Family Planning Associates (FPA) is one of the most trusted independent abortion providers in the United States. FPA is committed to providing confidential and personalized care. Patient education is an important part of our practice.
It is normal to have questions, and it can be difficult to find unbiased information about abortion on the internet. The information provided on our website is based on the care provided in our practice and current medical research. We also offer referrals to unbiased organizations such as the National Abortion Federation and The Guttmacher Institute, if you want to explore additional information.
We want you to feel comfortable walking into our offices, and hope that these frequently asked questions will help. If you have other questions or concerns, please let us know. You can call 312-707-8988 or email us.
The abortion pill uses two medicines to cause a miscarriage and end a pregnancy. The medication abortion is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy up to 13 weeks in the privacy of your home.
This is a non-invasive procedure that feels more natural for some people. You can be with a spouse, partner, family member or trusted friend, for support with the medical abortion, in the comfort of your own home. Patients who want a less invasive procedure prefer the medication abortion.
The first step involves an office visit, including an ultrasound, lab work and exam. Mifepristone ends the pregnancy. Pregnancies need a hormone called progesterone to grow and mifepristone stops your body from making this hormone.
Misoprostol helps your body pass the pregnancy and causes bleeding and strong cramping. 24-48 hours after your office visit you will take misoprostol, and you must stay home for 12-24 hours after taking this medication. During this time, you should rest until your bleeding and cramping is light.
A few days later, we will ask you to think about your body’s response to the medications and do a self-assessment. This assessment is a series of four questions about your experience. If you answer ‘NO’ to any of these questions, it is very important that you call us as soon as possible. You may need to return to the office to confirm that you are no longer pregnant.
Lastly, you will take a pregnancy test at home about five weeks later. We will give you a test to take home with you on your first visit in our office. If the test is negative, you will know the medication abortion worked, and you are no longer pregnant. If your pregnancy test is positive five weeks after the abortion, you may still be pregnant, or you may have become pregnant again. Call us immediately if this happens so we can schedule you for an office visit and additional treatment if needed.
It is safe for most people to use the abortion pill. According to the Guttmacher Institute, medication abortion accounted for 63% of all US abortions in 2023.
You should not use medication to induce an abortion if you:
Some patients feel more comfortable ending a pregnancy using medications.
This is a non-invasive procedure that feels more natural for some people. You can take the medications in the privacy of your home, at your convenience. Some patients have shared that they chose this process so that they could be with a spouse, partner, family member or trusted friend, for support.
The abortion pill procedure takes more time than an in-office procedure. It is important that you have 2-3 days set aside for the entire process.
The medication is not predictable. You should be comfortable going into the process not knowing exactly how your body will respond to the medications.
We are happy to discuss all of your options with you, and answer any questions that you have, so you have all of the information you need to make the best choice for you.
When you arrive at the office you will:
The pain will be the worst after you take the second medication, the misoprostol, at home. Cramps similar to heavy period cramps are common, and for some people the cramping and pressure can be very severe.
We will give you pain medication to help reduce your discomfort.
If you want to feel less cramping, you can take one of the pain medications 30 minutes before taking the misoprostol. Take your pain medications on a regular schedule until your pain is gone or light. If you are not taking pain medication regularly, it will not help with your pain because it only works for 4-6 hours.
If you wait until you are in pain to take medications, you will be in pain longer, because the pain medication takes time to start working.
Do not use any aspirin medications like Bayer, Excedrin, BC, or Goody’s. These medications can cause heavier bleeding sometimes.
Milder cramps, like period cramps or less, may last for a few weeks after you pass the pregnancy.
The abortion pill procedure is extremely safe and effective. According to the Guttmacher Institute, first trimester abortion is one of the safest medical procedures, with a less than 0.5% rate of major complications.
The medication abortion is a completely noninvasive procedure, but all medical treatment comes with some risk, for that reason we ask you to contact us right away if:
FPA has a medical staff member on call 24 hours a day in case of an emergency. We can be reached at 312-707-8988
Approximately 1.75 million people in the U.S. and millions more worldwide have chosen the Abortion Pill to end a pregnancy. It is effective approximately 92-98% of the time. How well the medication works can depend on how far along you are in the pregnancy.
Less than 7 weeks — Works about 98 out of 100 times the medication is taken
7 weeks — Works about 97 out of 100 times the medication is taken
8 weeks — Works about 95 out of 100 times the medication is taken
9 weeks — Works about 97 – 99 out of 100 times the medication is taken with two doses of misoprostol
10 weeks — Works about 97 – 98 out of 100 times the medication is taken with two doses of misoprostol
11 weeks — Works about 95 out of 100 times the medication is taken with two to three doses of misoprostol
13 weeks or more — Works about 92 out of 100 times the medication is taken with two to three doses of misoprostol
Misoprostol (or Cytotec) is a prostaglandin drug. It had previously received FDA approval for use in the prevention of ulcers in high-risk patients taking non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs.
