Expert: Doctor Joan - 2/26/2011

Question
I will be having an early abortion (6 weeks) next week.  It will be the aspiration procedure.  My question is that I have been put on birth control pills before and they affect my blood pressure apparently.  I want to go to a regular OB/GYN as soon as possible to get some kind of permanent sterilization done, or some form of birth control that works for me.  How long do I have to wait to do this, and do I have to tell them about the abortion procedure?  I live in a smaller community where abortion is frowned upon.

Answer
You can wait 6 weeks.  You do not have to tell the doctor. If you wait, You will need a reliable form of contraception.
Then if the doctor does an exam the cervix has healed.  You can get an Intrauterine Device (IUD.  There are two types.  The Mirena which has a low dose of progesterone
http://www.mirena-us.com/?WT.mc_id=MIS119497&WT.srch=1 or the Paragard which contains no hormone http://www.paragard.com/home.php

There are new low estrogen Oral contraceptive pills.  They contain 10 micrograms of estrogen.  One is LoLoestrin http://www.loloestrin.com/index.jsp

The options for sterilization include Tubal ligation which is done by laparascopic surgery http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/tubal-ligation-and-tubal-implants or by the new technique Essure http://www.essure.com/

I hope this helps.