Q| Will It Hurt?
We take every effort to insure that your abortion will be as comfortable as possible. Most patients tell us that with the local anesthesia they felt only mild cramping or no pain at all. If you choose to have the intravenous medication you will probably have no memory of the procedure.

Q| Will I be able to have children in the future?
Studies indicate that properly performed abortions have little or no effect on future fertility.

Q| How long will I be in the office?
First trimester patients (12 weeks or less) should expect to remain for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Second trimester patients should expect to remain for 2 to 3 hours.

Q| Can I drive myself?
If you choose local anesthesia (awake) you may drive. Patients who choose intravenous medication for pain relief and anxiety control must have someone available to take them home. IV patients may not drive for 24 hours, and may not leave the office alone.

Q| When can I return to work/school?
Most patients will be able to return to office work or school the day after a first trimester abortion.

Second trimester patients and those with more strenuous jobs will need a longer period of rest (two to four days). We will provide all patients with a discreet work/school release letter that do not specify that you had an abortion.

Q| How much bleeding will I have?
The amount of bleeding is variable from one patient to the next, and can be from a few hours to three weeks. The bleeding may stop and start again several times. Some patients experience passing large clots after an abortion.

Q| Up to how many weeks do you terminate pregnancy?
At A-Z Women’s Center we terminate pregnancies up to 18.6 weeks. We will make exceptions for cases of fetal demise on a case by case basis.

Q| How much does it cost to have an abortion?
Refer to the FEES page for the latest fee table. The price is the same regardless of your choice of anesthesia. The price gets more expensive per week after 11.6 weeks.

Q| Do you assist women who need an abortion and have no financial support?
We do not have a funding agency associated with our office, but know of many organizations that are able to assist when donations are available. Please contact our office manager during regular business hours for more information.

Q| Do I have to make an appointment for an abortion?
Yes. We do abortion procedures by appointment Monday thru Saturday.

Q| Do you ever have same day appointments available?
Yes. Often times we can fit you in the same day you call, but it is recommended that you call in the morning before 10:00 am.

Q| Can I come in advance for an ultrasound only to find out how far along I am?
Yes. You do not need an appointment for an ultrasound. It will be helpful to find out your gestation so that you know how much money you need to bring with you on the day of your procedure. The $100.00 you pay for your ultrasound will go towards your abortion even if it is performed on a different day.

Q| Do you offer Emergency Contraception or the morning after pill?
No. We do not offer this service anymore. You can now get this medication over the counter by visiting your local pharmacy. The cost differs with each pharmacy and you do need to be over the age of 18.

Q| How long after taking the "Morning After Pill" will it protect me against pregnancy?
The morning after pill is only used in delaying ovulation immediately after a woman has unprotected sex. If you have taken the morning after pill after unprotected sex, you should begin using a method of birth control to prevent pregnancy.

Q| Does your center offer pregnancy testing?
We offer both urine and serum pregnancy tests. This urine test detects pregnancy approximately three weeks after conception or about one week after your missed period. We also offer written confirmations of pregnancy. This paperwork is needed if you are going to apply for welfare, or to apply with the Baby your Baby program. For those patients that want to find out a little bit sooner if they are pregnant or not, we offer a blood pregnancy test for $25.00. It takes about 30 minutes to get your results.

Q| I want my appointment to be anonymous, is that okay?
There is a difference between your appointment being anonymous and being confidential. All of our services are confidential. Patient information is never released without the signature and authorization of the patient. Being anonymous means you don’t give us a name or any identifying information about you or your health history.

Q| Do I have to use my real name?
You can use whatever name you would like to when coming to an appointment at our office. Before you make that decision, please keep the following information in mind: We will be writing all prescriptions in the name you give us on your chart. This may cause a problem if you have a history at a pharmacy and plan to use your health insurance. Second, we will not ever release medical records to someone unless they can provide us with a photo id with a matching picture and name. Third, you may have a problem submitting receipts for reimbursement from your health insurance if the receipts are in a name other than the one on your insurance card. Finally, we recommend using accurate information such as your address, phone number and medical history for many reasons, particularly in case of emergency.

