Before even considering an abortion or the abortion pill, learn what your pregnancy and health history could mean for you. Get medically relevant information that may be important for your health and safety, and ask your questions in a confidential setting, at no cost.
What Is a Pre-Abortion Consultation?
A pre-abortion consultation is an appointment designed for women considering a surgical abortion or the abortion pill. It is not an abortion appointment. Bloom does not provide or refer for abortions.
Instead, our medical staff will help you gather information that may affect what happens next. You can ask questions, learn about abortion procedures and potential risks, and discuss any concerns related to your health.
What Your Consultation Includes
Depending on your circumstances, your appointment may include:
- Medical-grade pregnancy testing to determine whether the pregnancy hormone hCG is present
- A limited obstetric ultrasound, if you qualify, to estimate how far along you are, identify the pregnancy’s location, check for signs of a possible ectopic pregnancy, and determine whether the pregnancy appears to be progressing
- Information about abortion procedures, including potential risks and complications
- A conversation about your health history and factors that may be relevant before an abortion
- Information about STI testing and referrals, since Bloom does not currently provide STI testing
- Time to ask questions without arriving with a decision already made
Why Schedule Before an Abortion?
Abortion procedures differ based on gestational age. About 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, making it useful to determine whether the pregnancy appears to be progressing. If it is not, a woman may need evaluation and care for pregnancy loss instead.
Pregnancy location also matters. An ectopic pregnancy develops outside the uterus, most often in a fallopian tube. Neither the abortion pill nor a surgical abortion treats an ectopic pregnancy. Without prompt medical treatment, it can rupture and cause life-threatening internal bleeding.
Your health history, current symptoms, and pregnancy details may also raise questions that cannot be answered through an online search or home pregnancy test alone.
Your consultation gives you the opportunity to replace general information with details specific to your situation.
Bloom provides confidential, no-cost appointments in Richmond and Midlothian. No insurance or payment is required.
