First Trimester Abortion at CHOICES
A First Trimester abortion is one that is done in the first three months of pregnancy, or within about the first 12 weeks. It is usually determined by the number of days that have passed since the first day of the woman's last menstrual period (abbreviated as LMP). Before any abortion can be done, a Choices professional sonographer must confirm that a woman is indeed pregnant and determine exactly how long she has been pregnant by taking a sonogram.
It is easier, safer and less expensive to have an abortion in the first trimester. This is when over 90 percent of all abortions in the U.S. are done. It is important that you make an appointment at Choices as soon as you realize you are pregnant and have decided you do not want to carry the pregnancy to term.
Up until about nine weeks (or 63 days) LMP, you may wish to choose a medical abortion. (See our page on Medical Abortion Services for more information on this process.)
A surgical abortion in the first trimester is done by a suction process that removes the contents of your uterus. In most cases, you will be given general anesthesia (be put to sleep) for the procedure, which generally takes between 5-8 minutes. The opening of your cervix will be gently stretched with dilators, small rods that are placed in the cervix until the opening is wide enough to remove the pregnancy. This can take 2-3 minutes, and during this time you will feel menstrual-like cramps if you are awake.
When the opening is wide enough, the physician will use a suction process to remove the contents of your uterus. If you are awake, you will feel a pulling or pressure. The physician will then check to make sure that the uterus has been emptied completely with a long, thin instrument with a spoon-like end. Sometimes the suction and checking need to be repeated briefly.
After this, you will be taken to the Recovery Room. When you wake up, the procedure will be over. A nurse will be with you, and you will be monitored to make sure you are recovering normally. You can expect to have menstrual-like cramps, and may briefly experience dizziness, nausea, or weakness. Once you are ready, you will be moved to the Discharge area. After a first trimester abortion, you should be able to go home after about 45 minutes in Recovery and Discharge.
Return to Recovery section of "I'm Coming To CHOICES."
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| At CHOICES, we emphasize our philosophy of Patient Power, which means being an
informed consumer of medical treatment with the knowledge and information that enables each individual to make appropriate decisions about medical care, whether in the area of general health, surgery or birth control.
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