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Surgical vs. Medical Abortion

What is a Medication Abortion?

Medical abortion is also known as “the pill abortion.” It is used for between 5 and 10 weeks of pregnancy. You receive two different pills—the first--Mifiprex—blocks the action of progesterone and causes the pregnancy to die; the second—Cytotec—causes the uterus to cramp and expel the pregnancy. This can take hours to several days. The failure rate of a Medical Abortion where the pregnancy continues is 8% or 800 in 10,000. The only way to be confident that a Medical Abortion has successfully terminated the pregnancy is to follow up with your provider at 2 weeks for an ultrasound of the uterus.

What is a Surgical Abortion?

Surgical abortion is better known as a “ Suction D and C”. IT DOES NOT INVOLVE CUTTING or any actual surgery. The word “surgical” is used to explain that it is a procedure performed by a physician. It is used for pregnancies between 5 and 13 weeks. A Suction D&C is performed by gently opening up the cervix (the mouth or opening of the uterus), inserting a special sterile plastic straw and suctioning the pregnancy out of the uterus. Most Suction D&Cs take 1-3 minutes. The physician examines the tissue to be sure the pregnancy was successfully terminated before the patient goes home. The failure rate of a Suction D&C where the pregnancy continues is less than 1 in 10,000.

Abortion Q&A

Have questions or concerns about the abortion pill or surgical abortion? Explore answers to common questions in our FAQ section below.

Abortion is the termination of pregnancy. Dr. Morrison has the expertise needed to ensure abortion procedures are free of complications, involve minimal discomfort, and a smooth recovery.

In the state of New York, abortion is legal to 24 weeks of gestation. At Buffalo Womenservices, you have access to abortion from weeks 5-22 of pregnancy. If you are past 22 weeks of pregnancy, Dr Morrison can help arrange an abortion in New York City.

When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, a woman has three options: motherhood, adoption, and abortion. The decision to continue or terminate a pregnancy can only be made by the pregnant woman herself. The experienced team at Buffalo Womenservices understands that the decision is entirely yours, offers nondirectional counseling, and supports you every step of the way – whether you choose to terminate or continue a pregnancy. 

If you are pregnant now and unsure of what to do, the team highly recommends calling All Options Talkline at 1-888-493-0092. They offer unbiased, judgment-free counseling and support for pregnancy options including parenting, abortion, and adoption.

At your appointment at Buffalo Womenservices, your health history will be reviewed and you will have an ultrasound to determine gestational age. A counselor or Dr. Morrison herself will meet with you, discuss how you came to your decision, explain the procedure, review birth control options, and answer all of your questions.

A suction D&C is a short procedure usually lasting only 1-3 minutes. You have the option of moderate IV sedation, which makes the procedure much more comfortable.

After the procedure, you are helped into a recliner chair and taken to the recovery room. You will be monitored in the recovery room for 45 minutes and then discharged home. If you have had IV moderate sedation, someone needs to drive you home – you cannot drive yourself. If you decline sedation, you may drive yourself home.

Most abortions can be completed in one day with all services occurring at our facility, including ultrasound, counseling session, physician evaluation of medical history, IV moderate sedation, the abortion procedure and recovery.  You will receive follow up instructions and a 24-hour number for questions and concerns. You can expect to bleed 1-2 weeks after your abortion. You must have a follow-up visit at five weeks either at your own doctor or you are welcome to return to Dr. Morrison for that visit.

If you’re pregnant but not ready to continue the pregnancy and would like to know more about abortion options, schedule an appointment at Buffalo Womenservices by phone or online today.

Abortion is the most common surgical procedure in the United States! By the age of 45 between 1 in 3 and 1 in 4 women will have had an abortion. 50% of all pregnancies are unplanned and 50% of those are terminated. For most women, the decision to have an abortion is not difficult—“I don’t want to take away from the children I have”, “This is not the right time”, “I don’t want to have a connection to the man who got me pregnant”, “I need to finish school”, “I’m too sick to continue the pregnancy.”

Women who decide for abortion overwhelmingly report no regret about their decision immediately afterwards or years later. Most women having abortions—60%--are already mothers, love and care for the children they already have.

Abortion performed in a licensed setting with a trained professional is extremely safe—much safer than having a baby. Abortion does not lead to mental health problems, physical health issues or any problems with future pregnancies. It does not cause preterm labor, pre-eclampsia or infertility.

It’s Your BODY, It’s Your CHOICE, And You Have OPTIONS.

Contact Buffalo Womenservices to speak with our friendly staff to schedule an appointment or request an immediate appointment online. 

Resources

At Buffalo Womenservices, we understand that navigating healthcare can sometimes be challenging. That’s why we offer a range of resources to support you every step of the way.

Counseling Services

Before making the decision to have an abortion, we provide comprehensive options counseling to support you. Our compassionate counselors are here to listen, answer your questions, and help you explore all available options. We believe in empowering you with the information and support you need to make the best decision for your health and well-being.

Financial Assistance

We offer various financial assistance options to help alleviate the burden of abortion care costs. Our goal is to ensure that financial concerns do not hinder you from accessing the care you need. Please reach out to our team to discuss the options available and find the best solution for your situation.