Women's Health | Gynecology | Abortion - Surgical Second Trimester

During the second trimester of pregnancy, 14 to 22 weeks since your last menstrual period, abortions are performed as two-day outpatient procedures, known as dilation and evacuation (D&E). On the first day, which is always a Wednesday, you will meet with a health educator and a doctor in our office. This visit will take around two hours. On the next day, Thursday, you will meet the doctor in the hospital operating room. This visit will take approximately four to five hours.

For more information or to make an appointment, please call:
Women's Options Center (415) 353-7003

When you check in for your appointment, we will verify your insurance information, collect your co-payment if applicable and ask you to complete some forms, including a medical history. The Women's Options Center is integrated into the general Women's Health practice; women are not identified in the reception area as desiring pregnancy termination and there are no signs advertising our clinic. This ensures the privacy and safety of our patients and staff.

Shortly after you arrive, one of our female health educators will bring you to a private room. You will discuss and learn about pregnancy options, the abortion procedure and various birth control methods. You may remain fully dressed for this part of your appointment. The health educator will take your blood pressure, pulse and weight. If you brought a support person with you, he or she may stay with you during the health education. Since UCSF Medical Center is a teaching hospital, we may ask your permission to have a doctor-in-training listen in on the health education, which takes around 20 to 40 minutes.

After your conversation with the health educator, you will meet the doctor. Our physicians are obstetrician-gynecologists with specialized training and interest in abortion provision and family planning. The doctor will review your medical history, perform an ultrasound exam to determine your pregnancy's gestation and address any questions or concerns you may have. This portion of the visit takes about 20 minutes.

After you have consented to the procedure, the doctor will begin the abortion process by:

This portion of the appointment takes about 20 minutes.

You will be given detailed instructions on how to take care of your body overnight and how to prepare for next day's surgical procedure.

You will register at the hospital reception area. You will then meet the doctor at the hospital operating room. You will receive anesthesia medicine through an IV in your arm. The anesthesia will make you very relaxed and sleepy. When you are well relaxed, the doctor will remove the laminaria and will use suction and instruments to empty your uterus.

When you wake, you won't remember the procedure. After the procedure, nurses will monitor you for two hours. You will probably have some cramping and spotting; we will provide you with a heat pack and a maxi-pad for your recovery and ride home. You will be given instructions on how to take care of your body, antibiotics to prevent infection and a prescription for birth control if you desire it. The procedure and recovery period take around four to five hours.

You must have a ride home and may take a taxi home only if you have someone to accompany you. If you do not have anyone to accompany you home, contact ACCESS at (510) 923-0739 for a pro-choice volunteer driver. You should go home, rest, and let the medications wear off. You should be able to return to normal activities, such as work and school, the next day.

Unless you are experiencing complications related to your abortion, you do not need to visit our office again. We recommend that you make an appointment to see your regular doctor for an annual pap smear, physical/gynecologic exam and birth control refill requests.