You could have heavy bleeding and cramping and pass clots after taking the abortion pill but still be pregnant. Sometimes the pregnancy will keep growing after you take the abortion pill. Sometimes the pregnancy will end but not pass out of the body. If you do not have any bleeding within 24 hours of taking misoprostol at home, please call us. You know your body best, if you do not think the medication worked, call us so we can schedule you for a follow-up visit in our office.
3-4 days later, we will ask you to think about your body’s response to the medications and do a self-assessment. This assessment is a set of four questions about your experience. If you answer ‘NO’ to any of these questions, it is very important for you to call us. You may have to return to the office to make sure that you are no longer pregnant.
5 weeks later, you will take a pregnancy test at home. We will give you a test to take home with you when we give you your medications. If the test is negative, you will know the medication abortion worked, and you are no longer pregnant. If your pregnancy test is positive five weeks after the abortion, you may still be pregnant, your hormone levels may be falling slowly, or you may be pregnant again. Call us immediately if this happens so we can schedule you for an office visit and additional treatment if needed.
The medication abortion does not work 100% of the time. After you take the abortion pill, we will ask you to do a few things to make sure that you are no longer pregnant.
3-4 days after you take the medication, we will text you a reminder to think about your body’s response to the medications. This self-assessment is four questions about your experience. If you answer ‘NO’ to any of these questions, it is important that you call us as soon as possible. You may need to come back to our office to make sure that you are no longer pregnant.
You will also take a pregnancy test at home about five weeks later. We will give you a test to take home with you at your first visit when we give you the medications. If the test is negative, no more follow up is needed. If your pregnancy test is positive five weeks after the abortion, you may still be pregnant, your hormone levels may be going down slowly, or you may be pregnant again. Call us immediately if this happens so we can schedule you for an office visit and more treatment if needed.
If you are still pregnant after you take the abortion pill, you have two options usually. You can take more medicine sometimes or have an in-office abortion procedure at FPA as long as you are less than 24.0 weeks pregnant.
Occasionally, only some of the pregnancy tissue will pass. If this happens, you could have heavy bleeding, develop an infection, or both. An in-office suction procedure (D&C), more medications, more tests or treatments could help to prevent these complications.
Sometimes, clots in the uterus can cause cramping and pain in the belly and/or lower back. If this happens, you may need a suction procedure (D&C) or more medication to help pass the clots.
If the medication abortion does not work, you will not be asked to make any extra payments to FPA. You must return to our office if you think that you are still pregnant or if our staff ask you to come back because we think you may still be pregnant. If you need to go to another clinic or hospital to complete the abortion for medical reasons or because you are more than 24 weeks pregnant, you will be responsible for the cost of that care. For this reason, we encourage you to come back to our office as soon as possible if you have any concerns that the medication may not have worked.
If you know that it will be hard or impossible for you to come back to our office, the medication abortion may not be the best choice for you.
You can exercise the day after you take the second medication at home. Strenuous exercise can sometimes increase the amount of bleeding and cramping that you experience. You should not exercise if you feel like you have not passed the pregnancy.
After you exercise, if your bleeding and/or cramping increases, stop exercising. If this happens, you should be less active and do not exercise again until your bleeding has been light for 24 hours.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. If at any point you fully soak a maxi-pad in one hour or less, you should call us right away. A 24-hour on-call service is available after hours in case of an emergency.
Your bleeding will be heaviest after you take the misoprostol at home on the second day. Your bleeding will change throughout the abortion process.
Until the pregnancy passes, the bleeding will usually be heavier than your normal period. You may see blood clots and pregnancy tissue pass.
Once the pregnancy has passed, the bleeding will start to slow down. You may bleed or spot for 4 to 6 weeks after the abortion. The bleeding can stop and start again many times.
When your bleeding has been light for 24 hours, you can use a tampon instead of a pad.
You will take the first medication, mifepristone, in our office on ‘day one’ after having an exam, ultrasound, lab work and signing consents. You can go to work, school, or make other plans for the rest of that day. It is rare that you would start to bleed heavily or pass the pregnancy after taking the first medicine.
You should plan to be at home on ‘day two’ for at least 24 hours after taking the misoprostol (the second medication). Misoprostol helps your body pass the pregnancy by softening the cervix and causing the uterus to contract. You will have heavy bleeding, usually heavier than a period, and strong cramping. Because the bleeding and cramping is moderate to heavy for most women, you should not be at school or work while you are passing the pregnancy. In most cases you can return to work, school and your regular activities the next day.
