Abortion Procedures

Abortion Procedures (Dilation & Evacuation) up to 24 weeks in most cases, up to 26 weeks on a case-by-case basis in accordance with state law

At Equity Clinic, we offer the full range of abortion procedure options to our patients. Through our options counseling, we will figure out what abortion procedure is best for you, based on your length of pregnancy, health history, and personal needs. We offer the dilation & evacuation (D&Esurgical abortion procedure. We will take the time to answer any questions you have before, during, and after the procedure so that you can be confident that you are making the best decision for your health and quality of life. 

For procedures after 24 weeks, procedures require additional cervical dilation steps to make the procedure safe. It may take up to 3 days and the process is individualized to the patient. We provide sedation, pain control, and as many comforts as possible to keep you safe and comfortable through the process.

Aspiration/Suction Procedure
(Up to 16 Weeks)

Aspiration/suction abortions are the simplest of surgical abortion procedures. We offer these procedures up to 16 weeks when the pregnancy is still small enough to safely and effectively perform the procedure this way. The process of an aspiration/suction procedure is short and simple. First, we perform a pelvic exam, then we dilate/open the cervix, and finally, we remove the pregnancy through gentle vacuum/suction aspiration. For pregnancies up to 16 weeks, we can complete the process in just one visit to the clinic. 

What to Expect from an Aspiration/Suction Abortion 

You should expect to be at the clinic for around 5 to 6 hours. The procedure itself is quick, taking only 5-15 minutes however there will be prep work, such as an ultrasound, lab work, consultation with a healthcare provider, and the administration of any medications needed. Once the procedure is finished, we will have you relax in the recovery room for 30 minutes to an hour as we monitor you to make sure you are recovering as you should. During this time, you will be offered a snack and a heating pad, and a member of our staff will walk you through the aftercare instructions. 

You can expect to return to your daily activities after 1 or 2 days, and some cramping and bleeding after the procedure is normal. 

A beautiful asian woman making heart hand sign in the park before sunset
Close-up of the psychiatrist's hand holding the patient's hand. To encourage and comfort the patient

Dilation & Evacuation
(Between 16 and 26 Weeks)

For pregnancies between 16 and 24 weeks, we use the dilation & evacuation (D&E) method of abortion. In accordance with state law, we may extend our abortion care up to 26 weeks of pregnancy on a case-by-case basis. The process is similar to aspiration abortion. In a D&E abortion, we perform a pelvic exam, dilate/open the cervix, and remove the pregnancy using a combination of vacuum/suction aspiration and additional instruments. Since the cervix will need to be dilated more, we usually dilate the cervix overnight making this a two-day procedure.   

What to Expect from a D&E Abortion 

 On the first day you will come into the office, have an ultrasound, bloodwork, consultation with a healthcare provider, and have cervical dilator sticks placed into the cervix. You will then go home, to a friend/family member’s house, or to a nearby hotel to rest overnight while the dilator sticks work. You will then return to the clinic the next morning where those dilator sticks are removed and the remainder of the procedure is performed. We understand that a 2-day process may be more stressful and burdensome, however, 2 days are necessary because this approach greatly reduces the risk of complications from the procedure. 

You should be able to return to regular daily activities within 1 to 2 days, and you should expect some cramping and bleeding following the procedure. 

We provide educational videos about options counseling, medication abortion, procedural abortion, and pain management options.

Pregnancy Calculator

Enter the first day of your last period to see your options

Please use this calculator before selecting your options from the appointment form below. Note: Seeing a trained medical professional is the only way to accurately determine the length of your pregnancy and what options are available. This calculator assumes you have regular periods and may be less reliable in patients who do not have regular periods.

Surgical Abortion FAQ

The medication abortion is carried out by taking two medications over the course of 1-3 days. The first pill is called mifepristone. This pill blocks pregnancy hormones and stops the pregnancy from growing. We will give you this pill in our clinic and you take it while here. Within 24-48 after taking the first medication, you will take the second medication. The second pill is called misoprostol. This pill causes the cervix to open and it also causes the uterus to have cramps which cause the pregnancy to leave the uterus. You take this medication by either inserting small pills in your vagina to dissolve or by putting the small pills in your mouth and holding them in your cheeks until they dissolve. You will be given this medication to go home with and take at your convenience during the 24-48 hour window. Once the process is completed, we will have you take a home pregnancy test a few weeks later to make sure the pregnancy hormone levels have fully dropped in your body.  

This depends on the length of your pregnancy and which abortion procedure is chosen. Your payment will include the prep work (ultrasound, lab work, etc.), medication, anesthesia, and all follow-up care at our clinic. Please feel free to contact us and we can give you a clearer answer based on your personal circumstances. 

Yes, D&E is a very safe procedure. Like any surgical procedure, however, there are some possible complications but the risk of complications is small. Possible risks include hemorrhage (heavy bleeding), infection, and perforation of the uterus (injuring the uterus). Reactions to anesthesia are also possible (and rare) if the procedure is done under anesthesia. Abortion procedures are NOT associated with an increased risk of infertility, future pregnancy loss (or miscarriage), breast cancer, or depression. 

While the procedures are relatively quick, under 30 minutes, the prep work, counseling, procedure, and aftercare will take longer than that. For a D&E procedure, you’ll be in the clinic for multiple hours a day over the course of 2 days. 

This depends on your health history, the length of your pregnancy, and your personal desires. If you do receive anesthesia, we offer : 

  • Numbing/Local Anesthesia: This is done for all procedures and involves a numbing medicine being injected into the cervix at the beginning of the procedure. It reduces the pain that is felt during and after the procedure but does not take away all of the discomforts of the procedure.  
  • Oral Medications (Medications by mouth): We offer a wide range of medications that can be taken by mouth to help with discomfort during the procedure. Depending on whether or not you have a driver/ride after the procedure, and your medical history, all patients are eligible for all of these medications as well and they include both pain medications and medications to help relax you and make you less anxious/worried about the procedure.  
  • Conscious Sedation (Medications in your veins): We offer a wide range of medications in your veins as well including pain medications and relaxing medications. These medications can be combined in a process called conscious sedation which is a form of anesthesia that also causes amnesia (or causes you to have little memory of what happened during your procedure). This approach is much safer than general anesthesia and wears off much quicker than general anesthesia which allows for a shorter stay in the clinic and a more rapid return to normal activities. Procedures starting at 16 weeks include conscious sedation in the price. For procedures less than 16 weeks, there is an extra charge for conscious sedation but not for the other forms of anesthesia.  


All procedures are safe and effective regardless of the type of anesthesia you choose.
 

We highly recommend bringing someone you trust to the appointment, especially if you receive anesthesia. This will make transportation safer and offers some support following the procedure. They will be able to wait in the lobby for you until the procedure is over. They will not be allowed in the procedure room or recovery room for the safety and confidentiality of everyone at the clinic. We ask that you only bring one person with you. Children under the age of 16 are not permitted in the clinic.  

We recommend that you make an appointment before coming in to see us. We do try to accommodate walk-in patients, but to respect the patients who called ahead and have appointments, we cannot guarantee that you will be seen that same day if our schedule is already full.