Q| Can I take a taxi or the city bus home by myself?
Taking the bus after surgery is not recommended. You can take a taxi home by yourself if you chose to stay awake for the procedure. If you chose IV medication, we require that another adult accompany you.

Q| When will I be able to resume sexual activity after my termination?
The doctor recommends not having sex for two weeks after your procedure. The reason that we recommend nothing inside the vagina for two weeks is because following your procedure you are more susceptible to vaginal infections and getting pregnant again.

Q| When will I get my next regular period?
Normally, your menstrual cycle will resume in 4 to 6 weeks. Your first period after any pregnancy will be anything BUT normal. It can come earlier than normal, later than normal, it can be lighter than normal or heavier than normal. Things should be back to “normal” by your second period.

Q| If I am having bleeding after my procedure, will this be my period?
No. The bleeding you will have after your procedure will be bleeding from your surgery not your period. It is normal to have bleeding off and on for 2-3 weeks after your abortion. The bleeding can stop and start and it can change colors (light pink to dark brown/black).

Q| Can I use tampons after my abortion?
You should not use tampons after your abortion procedure for two weeks. The doctor recommends using maxi pads to reduce the risk of vaginal infections and to monitor the amount of bleeding you are having. We recommend calling us if you are soaking more than 2 pads in one hour.

Q| Why do you tell me to eat before my surgery and other clinics I called tell me NOT to eat?
We recommend all patients to eat breakfast because we will be giving you pre-operative oral medication to help you relax and to take away your nervousness. Many patients say that they get an upset stomach if they take the medications on an empty stomach. Also, we agree that people feel better when their stomachs are content. This can help us relax too. Since we won’t be using general anesthesia, we do not have to worry about your gag reflexes being suppressed during surgery.

Q| Will a “real” doctor be performing my surgery?
Yes. Both of our doctors are Board Certified OB/GYN’s. They are also both licensed by the State of Nevada.

Q| Do I need to tell my parents about my abortion or get their permission?
No. You do not need to tell anyone. In the State of Nevada, it is not required to get your parent’s permission for an abortion procedure. We will not send any information home about your visit nor will we call your house for any reason.

Q| Do I have to get my partner’s permission to have an abortion?
No. Ultimately the decision is all yours. It is often helpful when patients have their partners or family members for support figures.

Q| Can I see what was removed from me during the termination?
Upon request, the doctor will show you the products of conception so that you may have a sense of closure.

Q| What happens with the fetus that was removed from me during my abortion? Can I take it home so I can bury it?
The tissue is collected and disposed of in accordance to the mandates of Nevada State law. No. The products of conception may not be removed from our facility. Again, we are responsible for complying with the laws regarding disposal.

Q| What happens if I have a problem after my abortion?
A-Z Women’s Center has a physician on call 7 days a week 24 hours a day. If you have any questions or are experiencing post operative problems, do not hesitate to call us at (702) 892-0307. Our answering service is specifically trained to handle your questions and to direct any problems to our on call physician.

Q| Do I have to pay extra if I am RH negative blood type for my shot?
No. All Rhogam injections are provided at no additional cost to you. A blood test will be performed on the day of your procedure to determine your RH factor. We only provide Rhogam to Rh negative patients that are greater than 7 weeks pregnant. For patients that are less pregnant, it is not necessary to receive the shot.

Q| Will I get started on birth control so that I can prevent future unplanned pregnancies?
Yes. We will provide you with birth control samples and a prescription to get started with at the time of your visit (unless contraindicated). We recommend starting your birth control on the Sunday after your procedure. Be aware that you can become pregnant right after your pregnancy ends. You should start using your birth control BEFORE you start having sexual intercourse again.

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