In person follow-up visits are rarely needed, but can be very important.
3-4 days after you take the medication, we will ask you to think about your body’s response to the medications and do a self-assessment. This assessment is a set of four questions about your experience. If you answer ‘NO’ to any of these questions, it is very important for you to call us. You may have to return to the office to make sure that you are no longer pregnant. You know your body best, if you do not think the medication worked, call us so we can schedule you for a follow-up visit.
5 weeks later, you will take a pregnancy test at home. We will give you a test to take home with you when we give you your medications. If the test is negative, you will know the medication abortion worked, and you are no longer pregnant. If your pregnancy test is positive five weeks after the abortion, you may still be pregnant, your hormone levels may be falling slowly, or you may be pregnant again. Call us immediately if this happens so we can schedule you for an office visit and additional treatment if needed.
If the medication abortion does not work, you will not be asked to make any extra payments to FPA. If you go to another clinic or hospital for evaluation or to complete the abortion, you will be responsible for the cost of that care. For this reason, we encourage you to come back to our office as soon as possible if you have any concerns that the medication may not have worked.
If you know that it will be hard or impossible for you to come back to our office, the medication abortion may not be the best choice for you.
Local anesthesia is a cervical block (injection of numbing medication) performed before your surgery. While your cervix will be numbed, you will be awake during the procedure and it is normal to feel some strong cramping and discomfort.
Sedation is administered intravenously through an IV placed in your hand or arm in most cases. If you are sedated for your procedure, you will not feel or remember any pain or discomfort.
If you have chosen to have sedation, you will not feel or remember any pain during your procedure. After the procedure you may experience mild to moderate cramping, if needed we will give you pain medication.
If you have chosen to have local anesthesia with your procedure, we will numb your cervix but you will feel some cramping, pain and pressure from the uterus. Some patients describe the pain as minimal while some patients find the pain to be more severe. You will be offered pain medication, and in some cases we can provide you a medication to help you feel more relaxed.
Once you are discharged, in most cases ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil), naproxen (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol/Midol) will help with the cramping. If the cramping is not helped by these over the counter medications, you should call us immediately.
FPA is the only outpatient clinic that offers full sleep sedation with propofol, provided by a CRNA. You will be completely unaware for about 5-10 minutes with a first trimester abortion, or about 10-20 minutes with a second trimester abortion. The medications used for sedation work very quickly and wear off very quickly as well. Most patients are awake and alert within 5 minutes of their procedure.
The sedation that we offer is safe, effective and short-acting. You will be asleep for 5-20 minutes depending on the procedure. There is always some degree of risk with any surgery. Serious complications with sedation are very rare in our facilities. Complications may occur if a patient has ingested any food or liquid within 8 hours of surgery. Tell our staff if you have had prior complications with anesthesia or if you have had anything to eat or drink within 8 hours prior to your surgery, including gum and water.
In most cases, the patient experiences bleeding for up to 2 to 3 weeks after the abortion procedure. However, some patients do not experience any bleeding and other patients have spotting or bleeding off and on. If you have any questions about what is normal after your procedure, you can always call the office and speak with a medical staff member. A 24-hour on-call service is available after hours, in case of an emergency.
The first trimester abortion is a simple procedure performed by aspiration (suction). This procedure is referred to as a D&C (Dilation and Curettage). This procedure generally takes about 3 to 5 minutes.
If you are over 12 weeks pregnant, you will first have your cervix prepared and dilated with medication and/or sterile product made specifically for cervical dilation (laminaria dilators). This procedure is referred to as a D&E (Dilation and Extraction) and lasts 1 to 3 days. In some cases, a patient will require one or two consecutive days of dilation and will return for the procedure on the second or third day. The dilation procedure takes just a few minutes, and you will be in the clinic for a few hours on the day or days that your cervix is being dilated. In some cases, we can administer a medication on the morning of your procedure that will help to soften and dilate the cervix, this can eliminate the need for insertion of laminaria dilators and a multiple day preparation process.
Most of our patients return to work or school the day after their procedure. Please let our staff know if you need a confidential note to excuse you from work or school for the day of your procedure and any recovery time that may be needed. The admitting and medical staff will explain the DOs and DON’Ts after an in office abortion procedure.
Your support person will not be able to join you during the medical parts of the visit, including the exam rooms and recovery room. We must protect the privacy of all of our patients, and for that reason we cannot allow guest in these areas.
