Concord Feminist Health Center provides surgical abortions between 6 and 14.6 weeks into a pregnancy, as measured from the first day of your last normal menstrual period (also known as LMP). It is a safe, one-day procedure performed by caring and highly qualified, board certified physicians.
An abortion procedure consists of four steps and from beginning to end, generally lasts only about 15 minutes.
- The first step is the pelvic exam, where the physician gently feels the size and position of your uterus. This is similar to those you would have during normal GYN exams.
- The second step is the local anesthesia, to numb your cervix (the opening to the uterus). This medication, called Lidocaine, is similar to what is used at the dentist’s office – it will help make the procedure more comfortable.
- The third step is a gentle stretching of the opening of your cervix, known as dilation. The doctor will open it just enough to introduce a tube that's a little bigger than a straw.
- The final step is the vacuum aspiration. Your uterus will then be emptied by a gentle suction, which generally takes three to four minutes.
- After the aspiration, you will rest for as long as you need to in the exam room and then when you’re ready, you’ll walk down the hall to the recovery room, and rest for another 20-30 minutes while our staff makes you comfortable and provides you with aftercare instructions and medications.
Click here to learn more about what to expect during an abortion procedure appointment.
Please select any of the following questions frequently asked about surgical abortions.
Can I have someone with me?
Yes! We encourage you to bring a good girlfriend, a parent or grandparent, boyfriend, husband or other relative if you’d like. This person can be with you through the procedure and during recovery too, if that is what you want. In addition, a woman from our staff will be with you for support during the abortion procedure.
Will the abortion hurt?
This is one of the most common questions asked, and one of the most difficult to answer, because every woman responds to the procedure a little differently.
Most women experience moderate to heavy cramping during the procedure; however, this cramping lasts only for 5-10 minutes and begins to fade away as soon as the procedure is finished. Within 20 minutes afterward, cramping should be mild and for some women, is gone entirely.
Some women take no medications before the abortion because they're just not comfortable taking pills. Other women choose to take some or all of the medications we recommend for cramping control. We suggest a women take Aleve an hour before their appointment. Once at the Center, we can provide additional medications to women who have a driver. For cramping we can provide Vicodin and for anxiety, we offer a mild sedative called Lorazapam. These medications work very well for the vast majority of women who can have a surgical abortion at the Health Center.
Do I need permission to get an abortion?
In New Hampshire, any woman can choose to have an abortion. No consent is required from a partner or parents, and there are no age restrictions.
Since CFHC is an outpatient clinic, women with certain high-risk conditions are referred elsewhere, as well as those with pregnancies that are beyond 14.6 weeks.
How many visits will I make to your clinic?
If you are struggling with your decision about whether or not to continue your pregnancy, you might decide that you’d like to come in for free pregnancy options counseling. This is a pre-abortion appointment, after which you can schedule a termination if that is your choice.
Usually, women make one visit to the Health Center for the surgical abortion. However, each woman is strongly encouraged to call us in two weeks to talk about how you are feeling and dicsuss any follow-up options. If you return us for your follow up visit there is no charge it is built into your initial fee.
What will my day at the Health Center be like?
On the day of your abortion, you will have a urine pregnancy test, lab tests for anemia and Rh typing (to determine if your blood type is positive or negative) and an ultrasound to confirm how many weeks pregnant you are.
You will then speak privately with a counselor who will review your health history and talk to you about any questions or concerns you may have about the procedure or your decision to terminate the pregnancy. Your counselor will provide in-depth information about the procedure, after-care instructions and help in choosing a birth control method (we offer a variety of methods, the majority of which are sampled to women for free).
Following the procedure, we will make you comfortable in our recovery room where the nurse will give you a heating pad for your cramps, take your blood pressure and check on your general condition. You will be ready to leave after 20 to 30 minutes; although you may have some mild cramping, you should feel well – in fact many women drive themselves to and from the appointment without any trouble.
We recommend that women give themselves the remainder of the day and evening following their appointment, to relax and recover. Other than avoiding heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for a few days, we tell women that they will be ready to return to a normal routine the next day.