helping women since 1985

What to Expect

Abortion Services

NEW 24 HOUR MANDATORY DELAY LAW IN FLORIDA

The State of Florida now requires all persons seeking abortions to delay their care for 24 hours and make two trips to a clinic. This means that a person must make two separate appointments, at least 24 hours apart, to receive an abortion. Delaying access to abortions is medically unnecessary and we understand that this delay will cause hardships for the people seeking care such as missed work, lost wages, increased travel costs, and additional childcare considerations. Please let us know if you need assistance with navigating this unnecessary delay. We are so sorry that this law is causing delay in your care, and that it is out of our control.

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 First Appointment

Bring an ID (driver’s license, passport, or State ID) - we must have proof of age to comply with Florida’s Parental Consent law for minors. If you don’t have an ID, please call the office so we can discuss other options for ID.
Please leave your cell phone in your car.

You will fill out paperwork, receive labwork (BP, pulse, temperature, iron count, and RH typing), have an ultrasound, and then meet with a Patient Advocate and the Physician. The Physician will inform you about the procedure and discuss the risks, your ultrasound and lab results, anesthesia options, aftercare, and birth control. They will also address any and all questions or concerns that you may have. We will send you home with your return appointment date and time. The first appointment generally takes about 2 hours.

The Day Of Your Second Appointment

For Medication Abortions:

You will meet with a Patient Advocate and the Physician. They will address and answer any questions or concerns you may have. You will be given the first medication (Mifepristone) in the office and sent home with the second set of medications (misoprostol), prescriptions, aftercare information, and your check-up appointment information. This appointment should take about an hour.

For Surgical Abortions:

Don’t eat any food 2 hours before your appointment.
Wear a comfortable, 2-piece outfit, and underwear you can put a pad in
If you plan to use any sedation, you must have a driver with you

After you check in, you will meet with a Patient Advocate and then the Physician. They will address and answer any questions you may have, discuss your sedation options, confirm your driver (if using sedation), and prepare you for the procedure. Once the procedure is completed you will be escorted into the recovery room where we will offer you drinks and snacks if you are hungry. Before you leave, we will go over your aftercare instructions again and make sure you have your take home information and medications. Your second appointment will take 2-4 hours.

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

NEW 24 HOUR MANDATORY DELAY LAW IN FLORIDA

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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