Pre-Op Instructions | Choices Women's Medical Center

Pre Operative Instructions

Please take a moment to review these important reminders for the day of your appointment. Failure to follow these instructions may result in the cancellation and rescheduling of your appointment.

Please do not eat, drink, smoke or chew anything starting at midnight the night prior to your appointment. No food, water, gum, cigarettes or vape pens.
Medications: Please bring any medications you are currently taking with you on the day of your appointment. Hypertension or high blood pressure medications can be taken with a sip of water the day of the procedure. Diabetic medications should not be taken. Bring your pump if asthmatic.
Please wear comfortable clothes and we recommend you wear underwear to your appointment; we provide pads for you.
If you have a tongue, lip, or nose ring, please remove it on the day of your appointment. It is important to remove facial piercings before getting anesthesia since the jewelry can get in the way of managing your airway.
One finger must be free of dark nail polish, gel polish or artificial nails to measure your oxygen levels.
For security reasons please leave all valuables at home. You will be assigned a locker, but CHOICES is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
You will be screened for COVID-19 and asked to wear a mask during your appointment.
Plan to be at your appointment the entire day. Typically, patients can expect to leave after 4-5 hours.
You will need a responsible adult escort to pick you up and bring your home after your procedure. You will not be able to drive or take public transportation alone after your procedure.
Please bring a valid photo ID and your insurance card.

Why Choose CHOICES

Abortion Care at CHOICES is safe.

Our providers are very experienced, and many are female. They use the best and safest abortion methods available, and CHOICES has won high ratings for safety and care.

Abortion Care at CHOICES is private.

Your abortion care, your concerns and all your personal information will be kept completely private.

Abortion Care is always available.

There are no waiting periods, age restrictions or permission needed from parents or partners. Abortion Care at CHOICES is affordable. Help is available. You can apply for Emergency Medicaid in our office for an abortion that day. All insurances are accepted, and reasonable self-pay plans are available. We work with Abortion Funding Sources to make sure no one will be turned away.

It's Your Choice.

Your questions and needs are our priority. Licensed clinical social workers will meet with you to discuss all your concern.

(718) 786-5000

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After Your Surgical Abortion Instructions

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with these frequently asked questions…

Download the PDF version

What Should I NOT Do?

For the next 14 days, do not have sexual intercourse and do not put anything in your vagina. Do not take baths and do not douche. No tampons. Don’t do anything that might expose you to infection, and don’t do anything that could tire you out and lower your resistance to infection.

What If I Have A Fever?

If your temperature is 100.4F or more, call us 8am–10pm.

And Nausea?

That should go away in a few days. Please call us if it doesn’t. The morning following your abortion, you should resume normal activities. Feel free to return to work or school, take a shower, and resume activities such as walking or driving.

If I am healing normally, when will I get my period again?

Most women who have abortions start menstruating again 4 to 6 weeks afterwards. Some menstruate sooner. If you do not menstruate after 8 weeks, come to CHOICES. Please remember that you will be able to get pregnant as soon as you ovulate again, which will be 12 to 16 days before you get your period. That means you will be able to get pregnant again within days of your abortion.

Will I bleed?

You might experience bleeding during the next 10–14 days. If you do bleed, a period-like flow is normal. It may stop and start, and the flow is often very dark red in color. Strenuous activity can increase bleeding.

If you soak through more than 2 sanitary napkins in 1 hour, you are experiencing heavy bleeding, and you should call us immediately.

How can I tell if I am bleeding too much?

If you are soaking through 2 or more sanitary napkins in 1 hour, you are bleeding heavily. Call us between 8am-10pm.

How can I tell if I am bleeding too little?

Some women don’t bleed or have bleeding that stops and starts. However, if you are not bleeding and also experiencing severe cramps, call us between 8am-10pm.

Will I be in pain?

You might experience moderate cramping for a few days. You can take Tylenol (or any other aspirin-free pain medication) every 4 hours and use a heating pad on your abdomen over your clothes. If you don’t feel relief after 4 hours, or if you experience sharp abdominal pain, call us.

Emergencies

Seek CHOICES advice or care if the following occur:

You soak through more than 2 pads within 1 hour
Have sharp abdominal pain
Have a fever over 100.4 degrees
Have a foul vaginal order

Call 718-786-5000 between 8:00 am-10:00 pm. Patients may speak to the nurse by remaining on the line for the after-hours representative. If emergency care is needed after 10:00 pm, please visit your nearest emergency room.

How to Take Your Abortion Pills and What to Expect

You will take 2 sets of pills for your abortion…

DAY 1: You will take a pill at the clinic on Monday 1 (called Mifepristone).
If you throw up within 15 minutes of taking Mifepristone, please return to CHOICES. Do not take the next 4 pills!
DAY 2 or 3: You will take 4 pills (misoprostol) on Day 2 or Day 3, 24-48 hours after taking mifepristone on-site (see right).
You may take ibuprofen (Motrin) for the pain. Follow the instructions on the back of the ibuprofen bottle.

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How to take the four misoprostol Day 2 or 3 pills

Wet your mouth and put 2 pills on one side of your mouth and 2 pills on the other, between your gums and cheek at the same time. Allow them to dissolve.

After 30 min, swallow what’s left.

Cramping and bleeding normally start within 4 hours. It can last for hours and is heaviest when the pregnancy comes out. You may not see small pregnancies, which are only up to half an inch.

Things to know…

Bleeding can be heavy. You may see large blood clots the size of a lemon
You may feel sick to your stomach and/or have diarrhea
You may have mild fever or chills for a little while

How will I feel after the pregnancy comes out?

Bleeding: May start and stop for a few days or weeks. You may bleed like a normal menstrual period for 1 to 2 weeks. You should have your normal period again 4 to 8 weeks later.

Cramping: You will cramp less and less as the hours and days go by.

Nausea: This should go away in 1 to 2 days after you take misoprostol.

Fever and Chills: You may have a fever and chills the day you take the misoprostol pills. Call us if your fever gets higher than 100.4 F.

Activity: Normal activities like school, work, and driving can occur as soon as you feel up to it.

Breast Changes: Tenderness and a milky discharge may occur for 1 to 2 days.

Feeling Tired: You may feel tired for 1 to 2 days.

Your cramps may be strong. To feel better...

Take pain medication. DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN because it will cause you to bleed more
Put a hot water bottle or heating pad on your belly
Take a shower or sit on the toilet
Have someone rub your back

Things I should know

Tampons… not for 7 days
Vaginal sex… wait for 7 days
Birth control… 7 days without sex and back to the birth control method you discussed with your counselor
Do not insert anything into your vagina for 7 days

Emergencies: Call 718-786-5000 24/7 if…

If a fever over 100.4 F continues after the day you take misoprostol
You soak more than 2 maxi pads an hour or more than 2 hours
You pass multiple “big” (larger than the size of a lemon) blood clots
You bleed heavily for more than 12 hours in a row
You throw up for more than 4 to 6 hours

Schedule Your Appointment

Our team of board-certified medical professionals and support staff offer safe, trusted, comprehensive care and services at the highest level. Our state-of-the-art facility is located in the heart of Jamaica Queens, NY.

Schedule an appointment with CHOICES today.

(718) 786-5000

Book Appointment

Pre Operative Instructions

Why Choose CHOICES

After Your Surgical Abortion Instructions

How to Take Your Abortion Pills and What to Expect

You will take 2 sets of pills for your abortion…

Schedule Your Appointment

Our speciality is...you.

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