Medical Abortion (also called the “abortion pill” or RU 486) is most effective when used as early in the pregnancy as possible. It requires you to take two sets of pills, one pill in the office and four pills 24-72 hours later at home. After your sonogram, your Choices counselor will explain the procedure and help you to understand all your options. You will then meet with a Choices medical professional who will give you the first pill, along with detailed instructions on the next step. You will also be given a 24/7 telephone number to a Choices “on call” nurse you can call if you have any problems, concerns or questions after you leave Choices.

Several days later at home, you will take the second set of pills. Some of things you may feel are: cramps, similar to a heavy menstrual period; headache; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; heavy bleeding.

Medical abortion can take anywhere from 3 days to 4 weeks to complete, and a follow-up visit to Choices is required to make certain that the procedure has been successful. Sometimes a medical abortion fails, and about one in 20 women who request a medical abortion will later need a surgical procedure. Your Choices counselor will go over all the details and help you decide if this procedure is right for you.

After your sonogram, you will meet with your Choices counselor, a registered social worker experienced in women’s reproductive health. She will go over your options with you and discuss any questions or concerns you may have about the procedure or your personal situation.

At this early stage of pregnancy, the procedure itself is short and simple, taking only about 5-8 minutes. In most cases, you will be given general anesthesia (put to sleep). After the procedure, you will be taken to the recovery room where our team of registered nurses will monitor your condition and assist you with anything you may need. You can expect to have menstrual-like cramps and perhaps experience a bit of dizziness, nausea or weakness.

When your team of medical professionals determines that you are ready, you will move to the sit-up area and be ready to go home after about 30 minutes. You will need to arrange for a personal escort (partner, relative or friend) to accompany you home. You will be sent home with detailed instructions, including a 24/7-telephone number to a Choices “on call” nurse. If you have any questions or experience pain or discomfort that can sometimes accompany the procedure, you can call Choices 24-7.

Before you leave Choices, we will schedule your free follow-up appointment in 2 weeks to make sure you are healing properly. We will also discuss birth control methods with you at that time.

At this stage of pregnancy, the abortion procedure is most likely done in 2 stages over a 2-day period.

Day 1 – On your first day after you check in to Choices you will have a sonogram by a Choices Sonographer to determine the length of your pregnancy. You will then meet with your Choices counselor to discuss your options and any questions or concerns you may have. You will also discuss the procedure itself.

The next step is to see a Choices physician who will review all your information. The physician will then insert dilators, small organic strips, into your cervix causing it to gradually and gently open over the next 24 hours. After the insertion, you can go home. You will be given instructions on what to expect with the dilators in place. A 24/7 telephone number to a Choices “on call” nurse will be provided in case you have any questions or concerns. An appointment to return to Choices the next day for the second and final stage of your procedure will be scheduled.

Day 2 – On your second day, the second stage of the procedure takes place. Our Choices anesthesiologist will give you general anesthesia (“put to sleep”) for your comfort. The procedure by your Choices physician takes about 10 to 20 minutes to complete. You will then be taken to the recovery room where our team of nurses will monitor your condition and assist you with anything you need. Your recovery time will take approximately one hour.

You will need to arrange for an escort (friend, relative, partner) to accompany you home. After the procedure, you may experience vaginal bleeding, similar to a normal menstrual period. You will be given detailed instructions and a 24/7 telephone number to a Choices “on call” nurse in case you have any questions, experience any pain or if you have any concerns at all after you leave. Your free follow-up appointment in 2 weeks is required as part of the procedure and will be scheduled before you leave Choices. At your follow-up appointment, your Choices counselor will discuss birth control options with you.

Choices welcomes women and teens who live outside New York City and in other states. Our Out-of-Town Program counselors will help you get the safe abortion services you need with understanding and complete privacy. There are no waiting periods, age requirements or other restrictions for abortion services in New York up to 24-weeks of pregnancy.

Choices helps women from upstate New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Washington, Michigan, California, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Barbados, The District of Colombia, and other locations. A trip to New York City might seem difficult at first, but we will help you at every stage. When you call to make an appointment, ask to speak to our “Out-of-Town Counselor.” She can help you arrange transportation and overnight housing if needed, as well as financial assistance. Choices accepts Medicaid from New York, New Jersey, and Maryland, subject to verification, and we also partner with funding agencies and organizations that can help pay for abortion services for women and teens on limited incomes.

Choices accepts Medicaid from New York, New Jersey and Maryland. In some cases, prior authorization may be required. We partner with funding agencies and organizations that  to help pay for abortion services for low-income women. Call and let us know how we can help. We are here for you.

If you are coming for a procedure that requires two days (generally between 13 and 24 weeks of pregnancy) or traveling from a long distance, you may need to stay overnight. Choices has arranged for discounted rates at nearby hotels. We can also connect you with a volunteer network of caring people who will “host” your stay at one of their homes and, if needed, can arrange for someone to accompany you to your appointment at Choices.