What is The Aspiration Procedure?
The Aspiration Procedure is the most natural way to end early pregnancy. Our doctor uses a small handheld plastic instrument that applies gentle pressure to remove the early pregnancy tissue. It doesn’t leave scars or cause damage to the uterus in any way. It used to be called Menstrual Extraction because the procedure is like “bringing down your period” The procedure is also called Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA).

How does it work?
A speculum is inserted (like a pap smear). A local anesthetic is applied. A thin tube is inserted into the cervix. Gentle suction is applied with a handheld instrument for about 2 minutes.

What will I feel?
It is like a 3-4 minute pap smear with 2-3 minutes of period-like cramps at the end.

How experienced is the doctor?
Our doctor is an international expert in abortion care. She has been doing abortions since 1984, and has been performing the Aspiration Procedure since 1993. She has trained over 50 clinicians how to do abortions.

Why is The Aspiration Procedure better than a Surgical abortion (D&C)?
It is less invasive and has fewer complications.

The Aspiration Procedure Surgical Abortion Gentle suction with a handheld plastic instrument. No scraping. Electric suction machine. Uterine Scraping with a sharp instrument. Recovery time: 10 minutes. Back to your normal activities within an hour. Recovery time: hours. Back to your normal activities in days. Eat or drink right before the visit. Fast from midnight the night before. You can have sex, use tampons in 24 hours. Nothing in the vagina for 6 weeks. No major complications. Very rare major complications from general anesthesia, uterine scraping or electric suction.

How does The Aspiration Procedure compare to the Abortion Pill?
The Aspiration Procedure and the Abortion Pill are both excellent methods. The advantage of the Aspiration Procedure is that it’s quick, it doesn’t require a routine follow up visit, you leave our office knowing the pregnancy is over. There is much less bleeding.

Is The Aspiration Procedure a new procedure?
No. It has been around for over 30 years and is used widely in other countries. It used to be called Menstrual Extraction. It is so simple women used to do this procedure in their own homes!

Why don’t clinics offer the Aspiration Procedure?
Clinics do a high volume of abortion procedures. Surgical abortions under general anesthesia are more efficient. At Private Choices we only schedule private individual visits. Our approach is to do what is best for our patients. Our doctor provides personal attention throughout the entire procedure.