Expert: Doctor Early Options - 10/20/2009

Question
I know that you prefer not to carry out the aspiration procedure while the patient is under general anesthesia. However I find even a pap test to be an ordeal and while I like the non invasive description of the aspiration procedure I would prefer to be asleep. Do I have that option or do you only do this with patients who are awake? Thanks.

Answer
Dear Giselle,
It is common to be concerned about pain and the Aspiration abortion procedure.  The experience of the Aspiration abortion procedure is very similar to a pap smear - it takes about one minute longer, and some women do get strong period cramps with it.

Environment is everything.  At Early Options, we work to make women feel comfortable and relaxed.  You are in a private, decorated examination room that looks a bit more like a spa, than a sterile doctor's office.  You have a dedicated clinical assistant who is highly skilled at creating conversation so that you are distracted from the procedure.  All of our doctors are women family doctors who are sensitive to the needs of women who experience pain during pap smears.  There are ways to insert the speculum so that it is not painful or frightening.  For women with extreme anxiety, we do offer valium.  We almost never have anyone who can't complete a procedure under local anesthesia.  About once or twice a year we offer women "twilight" or IV anesthesia (not risky compared to general anesthesia) because a patient is just too anxious.

Many women who have difficulty with pap smears actually find it to be a powerful experience to complete the Aspiration abortion procedure in our environment - they are surprised that the experience is a medically positive one for them.  If you look at the reviews of our office, you will read testimonials from many, many women who have the same difficulty as you do.

I do not know where you live, and whether you can come to one of our offices in New York City.  There are other offices around the country that offer a similar approach at: http://www.earlyabortion.com  If you are not near any of these offices, and you are not comfortable in the environment of the doctor's office to get local anesthesia, I would recommend that you get twilight anesthesia.  This procedure is just not worth the risks of general anesthesia.

Doctor Joan
http://www.earlyabortionoptions.com
New York City