The counselor will also provide information about birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, and referrals to additional resources as needed. If a woman is not completely ready for an abortion, she will not have an abortion that day. An excellent resource for women who are undecided or troubled about an unplanned pregnancy is the Pregnancy Options Workbook from Southern Tier Women's Services . The pain a woman feels during abortion comes from muscle cramps, similar but stronger than menstrual cramps. Relaxing before and during the procedure will help reduce pain.
Sedation helps a woman's muscles relax during the procedure thereby reducing cramping.
If a woman chooses the tranquilizer, IV sedation, or general anesthesia, she must have someone else drive her home. Sedation and general anesthesia may increase the time spent in recovery and increase the likelihood of vomiting afterward. Do not use street-drugs for 24 hours before your appointment because it could cause a serious interactions with the operative medications if you have other drugs in your system. Avoid aspirin or alcohol for 24 hours prior to your appointment because they thin the blood and may increase bleeding. Do not eat for 2 hours before your appointment.