Our goal is to provide each patient individual time and attention: to give information, to answer questions and to make each patient feel comfortable.
Before Your Visit
Shower or bath as usual and dress comfortably. You may eat a light meal 5 hours before your appointment and have clear liquids until 2 hours before your appointment. Please take any prescription medication at the usual times.
Your Visit
Plan to be in the office for approximately 2 hours if you are under 12 weeks. If you are between 12 and 14 weeks, it is a one-day procedure but you will be in the office approximately 4 hours. After 14 weeks, you will probably need 2 visits to the office that will be approximately 2 hours each.
You will be asked to complete some medical forms first and read through information about your procedure. Then, you will have an ultrasound. This is painless and you will not see or hear anything, of course. Then, your history will be reviewed privately. You will also learn about the procedure and birth control options for after the abortion. After the medical assistant does your blood work to check for anemia and blood type, Dr. Goodrick will meet with you. She will answer any further questions or concerns you have before the procedure.
The Procedure
The abortion takes only a few minutes and is a simple, safe procedure.
A female medical assistant will be by your side during the entire procedure.
Intravenous sedation is given to you through a small needle in your arm. Then Dr. Goodrick will begin the procedure only after the sedation takes effect, which is within 1-3 minutes. The cervix (the entrance to the uterus) is dilated to about the diameter of a drinking straw. The doctor inserts a small tube, or cannula, which is attached to an aspirator machine. The mild suction action of the machine empties the contents of the uterus. You might have mild cramps during the procedure. Many patients do not remember the procedure and have no cramps at all.
After the procedure, you will be observed in a semi-private, cozy recovery room in a comfortable recliner with a heating pad. Our staff will make sure that your blood pressure and heart rate are normal and that bleeding and discomfort are within normal limits. You can then have something to drink and some cookies. All post-operative medications will be given to you as well as written instructions. Birth control is usually started the Sunday after your abortion.
Aftercare
Most women are able to return to daily activities the following day. Avoid strenuous activity for a few days to prevent unnecessary pain or bleeding. Most women experience some spotting or bleeding that may last only a few days or as long as two weeks. To prevent infection we advise not to put anything in the vagina (tampons, sex, douching) for two weeks. Dr. Goodrick is available 24 hours a day for urgent medical calls. You can always reach us with a routine question or concern during normal office hours.
Safety
Abortion is considered one of the safest surgical procedures when performed
by a skilled physician. Dr. Goodrick has provided abortions
for over 10 years and her goal is to provide the best medical
care to protect your future fertility. Go to Frequently Asked
Questions for more information.
If you would like to save time on the day of your first office visit, you can print the required forms, fill them out, and bring them with you.
Please complete the following forms :
Dr. Goodrick wants you to feel confident about the care you
will receive when you visit her office. Please visit the Arizona
Board of Medical Examiners web site to review her credentials.
Go to www.azmd.gov
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