When women are faced with important and sensitive decisions about their reproductive rights, My Choice Medical Center is here to help. We educate and support women and their loved ones during this time, ensuring that women are aware of each option available when thinking about reproductive decisions. This support and education extends to abortion services, family planning services, and crucial medical care.
Abortion Services
The decision to have an abortion is very personal, highly complex, and one that no one else can (or should) make for you. When faced with an unplanned pregnancy, it is important to seek out support services as soon as possible. This includes medical assistance as well as emotional support services. My Choice Medical Center specializes in the provision of non-judgmental support, helping you regardless of your choice.
In some cases, an otherwise planned and welcomed pregnancy may need to be terminated for health reasons, or because of non-viability. This can be devastating for families. What worse is that the decision sometimes needs to be made quickly. It is best to seek out an abortion clinic that offers counseling for everyone in the family. Discussing your needs with highly qualified medical staff can also be very helpful in circumstances like these.
Surgical abortion is one of the pregnancy termination services provided by My Choice Medical Center. This procedure is usually performed in the first or early second trimester in cases where the abortion pill is not suitable. It is completely safe and effective, as long as you take the time to find a reputable and licensed center.
During the first trimester, patients may instead undergo a procedure called manual vacuum aspiration, which is done under local anesthesia. Aspiration, also known as dilation and curettage, is another option that can be performed until the 16th week.
The available options become narrower after the second trimester, which is why it is important to seek out care as soon as possible. One option is dilation and evacuation, which can be performed until the end of the 16th week. There are also rare circumstances where, for health reasons, none of the above-noted procedures is ideal. In cases like these, healthcare professionals turn to induced abortion.
Judgement-Free
Finding yourself faced with an unplanned pregnancy, or one that you cannot carry to term for medical reasons, can be devastating. Dealing with staff members that are not compassionate or who judge the people they serve can make the entire experience that much harder to go through. Our staff members are not judgmental; our job is to ensure that you are fully informed about your options, not that you go home feeling lectured or have your mind made up for you.
What Is the Abortion Pill?
Medical abortion, also known as taking the abortion pill, is a safe and non-surgical alternative to the more invasive techniques talked about above. Women can opt for this procedure until the beginning of their 10th week of pregnancy. The healthcare field tends to push this option, as it is 93 to 99 percent effective and comes with very little risk of long-term complications.
In most cases, the procedure begins while the woman is at our clinic. One of our qualified physicians administers a substance called Mifeprex. After 12 to 48 hours, Misoprostol is then taken. This can be done at home or here at the clinic, depending on the needs of the woman involved. The drugs work by blocking progesterone and softening the cervix. This procedure is preferable to many women, as it helps to avoid surgery or other invasive and complicated procedures. It reduces the risk of infection and provides the woman with more agency and privacy throughout the process. For women who have undergone trauma, it is often the best way to avoid flashbacks. Follow up appointments are much less invasive as well, without the need for an internal exam. Instead, we perform an ultrasound and may complete blood tests to be sure there is no sign of internal infection.
Family Planning Services
Decisions about your reproductive health should start before conception, which is why our compassionate staff members also provide women with access to family planning services. This gives you the power to make your own decisions about your reproductive health. Specialists educate patients about the available birth control options, their pros and cons, and helps women decide which is best given their unique needs and circumstances. There are numerous options available, including:
- Ortho Evra Patch
- Nuvaring
- Depo Provera
- IUDs, including the Minra and Paragard
- The Pill
- Condoms
- Women’s Health
You can also find a range of women’s health services at My Choice Medical Center. We understand that not everyone has access to a family doctor, but everyone needs to stay on top of their reproductive health. As a result, we are happy to educate patients on breast cancer screenings, arrange for PAP smears, and help with additional cancer screening tools. Pregnancy tests, access to on-site and confidential sexually transmitted infection testing, and emergency contraception are also provided at our clinics.
How My Choice Can Help
My Choice Medical Center was designed to help women with a variety of health issues. Our staff members can help with everything from pregnancy test to counseling, making sure that you are fully aware of all your options each step of the way. We believe in empowering women through information and are happy to answer all your questions.
The clinic itself was designed to set you at ease, decorated in warm and calming colors to help set you at ease. Recovery and waiting rooms are also designed to reduce your anxiety levels, with room for a support person to accompany you to each appointment. Each clinic is run to very high standards, complying with all federal and local healthcare regulations.
If you have questions about family planning, abortion services, or women’s counseling, or need more abortion information to make your decision, contact us My Choice Medical Center for help or to book an appointment. Empathetic and caring individuals can be reached by calling 866-397-3070, by stopping in to visit the Sherman Oaks location, or by visiting them online.
