Abortion Procedure

​An abortion procedure is a simple medical procedure that usually takes 3–20 minutes (depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy). In the first trimester (through 12 weeks), our physicians use a silent vacuum aspiration technique. For second-trimester abortions, our physicians use dilation and evacuation (D&E) because it is the safest and gentlest method.

What to Expect

All patients must receive consultation services before their abortion procedure. These may occur on the same day or be split up between two days depending on availability and your preferences

​Consultation services

• Fill out medical history paperwork

• Ultrasound exam

• Finger prick to take a small blood sample to check your blood iron levels

• Private session with a patient advocate

•  Each appointment will include a discussion and education about your birth control options, and Preterm may be able to prescribe you birth control as part of your abortion appointment.

Abortion services

It can take anywhere from 2–6 hours. If you schedule your abortion services for a different day we will give you an estimate of how long it will take and any special instructions you will need to follow.

Our staff will support you during your procedure. Afterward, you will rest for a while in the recovery room. You will receive detailed instructions for what to expect after your abortion.

If you are 17 weeks pregnant or more, the abortion may require 3 visits.*

After Your Abortion

Your body will go through changes due to a dramatic drop in the hormones of pregnancy, but you should begin to feel normal within 24–48 hours after the procedure. Any nausea, vomiting, or fatigue you may have experienced should go away within 24 hours. You may feel bloated for a few days. Feel free to eat whatever you want, but don’t overdo it if you’ve had nausea and vomiting.

You can return to work or school as soon as you feel well enough. Preterm can provide a medical excuse for the first 7 days.

Most people will have a period within 4–6 weeks. Please be aware that if you’re not using birth control, you could become pregnant again even before your next period begins.

A nurse is available to talk to around the clock if you have any medical concerns.

*Please note that in the state of Ohio, we are unable to offer elective abortions past 21 weeks and 6 days as measured by ultrasound. Pregnancy is measured from the date of your last menstrual period (LMP). It is known that the time of fertilization is normally two weeks after the beginning of the last menstrual period. Please call us if you have questions about how this will affect you.