3. What does the abortion clinic do in case of an emergency?

Does the abortion doctor have admitting privileges at the nearest hospital? Obviously, risks are involved with any medical procedure. It is important that the clinic has a plan for any circumstance that may arise, even if it is rare.

4. What anesthesia do they use and who is responsible for administering it?

A trained physician or certified nurse anesthetist are the only people who should be administering anesthesia.

5. Will the abortion clinic provider be performing an ultrasound?

Surprisingly, an ultrasound prior to an abortion is not a requirement in Maryland as of September 2023. Therefore, an abortion provider may or may not offer one. We highly recommend you receive an ultrasound before you have an abortion.

This is because an ultrasound is very important in confirming the viability, location, and gestational age of a pregnancy. Dating a pregnancy by your last menstrual period is not the most accurate method. It’s important to have an accurate assessment by ultrasound because gestational age affects which abortion procedure is performed and how much you are charged. Additionally, ultrasounds are essential in diagnosing ectopic pregnancies, which are life-threatening if left untreated.

CT Women’s Center in Silver Spring, MD refers qualifying patients to free ultrasounds. Call us at(301) 325-8893 or click here to make an appointment.

6. What abortion procedures do they offer?

Not all providers perform all types of abortions. For instance, some only offer medical abortions and do not perform surgical abortions. With a medical abortion, there is a small chance that the pregnancy will not completely expel or terminate. If that should happen, you should find out what your next step would be, where you would be treated, and what additional expenses you can expect.

7. How many visits are required?

It is important to have at least one pre-visit to discuss the procedure with the abortion clinic doctor and have all your questions answered. Afterwards, it is also very important to have at least one follow-up visit with an ultrasound. This is because you want to ensure that the abortion has completed, and you are healing as expected. Additionally, you want to find out if all of these visits are included in the abortion price or if there will be additional costs.

8. Can your partner, friend, or parent come with you to your appointments?

It would be good to have someone with you for emotional support and a backup driver in case you are unable to drive home after the appointment.

9. During your initial pre-abortion consultation, ask yourself:

• Is the abortion clinic clean?
• What is the atmosphere like?
• Is the staff taking the time to answer all your questions fully?
• Are they listening to any concerns you have?
• Do you feel like they are judging you or pressuring you to make a certain decision?
• If you have any concerns, look for a different abortion clinic and provider. The cheapest abortion provider might not be the best choice. Your health and safety are the most important things to consider.

10. Always remember, you have the right to change your mind.

Always trust your gut! Remember, you have the right to change your mind. No one can force you to have an abortion, even if you have already signed the paperwork consenting to the procedure. If you are feeling pressured to go through with it, let that be a red flag that you are in the wrong place. It’s your body – listen to your instincts.

At CT Women’s Center, we care about YOU. While this might be a scary and overwhelming time, you don’t have to face it alone. You can be sure that our staff are here to listen to you and give you the information you need to make an informed choice.

* We do not provide emergency contraception. We do not perform or refer abortions; therefore, CT Women’s Center receives no financial gain from a pregnancy decision.