Currently, we are unable to accommodate guests in the clinic, including waiting areas. If you need your guest to translate for you or you are a minor, please let our staff know when you arrive at the clinic and we will accommodate to the best of our ability. This is not a decision we take lightly, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. At this time, we must put the safety and privacy of all of our staff and employees first.
When bleeding has been light for 24 hours, you may have intercourse, if you feel emotionally and physically ready. You are the best judge of your feelings.
You should use contraception when you are sexually active, if you wish to avoid pregnancy. You can become pregnant again right away after having an abortion.
Taking public transportation after an in-office abortion procedure is not recommended. You may take use a cab or ride-share service for transportation after the procedure.
When bleeding has been light for 24 hours, you may use a tampon.
In most cases, an in-office abortion procedure is nearly 100% effective. In less than 0.3% of cases, a pregnancy is not terminated on the first attempt. Such a failure is most common in pregnancies of less than six weeks’ duration. A very small percentage of patients who have an in-office abortion procedure will require a re-aspiration, or another aspiration of the uterus, if unusual bleeding occurs or if there is retained pregnancy tissue.
Most patients feel very ‘normal’ when they leave the office after having an abortion. You will probably be hungry and maybe a little more tired than normal. We recommend that you have a full meal and then take it easy for the rest of the day. It is normal to experience some mild to moderate cramping. If the cramping is not helped by over the counter medications such as Tylenol, Advil or Aleve we ask that you call our 24-hour emergency number. The bleeding is usually comparable to a normal period and some patients do not have any bleeding at all. If at any point you soak one full maxi-pad in an hour or less, you should call us immediately.
If you have had pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, fatigue or breast tenderness, these symptoms will start to go away within a few days of the procedure. If you still ‘feel pregnant’ after a few days, you should call us right away.
You may take a shower or tub bath after your procedure. Do not douche. When bleeding has been light for 24 hours, you may use a tampon. Avoid any products that contain aspirin or alcohol as they can promote heavier bleeding.
When sedation is provided, gag reflexes are temporarily suppressed. If food or liquid remain in the stomach, vomiting can occur, resulting in asphyxiation (choking). This can cause serious complications and in very rare cases death. Please inform our staff if you have had anything at all to eat or drink on the day of your procedure.
Yes. All of our doctors are licensed by the State of Illinois, are board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and specialize in pregnancy termination.
In most cases, an in-office abortion procedure is nearly 100% effective. In less than 0.3% of cases, a pregnancy is not terminated on the first attempt. Our physicians at FPA are very thorough and take multiple steps to ensure that the abortion procedure is complete. First, the physician will examine the pregnancy tissue after the procedure. Second, a post-operative ultrasound can be performed at the request of the physician to ensure that the uterus is empty.
In some cases, if you are very early in the pregnancy, we may draw blood on the day of your procedure for a Beta hCG pregnancy test, which measures the level of pregnancy hormones in your blood. We will then ask you to have another blood draw for a second Beta hCG test at FPA or a lab that is convenient for you, usually two days later. We can then compare the hormone levels and make sure that they are falling at the appropriate rate, to ensure that the procedure is successful.
Most often, you can go back to your regular activities the day after your procedure. Strenuous exercise can sometimes increase the amount of bleeding and cramping that you experience. If you notice an increase in your bleeding or cramping after exercising, you may want to decrease your activity for a few days. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. If at any point you fully soak a maxi-pad in one hour or less, after your procedure, you should call us right away.
All of our services are completely confidential. Please read our privacy policy for more information.
If you have a unique concern or special request to help protect your privacy, please inform our staff.
Yes. We will take a copy of your photo ID when you arrive for your visit. All of your medical records are confidential and if you ever request a copy or transfer of your records, we will require picture identification and your signature as part of your authorization for release.
It is always important to give accurate and current information to any physician that you see for medical care. Your correct name, address, phone number and medical history are important for many reasons. We need to be able to contact someone for you in case of an emergency, or speak with you if you have an abnormal lab result that requires follow-up care.
We Respect Your Privacy. We will never give your adult family member, or anyone, any medical information or information about your appointment, unless you ask us to. Please let our staff know if you have any privacy concerns.
You do not have to tell a parent or an adult family member about your choice, if you are planning on having an abortion procedure. This is true whether you live in Illinois or are travelling from another state.
If you choose not to involve a parent, we can take steps to help protect your privacy, when it comes to how we contact you. Please let us know:
There are some special considerations if you are using insurance to cover the cost of your care.
When you take a medication to the pharmacy, that medication will become part of your record and usually is automatically billed to your insurance.
If you have questions or concerns, please let our staff know, we are happy to help you explore your options. Your privacy is important to us and we want to help you find an option that makes you feel comfortable.
