Anesthesia Options: You have several options for pain-management sedation during the abortion procedure. We will work with you an a plan that is individualized to you. Anesthesia is administered intravenously (IV) in the arm by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). It is fast-acting. Consciousness returns quickly when the procedure is over.
Sedation is an option for either first or second trimester procedures. Some of the optional medications have an amnesiac effect - afterward most people have no memory of the procedure.
Local anesthesia consists of an injection into the cervix which numbs the local area where the procedure is performed. It does not affect your memory of the procedure, but only impacts the local pain sensors.
If you choose to have sedation, you must not drive afterward, so plan ahead to have a driver to take you home. Find additional answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Sedation.
At the clinic, you will receive detailed information about each medication.
