The vacuum aspiration abortion is one of the safest and simplest of medical procedures. Although the abortion itself takes only a few minutes, you should plan on being at the clinic for 4 to 5 hours. Detailed information about the procedure is readily available, including how the abortion is done and aftercare instructions. This information, as well as day-of-surgery instructions and travel directions, can be mailed to you on request.

 

When you make your appointment we will need to make arrangement for you to obtain information mandated by the State of Indiana. You must receive this information a minimum of 18 hours prior to your scheduled appointment.

 

When you arrive at the clinic you must be ready to show us your identification. This I.D. must include both a photograph and your date of birth. We will ask you to fill out medical history and consent forms. An ultrasound will be performed to check the length of your pregnancy. Your blood will be drawn and some lab tests performed. A patient advocate will review the procedure and aftercare instructions with you and a small group of other patients. Then a patient advocate will spend some time with you individually to review your medical history, discuss birth control options and discuss any additional concerns you may have.

 

You will then be taken to a waiting area where you will be greeted by a health professional who will show you to one of the procedure rooms. Our doctor will first check the length of your pregnancy with a pelvic exam. A local anesthetic will be used to numb and relax the cervical area.

 

The abortion procedure itself takes about 3-5 minutes and you will then be escorted to the recovery room where your vital signs will be checked and you will receive medication and important aftercare instructions.

 

We strongly recommend that you arrange for a post-op exam four weeks following your surgery. You may return to Clinic for Women for this exam, at no additional charge, or you may go to your own physician or local health care clinic. We are available 24 hours a day in case of emergency; you can also call us during business hours if you have any questions or concerns in the weeks following your surgery.

 

Medical Abortion (The Abortion Pill)
The abortion pill, known Mifeprex of RU486, is now available to terminate an early pregnancy. Mifeprex is a pill which you would take following a vaginal ultrasound, lab work, and counseling here at Clinic for Women. We will send you home with the medication which you will insert vaginally 48 hours later. You will have bleeding and cramping for 9 - 16 days; we will provide you with a prescription for pain medication to take home. One week after receiving the RU486 or Mifepex, you will need to return to Clinic for Women for a repeat ultrasound so we can check that your pregnancy has been terminated.

 

If you are interested in Mifeprex, you

• must be less than 60 days from the first day of your last normal menstrual period

• must agree to have a surgical abortion if the medical abortion fails

• must live within comfortable driving distance of Indianapolis

• must be able to receive phone calls from us

• must agree to return one week after your visit for a repeat ultrasound

• must be at least 18 years old

Making Your Appointment

You must have an appointment to be seen at Clinic for Women, and appointments can be made as little as one day in advance or as much as several weeks in advance; we must see you when you're between six and twelve weeks past your last menstrual period. When you call, we'll need to know your best recollection of when the last normal period began so we can make this determination. Once we know that, we can begin to schedule your appointment. We will ask you some questions about your medical history and review what you need to bring with you to the clinic. We will arrange for you to receive your state-ordered information, which you must hear a minimum of 18 hours before your scheduled appointment. We will also be sure you have travel directions to the clinic. It will take less than ten minutes to make your appointment over the phone.

The Clinic offers both group and individual (private) counseling on the day of your appointment. We recognize that abortion is a very difficult decision for some women. If you have not had the help and support you feel you would like, our patient advocates will be happy to discuss your needs with you. As safe as abortion is, it is often a situation that brings up fears and doubts that you may be meeting for the first time. We at Clinic for Women follow Federal and Indiana State regulations; we do not make these laws but we must work within their guidelines.

 

On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Roe vs. Wade that in the first trimester of pregnancy, the decision to have an abortion is to be left to the pregnant woman and her physician; no one else may legally interfere. In the second and third trimesters states may impose some limitations and restrictions.

 

Currently in Indiana, first trimester abortions can be performed in clinics, doctors’ offices, and hospitals. Second and third trimester abortions must be performed in hospitals or at hospital based clinics.

 

Parental Consent

 

Indiana law also stipulates that anyone under the age of 18 choosing abortion must have the written permission of a parent or legal guardian. If you are under 18 years of age, you must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. You will need the following identification:

• your photo identification
• your birth certificate
• your parent's or guardian's photo identification
• if legal guardian is giving consent, bring guardianship papers
• if parent's last name has changed since birth certificate was issued, bring divorce decree or other documentation of name change

Indiana law does not allow public funding (Medicaid) to be used for most abortions.

When you make your appointment, we will arrange for you a pre-lab appointment where you can receive your State Ordered Information, lab work and sonogram.

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