What to Expect When You Visit the Lovejoy Surgicenter

Last updated 9 months ago

When you’re facing an unwanted pregnancy, the decision to call Lovejoy Surgicenter to learn about your options is a brave first step. If you’re like most of the women who visit, you may have a little bit of anxiety about your appointment, simply because you’re not sure what to expect. First, rest assured that every single member of our staff is dedicated to offering you caring, compassionate support, whether you decide to get an abortion or to explore your other options. To put your mind at ease, here’s everything that will happen during Lovejoy Surgicenter appointment:

Counseling
One of our counselors will meet with you to discuss your pregnancy and your options, including abortion. All of the information you talk about during this session is strictly confidential. In addition to explaining the abortion procedure, our counselors also review birth control options with each patient to help prevent future unwanted pregnancies. They will help you choose the best birth control method for you.

Ultrasound and Lab Work
Our staff will perform an ultrasound to confirm your pregnancy and gestation stage. We will also perform lab work to make sure you don’t have any health issues that could make the abortion procedure risky.

Meeting with Medical Staff
In some cases, the doctor or a registered nurse may need to meet with you before the abortion procedure to discuss your medical history and any special aftercare instructions you’ll need to follow.

Procedure and Recovery
The abortion procedure itself only lasts between four and eight minutes. After the procedure, you will be monitored by our staff and given prescription-strength ibuprofen to help with pain. Most women experience minor cramping, similar to menstrual cramps, for a short time after their abortion. After a period of monitoring, you will be sent home with aftercare instructions from the doctor, as well as an antibiotic and pain medication. You can usually return to normal activities within hours of the procedure. You may experience spotting for up to two weeks.

Follow-Up
All Lovejoy abortion patients must have a follow-up visit two weeks after their procedure to ensure they are healing properly. This is also a good time to review birth control options.

At Lovejoy Surgicenter, you can count on compassionate care when you need it most. To learn more about our abortion clinic and women’s health services, call us at (503) 715-3509.