abortion process,
thereby requiring an overall decrease in the amount of analgesia and fluid
monitoring...We believe that the advantages the D&E offers for pregnancy
termination are significant in selected cases of critically ill women when
compared to the risks inherent in intra-amniotic instillation methods or
in continuation of the pregnancy even as late as 20-25 week gestation...There
are no medical contraindications to D&E. D&E has always been the
procedure of choice for second trimester pregnancy terminations at our facility.
All terminations are preceded by serial multiple laminaria treatment over
one to two days to dilate and soften the cervix gradually and sufficiently.
After adequate cervical preparation, the evacuation procedure is performed
under deep pain free anesthesia administered by our certified anesthesia
staff. Gentle currettage is performed to complete all procedures.
From initiation to completion of the second trimester termination, two or
three successive visits (days) are usually required, however, for those patients
who have a history of previous Ceasarean sections, cervical cryocauterization,
or any other cervical anomalies that may hinder or impede adequate cervical
dilation an extra visit may be required.
Be cautious of facilities who claim
they can perform an abortion procedure up to 15.6 weeks in one day. Abortion
facilities that routinely perform these procedures in one day can possibly
be jeopardizing your reproductive integrity by forcing dilation and weakening
the cervix.

When a desired pregnancy reveals the unfortunate diagnosis
of a disorder of pregnancy (fetal anomaly, genetic
disorder, or fetal demise), our staff is specially
trained and qualified to provide the emotional and
medical care necessary at this difficult time. Our
Physician and staff are skilled in handling these intricate
procedures. Over the past thirty-two years, our Physician
has had experience with fetal anomalies including anencephaly,
Trisomy 13, 18, and 21(Down syndrome), open spina bifida,
meningomyelocele, hydrocephaly, neural-tube defects,
Potter syndrome (renal agenesis), gastroschisis (intestinal
herniation through a defect in the interior abdominal
wall), severe cleft lip/palate, cystic hygroma, severe
skeletal dysplasia, Klinefelter syndrome, Mosaic Turner
syndrome, and other very significant abnormalities.
Our goal is to make this difficult decision as tranquil
as possible.
We
are here to answer any questions you may have.
Call
today.

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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