You will be greeted by one of our staff members and asked to fill out a personal and medical history form. You will then have a chance to ask questions and speak with a counselor.  We understand that this is a difficult decision for every woman and we want you to be as sure of your decision as possible, but if you don't want or need to speak with a counselor, we don't force you.  Unlike other clinics, we do not make you sit through hour long group therapy sessions, or make you do anything you don't feel comfortable doing. Our goal is to make the abortion experience as easy as possible for you. We will then need to draw blood to test for your blood type.  If you have a donor card or medical records stating our blood type, we can skip this step.  We will then take your vital signs and prepare you for the physician. You will receive an  ultrasound to determine how far along you are in the pregnancy. The next step depends on how you decide to terminate the pregnancy.

	SURGICAL--You have a choice of three anesthesia options. If you choose the Local anesthetic, then the abortion procedure will begin immediately. If you choose Twilight anesthesia, the physician or assistant will give you an injection of medication which will help you to relax. If you choose IV Sedation, you will then meet with the Certified Nurse Anesthetist who will administer a combination of medications what will put you in a sleep-like state.   The procedure is called a vacuum aspiration and takes approximately 5-7 minutes. If you choose to be awake or twilight, you may feel cramping, tugging, pulling kind of feelings during the procedure.   The staff and physician follow all health department guidelines and use strict sterilization procedures with all medical instruments. A female staff member will be with you during and after the procedure to offer medical and emotional support.   You will then be escorted to the recovery room, where your vital signs will be monitored and your post-abortion instructions will be reviewed. Birth control options will also be discussed. After approximately 45 minutes, you should feel well enough to go home and resume normal activity. A follow up examination in 4 weeks is strongly recommended, and is free of charge.
	NON-SURGICAL--Once it has been confirmed that your pregnancy is less than 9 weeks, your medication will be given. *If the pregnancy is less than 7 weeks, you will be given your first dose of medication by injection.  A second dose of another medication will be taken at least 72 hours later.  *If your pregnancy is between 7 and 9 weeks, you will take your first dose of medication orally, in our office. You will then take the second dose of a different medication up to 48 hours later.   For both non-surgical options, your bleeding and cramping may start or increase within several hours following the second dose of medication. You will then return to the office in two weeks to check on the progress of the termination. If your pregnancy had not completely terminated by this time, a second dose of medication or the surgical procedure may be needed. Side effects include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and the bleeding and cramping associated with the termination. Latest studies show that the both non-surgical methods are over 98% effective.
	Whether you choose the pill or the surgical procedure... be assured that Allegheny Women's Center will take good care of you.  Our board-certified doctors have the lowest rates of complications and our expert staff has the highest rates of patient satisfaction.  We hear, "Thank you for being so nice" every day and we look forward to hearing it from you.