Abortion Clinic Servicing the area of Alachua County, FL
The decision to terminate a pregnancy could be one of your most difficult choices or it could be a decision you came to easily. Our staff understands the wide range of emotions you may feel about having an abortion and we will do everything we can to support you, whatever your decision, and help you feel comfortable. Bread and Roses offers in-office surgical abortions from 5 weeks to 6 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period. Non-surgical at-home abortions (RU-486 or the pill) are offered from 5 weeks to 6 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period. We encourage you to read about both options before you decide which method is right for you.
In office/Surgical Abortion
The surgical in-office abortion procedure is available from 5 weeks to 6 weeks (dated from the first day of the last monthly period). These abortion procedures are very safe and take between 5 – 15 minutes to complete. As with any medical procedure there are risks and complications involved. On the day of your appointment an information counselor will go over all of the risks associated with the procedure and answer any and all questions you may have.
Listed below are some of the risks and complications:
- Infection – infection occurs less than 1% of the time and as a preventative all patients receive oral antibiotics.
- Incomplete procedure – occurs less than 1% of the time.
- Heavy bleeding – less than ½ of 1%
- Uterine perforation or damage to internal structures – less than ½ of 1%
- Continued pregnancy – less than 1%
The in-office surgical procedure will last approximately 5-15 minutes. If you chose IV sedation as an anesthesia option, an IV will be placed and medications administered prior to the start of the procedure. The procedure will begin with an internal exam very much like what you experience during a pap exam. Next a speculum will be inserted and the cervix numbed with a local anesthesia. The cervix will be gently dilated to the appropriate width. Lastly, a rounded plastic tube called a cannula is inserted through the dilated cervix, into the uterus and a suction, either manual or with a machine, will remove the pregnancy.
Medical/Pill Abortion
The at-home medical abortion procedure, also called R486 or “abortion pill”, is available starting at 5 weeks and up to 6 weeks dated from the first day of the last monthly period. The medical abortion procedure (abortion pill) works with two medications. The first medication, Mifepristone, blocks the pregnancy hormone and prevents the pregnancy from growing. You take the first medication during your appointment at the clinic. The second medication, Misoprostol, is used buccally – the pills are put between the cheek and gum and allowed to dissolve- between 24 and 48 hours after you take the first medication. The Misoprostol will make your uterus cramp and bleed and you will therefore expel the pregnancy.
RU-486 is a very safe and effective abortion procedure. It is an FDA approved treatment and it has been safely used to end pregnancy in the United States and Europe for many years. As with the surgical abortion, and at about the same rate of occurrence, there are risks involved including incomplete abortion procedure, retained products of conception, and infection. On the day of your appointment an information counselor will go over all of the risks associated with RU-486 (abortion pill) and answer any and all questions you may have.
Options Counseling
If you are pregnant and unsure about how you want to proceed please call the clinic. We can discuss your options including abortion, carrying to term and adoption, or carrying to term and parenting. We can provide referrals for in-depth counseling, adoption specialists, and Obstetricians. We want to make sure your questions are answered about all available options.
Discounts are available if you are a student, Military or have any sort of government assistance like food stamps, housing, and/or Medicaid. If you need financial assistance please call the clinic and we can go over funding options.
Bread and Roses Women’s Health Center offers abortion clinic services to women throughout Alachua County FL as well as Palatka, Tallahassee, Ocala, Lake City and Southern Georgia.
