Go to Content Go to Navigation Go to Navigation Go to Site Search Homepage

In-Clinic Abortion

Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood (UHPP) provides in-clinic abortions up to 17 weeks and 6 days. You can schedule an in-clinic abortion onlineor by calling 518-434-5678. 

In-Clinic Abortion (ICA) Procedures at a Glance 

  • Safe and effective medical procedures that end pregnancy 

  • Minimal sedation may be an option to reduce pain and anxiety before or during the procedure.   

  • The procedure takes approximately 10 minutes. After the procedure, patients must be supervised by one of our healthcare professionals. A nurse will monitor recovery, including blood pressure and heart rate. 

  • Patients will be given post-abortion self-care, medication, and a birth control method if they would like. Any complications experienced during or after an abortion procedure must be reported to UHPP immediately. For your convenience, UHPP is available by phone 24 hours a day. 

How Effective Are In-Clinic Abortion Procedures? 

Patients can feel confident knowing that these abortion methods are very effective. They work more than 99% of the time. 

What Happens During an In-Clinic Abortion? 

It's common for patients to be nervous about having an abortion, or any other medical procedure. But most people feel better when they know what to expect. A healthcare provider speaks to each patient and answers any questions.  

Before the abortion procedure, patients will need to: 

  • Discuss their options 

  • Disclose medical history 

  • Receive laboratory testing 

  • Have a physical exam, which may include an ultrasound 

  • Read and sign papers 

What are the Types of In-Clinic Abortions? 

The most common is suction abortion. It is also known as vacuum aspiration, or a D&C. Aspiration is typically used up to 16 weeks after a patient's last period. D&E (Dilation and Evacuation) is another kind of in-clinic abortion, most commonly performed later than 16 weeks after a patient's last period. 

Aspiration Abortion: The Most Common ICA 

During an aspiration abortion: 

  • You will be given antibiotics to prevent infection. 

  • One of our providers will examine your uterus. 

  • You can receive medicine for pain. You may be offered sedation, a medicine that allows you to be awake but more relaxed. 

  • A speculum will be inserted into your vagina. 

  • Your healthcare provider will inject numbing medication in or near your cervix. 

  • The opening of your cervix may be stretched with dilators; medication can be used to help open your cervix. 

  • A thin tube is inserted through your cervix into your uterus. 

  • A small, hand-held device will be used to gently empty your uterus. 

An aspiration procedure takes about 5 to 15 minutes. But more time may be needed to prepare your cervix. Time is also needed for talking with your provider about the procedure, a physical exam, reading and signing forms, and a recovery period. 

D&E: Dilation and Evacuation 

During a D&E: 

  • You will be given antibiotics to prevent infection. 

  • One of our healthcare providers will examine your uterus. 

  • You can receive medicine for pain. You may be offered sedation, a medicine that allows you to be awake but more relaxed. 

  • A speculum will be inserted into your vagina. 

  • You may be given medication a few hours before the procedure to soften and prepare your cervix. 

  • Your healthcare provider will inject numbing medication in or near your cervix, then they will insert a thin tube into your uterus. 

  • Medical tools and a suction machine gently empty your uterus. 

A D&E usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes. But more time is needed to prepare your cervix. Time is also needed for talking with your provider about the procedure, a physical exam, reading and signing forms, and a recovery period. 

How Do In-Clinic Abortions Feel? 

You may have concerns about how an abortion will feel. Most patients feel pain similar to menstrual cramps with both types of abortion methods. For others, it is more uncomfortable. 

Your health care provider will help to make it as comfortable as possible. You will be given pain medication and local numbing medicines. Sedation that allows you to be awake but more relaxed may be used. Other clinics may offer deeper sedation, and we can give you a referral if you would like. A few clinics offer general anesthesia, allowing you to sleep through certain procedures, but it increases medical risks and recovery time. 

You may have cramps after an abortion. You will probably want to relax for the rest of the day. 


Bleeding After In-Clinic Abortion Procedures 

You may have some bleeding after your abortion; this is normal. You may pass a few clots about the size of a quarter. It's normal to have: 

  • spotting that lasts up to 6 weeks 

  • heavy bleeding for a few days 

  • bleeding that stops and starts again 

It's also normal to have no bleeding after an abortion. It's okay to use pads, tampons, or menstrual cups, but using pads makes it easier to keep track of your bleeding. 

Please click here for ICA appointment instructions. If you have any questions or concerns about your in-clinic abortion, you can contact UHPP at 518-434-5678. 

Planned Parenthood cares about your data privacy. We and our third-party vendors use cookies and other tools to collect, store, monitor, and analyze information about your interaction with our site to improve performance, analyze your use of our sites and assist in our marketing efforts. You may opt out of the use of these cookies and other tools at any time by visiting Cookie Settings. By clicking “Allow All Cookies” you consent to our collection and use of such data, and our Terms of Use. For more information, see our Privacy Notice.

Cookie Settings

Planned Parenthood cares about your data privacy. We and our third-party vendors, use cookies, pixels, and other tracking technologies to collect, store, monitor, and process certain information about you when you access and use our services, read our emails, or otherwise engage with us. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences, or your device. We use that information to make the site work, analyze performance and traffic on our website, to provide a more personalized web experience, and assist in our marketing efforts. We also share information with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners. You can change your default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of required cookies when utilizing our site; this includes necessary cookies that help our site to function (such as remembering your cookie preference settings). For more information, please see our Privacy Notice.

Marketing

On

We use online advertising to promote our mission and help constituents find our services. Marketing pixels help us measure the success of our campaigns.

Performance

On

We use qualitative data, including session replay, to learn about your user experience and improve our products and services.

Analytics

On

We use web analytics to help us understand user engagement with our website, trends, and overall reach of our products.