M-F: 8:30am - 5:30pm

Local: (352) 372-1664

Toll Free: (844) 490-2660

(844) 490-2660

helping women since 1985

What to Expect

Abortion Services

What To Expect At An Appointment in Gainesville, FL

We offer abortion services on specific days and times of the week and you will need to call the office to schedule an appointment. If you are in an area where you are unsure where to seek abortion care, please call the office and we can help you find a clinic closest to you.

The Day Of Your Appointment

Wear a comfortable, two-piece outfit.
If you choose to use IV sedation you must have a driver with you.
Make sure you have a government issued ID with you. Florida has a Minor Parental Consent law so we need proof of age. If you don’t have an ID, please call the office so we can discuss other options for ID.
For privacy reasons, we do not allow cell phones in our office.
If you plan to use IV sedation, do not eat two hours before your appointment

We understand that your time is important and we will do everything we can to get you home safely and quickly. Generally, your surgical appointment will last about 2-4 hours. An RU-486 appointment will last about 1-2 hours.

On your appointment day you will fill out paperwork, have some lab work done, have an ultrasound and then meet with the Physician. The Physician will inform you about the procedure and discuss the risks, anesthesia options, aftercare, and birth control. She will also address any and all questions or concerns that you may have.

If you are using the RU-486 you will take the Mifepristone medication, receive a take home bag with your second medication, prescriptions, check up appointment reminder card with pregnancy test, and aftercare information and then you are ready to go.

If you are having a surgical procedure you will see the Physician again and have the procedure. Once the procedure is completed you will be escorted into the recovery room where we will give you something to drink and a snack if you are hungry. Before you leave we will go over your aftercare instructions again and make sure you have all of your take home information and medications.

Anesthesia Options

Every patient receives a local anesthetic. The Physician will use pain preventing medication (Lidocaine, Novocain – the same medication you may receive when you go to the dentist) on your cervix to numb it. Some people have their procedure only using the local anesthesia. If you only use the local, you should expect to feel moderate to heavy cramping during the procedure.

Some patients use IV (intravenous) sedation or “conscious sedation.” IV sedation is a combination of medicines to help you relax (a sedative) and to block pain (an anesthetic) during the surgical procedure. IV sedation will make you feel very sleepy and relaxed and you may not remember the procedure afterward. Most patients can use the IV sedation option but you must have a driver with you – you should cannot drive or operate any machinery for at least 8-10 hours after receiving these medications.

The Physician will answer any questions you have about these options and you can decide which one is best for you on the day of your procedure.

Sonogram

It is important for us to know how far into the pregnancy you are so that we can provide a safe and effective procedure. Every patient will receive an ultrasound or sonogram. An ultrasound uses sound waves to view the pelvic area and does not hurt.

Lab Work

We will check your temperature, blood pressure and pulse. We will also take a small sample of blood from your finger to test your iron and to determine if you have a negative or positive blood type.

Blood Type / RH Factor

Women who have a negative blood type/are Rh negative will need an injection of Rhogam after an abortion. Rhogam will prevent antibodies from forming in your blood that would cause problems with future pregnancies or blood transfusions. There is an additional charge for this injection.

After Care

It is important to take care of yourself after a procedure. We’d like you to refrain from intercourse or using tampons for one week after your procedure (surgical or RU-486). We will give you an Aftercare Instruction sheet to take home with you that will describe how to care for yourself, any complications that may arise and how to contact us if they do arise. We have an on-call Nurse 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns. Check up appointments are always available for surgical procedures and are required for RU-486 procedures.

Payment Options

We accept Visa, MasterCard, bank drafts or cash. We do not accept personal checks and we are not able to offer payment plans. If you need assistance with payment, please call the office so we can discuss funding options and resources.

Is it common to have abortions?

According to the National Abortion Federation, nearly 1/3 of all U.S. women of reproductive age have abortions before the age of 45. All types of people, from different races and ethnic groups, ages, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds have abortions.

Does it hurt?

Like most medical procedures some pain and/or discomfort may be involved. Some people feel only mild cramping while for others the procedure is painful. Most of our patients say the procedure wasn’t as uncomfortable as they had imagined it would be. IV sedation is available to help with pain management.

How long will I be at the clinic?

Appointments for surgical procedures generally last about 2-4 hours, with the procedure taking less than 10 minutes. For Medical/RU-486 procedures, appointments last about one hour. We understand your time is important and we will do everything we can to get you on your way home safely and quickly.

If the procedure only lasts less than 10 minutes why am I at the clinic for so long?

Your appointment includes paperwork, lab work, meeting with the Physician, the procedure, and some recovery time. Some patients require additional medications that take time to become effective.

When can I return to work/school?

Most people return to work and/or school the day after their procedure. You may return to regular activities as soon as you want but if you experience an increase in your cramping and/or bleeding you may need to decrease your activity level.

Is my appointment confidential?

Yes! No one can obtain information about you or your procedure without your written consent. Our staff respects a patient’s right to privacy and will not release any information without written consent and proof of identification.

I’m a minor. Can I have an abortion without my parents knowing?

The State of Florida requires parental consent or a judicial waiver for any minor seeking an abortion. If you are unable to tell your parent(s) about your decision to have an abortion and are unsure how to proceed, please call the clinic and we can provide you with additional information. You can also check this great website to learn about your rights and options for abortion services via judicial bypass: http://teenabortionflorida.com/

If your parent(s) or legal guardian knows about your decision to have an abortion, he or she will need to:

sign and have notarized a “consent” form (we can e-mail, regular mail or fax this form or you can come by to pick it up prior to an appointment),
accompany you to your appointment if the consent form has not been notarized and,
they will need to bring photo identification AND legal documentation proving that they are your parent or legal guardian (a birth certificate or documents listing them as your legal guardian).

In addition, you will need to have a photo ID such as a drivers license, Florida ID card or school ID.

Do I have to bring someone with me?

If you are going to use IV sedation you must have someone with you to drive you home.

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.

helping women since 1985

What to Expect

Abortion Services

What To Expect At An Appointment in Gainesville, FL

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 Women’s Health Center is a women-owned and operated abortion provider and women’s health clinic located in Gainesville, Florida.

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