Before Your Abortion Appointment
At Planned Parenthood, we offer outpatient surgical abortion and medication abortion services. The Abortion Care Team at Planned Parenthood is honored to provide the health care you need and we are here to answer any questions you have!
Bring these items with you:
- Valid government or state-issued photo ID
- Insurance card (if you plan to use insurance)
- Co-pay or payment for your visit. Please note if you are using a credit card with someone else’s name on it, that person must be present during the transaction. If you have questions about forms of payment, please call our office at 1800-230-PLAN.
- If you are a minor, bring your original birth certificate in addition to your photo ID. Photo IDs can include a current school year ID (or badge) or a government issued photo ID. Parents or legal guardians must be present with their government or state issued photo ID. Legal guardians require additional paperwork, please call our office for details at 1-800-230-PLAN.
- List of medications
- Your pharmacy information
Keep these items in mind:
- Abortion is not covered by Ohio State Medicaid under most circumstances, and many private insurers exclude abortion services from being covered. If you'd like to use your private insurance for abortion services, we recommend you call your insurance and ask if elective abortions are covered under your plan at our center.
- It is always our goal to be mindful of your time, but for planning purposes, please prepare to plan your day around your visits. You could spend anywhere between 2.5-3.5 hours at each appointment.
Also keep in mind these items:
- Do not use drugs or alcohol 24 hours prior to your appointment
- Children are not able to accompany you to your appointments. NOTE: Due to COVID-19, only one guest is able to accompany you into the building at this time.
- Sometimes, there are people that stand out front of our centers, they do not work for us, and you do not have to stop for them. Please notify a staff member if you have any problems.
- If you have not received a link to your MyChart account one day before your appointment, please contact us.
Notice of Ohio law regarding abortions related to Down syndrome and attestation [as required by O.R.C. 2919.10(B)]
It is LEGAL for you to get an abortion in Ohio for ANY REASON.
You do not have to tell us your reason. We do not need to know your reason.
Under Ohio law, however, our clinic is not allowed to perform an abortion if WE KNOW that fetal Down syndrome is any part of your reason. If we learn of a diagnosis or other indication of Down syndrome in your pregnancy, we will not be able to see you.
This applies only to Down syndrome and not any other condition.
What You Should Know After Your Appointment
Physically, many people are ready to return to their normal daily activities the day after their abortion. We will review with you what to expect in the days and weeks following your abortion before you are discharged. We are always available to answer additional questions or concerns if needed; call the numbers provided on your discharge papers.
Mentally, after an abortion, it is normal to have a variety of different emotions. Some people may feel sad, while others feel relieved. Please know however you are feeling can be normal and there are mental health resources to help you. A few are:
o Exhale: https://exhaleprovoice.org/resources/
o Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice: https://www.ohiorcrc.org/
o All Options (formerly Backline): https://www.all-options.org/
o Connect and Breathe: http://www.connectandbreathe.org/
Returning from an out of state abortion:
If you went out of state for an abortion and need to receive post-abortion care, we will be happy to help you with your medical needs after the procedure. Please call 513-287-6488 to schedule a post-op appointment.
What if I change my mind?
You may change your mind at any time. If you change your mind during one of your appointments, please tell a member of our abortion care team and they will discuss further options with you and provide you with resources. You are the only person who can decide if an abortion is right for you. No one can force anyone to have an abortion. If someone is forcing you to have an abortion, tell our care team immediately.
What if I’m not sure what I want to do?
Making a decision to care a pregnancy to term, parent, or have an abortion can be difficult for some people. At Planned Parenthood, we believe you should be empowered to make informed private decisions about your reproductive life. We have staff who are trained to provide options counseling to anyone who is unsure about their pregnancy options. During options counseling, we will go into detail on the options available to you for your pregnancy, talk about your support system, and provide resources for the various options. To schedule an options counseling session, please call 513.287.6488.
What if I think I am having a miscarriage, can you still help me?
If you think you are having a miscarriage, or come in for your consultation and we discover you are having a miscarriage, we can continue to provide you with services. Ultimately, the process is similar to an abortion consultation, you’ll meet with an educator who will explain the miscarriage treatment and follow up options, as well as sign a surgical consent. The procedure is exactly the same as an abortion procedure.