Second Trimester Abortion (Late Term Abortion)

Yes. Abortion is one of the safest out-patient medical procedures there is. It has been shown to be safer than a dental procedure and statistically to be nine times safer than childbirth.

There are no age restrictions for getting an abortion in New York State, and you do not need permission from anyone to get an abortion. CHOICES offers medical abortion (the “abortion pill”) to 10 weeks and surgical in-clinic abortion to 24 weeks of pregnancy. All of your medical care at CHOICES is entirely confidential. We do encourage teenagers to come with a trusted adult, but the decision to have an abortion or not is yours to make.

If you think you are pregnant, you can make an appointment at CHOICES or walk in for a Confirmation of Pregnancy visit. Abortion is available after the 5th week of pregnancy. If the pregnancy is too early to be confirmed during your visit, you will be evaluated and given a follow- up appointment.

Up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, abortion is a simple in-clinic procedure performed by gentle suction (vacuum aspiration) to remove the pregnancy from your uterus. The procedure itself takes about 5 to 10 minutes, with additional time at CHOICES for preparation and recovery.

From 12 to 24 weeks of pregnancy, the procedure is called “D&E” (dilation and evacuation). This is a two-day procedure. On day one, your doctor will begin the procedure by inserting laminaria, a sterile product made specifically to dilate (open) the cervix. You can talk about this with a Counselor, and, if you choose, you can be put to sleep for the few minutes it takes for laminaria to be inserted. After this is completed, you can then go home. This procedure takes only a few minutes, but you will be at CHOICES for approximately 2 hours, including lab work and a private session with a Counselor where you will have a chance to talk about the procedure and raise any questions or concerns you may have. On day two the doctor will safely empty your uterus using gentle suction and medical tools. If you choose to, and if there are no medical contraindications, you will have deep sedation for a surgical abortion which will put you completely asleep during the procedure so you will not feel any pain. The procedure takes only 5-20 minutes, depending on how far along in pregnancy you are, but you should plan on being at CHOICES for several hours to include pre-operative preparation and recovery.

Dilation and Curettage (D&C) is a brief, safe surgical procedure to open the cervix and empty the contents of the uterus, usually using suction (vacuum aspiration). It is the most common method for treating early miscarriage as well as the preferred method of abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Yes. All our doctors are licensed by the State of New York and specialize in pregnancy termination.

Your comfort and wellbeing are very important. If you choose to, and if there are no medical contraindications, you will have deep sedation for a surgical abortion which will put you completely asleep during the procedure so you will not feel any pain. After the procedure you may experience cramping, which can range from mild to moderate. In most cases Extra Strength Tylenol, Aleve or Motrin will relieve the cramping. If the cramping is not relieved with these remedies, you should call us immediately.

If for personal or medical reasons you need local anesthesia (a lidocaine injection), you will experience moderate to severe cramping during the procedure, but recovery time afterwards will be shorter.

Most patients experience some cramping that can be relieved by over-the-counter medications such as Extra Strength Tylenol or Advil. If that does not help, we ask the patient to call our 24-hour emergency number. You may take a shower after surgery. Do not take tub baths, douche, use tampons or have intercourse for two weeks. This is to prevent any risk of infection or a new pregnancy. Avoid any products that contain aspirin as aspirin promotes bleeding. Please see What To Expect After Your Procedure.

In almost all cases, surgical abortion is completely effective. A small percentage of cases will require reaspiration if unusual bleeding occurs or if there is retained tissue.

If you choose to pay out of pocket, the cost will vary from $600 to $3000, depending on how far along you are in pregnancy. If you need help paying for your abortion, CHOICES can help you in several ways. You may qualify for Emergency Medicaid which covers pregnancy-related services, including both medical (“the pill”) and surgical abortions. We can help secure funds for you from a funding agency or organization that will cover the cost. We also can help you work out a reasonable self-pay plan. Please call 718-349-9100, Ext 520 to speak with a CHOICES financial counselor who can assist you in abortion funding related questions. For more information on financial help click here.

If you have had a C-Section, there are certain limitations for surgical abortions at CHOICES. If you are in your first trimester (3 months) of pregnancy, you cannot have an abortion at CHOICES if you have had more than 3 C-sections. If you are 13-17 weeks pregnant, you cannot have an abortion at CHOICES if you have had more than 2 C-sections. If you are 18-20 weeks, you cannot have an abortion at CHOICES if you have had more than 1 C-Section. If you are more than 20 weeks pregnant, you cannot have an abortion at CHOICES if you have had a C-Section.

The deep sedation anesthesia that we offer is safe, effective and short acting. You will be asleep from 5-20 minutes depending on the procedure. There is always some degree of risk with any anesthesia, but serious complications with deep sedation are very rare at CHOICES. Most complications occur when a patient has had food or liquid within 8 hours of surgery. Tell your Counselor and doctor if you have had prior complications with anesthesia, if you have any allergies to medicine, or if you have had anything to eat or drink within 8 hours prior to your surgery.