As of June 1, 2022, the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act has been repealed. That means that patients under the age of 18 can access abortion care just like any adult patient. You do not have to tell a parent or an adult family member about your choice, if you are planning on having an abortion procedure. This is true whether you live in Illinois or are traveling from another state.
In our experience, most minor patients choose to talk to a parent or trusted adult when they have an unexpected pregnancy. Some young people do not feel comfortable telling a parent that they are pregnant or that they want to have an abortion, and that is okay too. We trust you to make the best choice based on your personal situation.
No. Your partner does not need to know about your medical care if you do not feel comfortable discussing it with them. Your services with our facility are completely confidential.
There may be protesters at our office on the day of your visit. In our experience, the protesters who come to our office are not violent. According to a 2009 Chicago ordinance, if you are within 50 feet of the clinic entrance, protesters must stay 8 feet or more away from you, unless you give them permission to come closer.
You do not have to speak with the protesters if you do not want to or take any paperwork or information from them. Protesters cannot stop you or make you speak with them or prevent you from entering the office. If you use the parking lot across the street from the office or park on a nearby street, you do not have to speak with any strangers that come up to you.
When protesters are present, we often have clinic escorts at our office as well. Clinic escorts are available to help patients enter our facility safely. Our clinic escorts wear bright pink vests that say ‘Clinic Escort’, please let them know if you need assistance. We also have a security guard. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always call our office, and they can meet you and walk you into the office.
Yes, because we are not able to accommodate walk-in visits at this time.
At FPA, we are experiencing more requests for appointments than ever before. Since the Supreme Court decision was announced, patients are being forced to travel from all over the United States for essential reproductive health care.
You can make an appointment by calling our office or scheduling an appointment online through this website.
Most often some instructions are needed in order for you to prepare for your visit as well.
Generally, we have appointments for the abortion pill available immediately. For in-office abortion procedures, there is generally a 2-5 day wait, but we do have cancellations and appointments open every day if you need to be seen sooner. There is normally a 1-2 day wait for a second trimester abortion procedure.
We do not want you to delay your care for financial reasons, please let our staff know if you need help paying for your abortion. There is also help available with transportation and travel expenses.
No. A pregnancy test and ultrasound will be performed in our office when you arrive for your appointment.
If you are traveling from out of state, we will ask you to tell us more details about your medical history before your visit. This information will be reviewed by one of our medical staff members. In some situations, we may also recommend that you have an ultrasound in your home state before traveling to Chicago for abortion care.
Yes. We offer birth control to our patients immediately after the abortion, if they are medically eligible. The clinician and physician will evaluate your needs and assist you with finding an appropriate birth control method. In most cases, we provide one full year of birth control.
FPA has partnered with My-IUD.com to provide Mirena and Paragard IUDs for our patients, after an abortion procedure. If you are scheduled for an abortion and are interested in an IUD, please call us at 312-707-8988 and ask us to create a referral for you. My-IUD.com will contact you directly to get you preauthorized. My-IUD.com is unable to do authorizations on the same day as your visit. You must be preauthorized before your visit for this service. My-IUD.com has contracts with most private insurance companies, Illinois Medicaid, and Medicaid programs in many other states as well.
In most cases, you should start your birth control on the first Sunday after your abortion procedure unless you are provided different instructions by our medical staff on the day of your visit.
Starting birth control as soon as you can after your procedure may help to reduce the amount of bleeding you have after an abortion and it will often help regulate your periods sooner. If you do not start your birth control right away after your procedure it is possible for you to become pregnant again within just a few weeks of the abortion.
Yes, we insert an intrauterine device, such as the Mirena and Paragard, immediately following an abortion procedure. One of the benefits of having an IUD inserted on the same day as an abortion procedure is that we can insert the IUD while you are still under sedation, so you will not feel any discomfort during the insertion.
If you take the abortion pill, we can insert an IUD about a week after you take the medications. We will confirm that you are no longer pregnant and then insert the IUD at a follow-up visit.
An IUD is one of the most effective forms of birth control available. Please see our ‘Helpful Links’ page for more information about your IUD options. Most private insurance companies cover birth control, including an IUD. If you are not using your insurance for the abortion procedure, we are still happy to check your insurance for birth control coverage.
FPA has partnered with My-IUD.com to provide Mirena and Paragard IUDs for our patients, after an abortion procedure. If you are scheduled for an abortion and are interested in an IUD, please call us at 312-707-8988 and ask us to create a referral for you. My-IUD.com will contact you directly to get you preauthorized. My-IUD.com is unable to do authorizations on the same day as your visit. You must be preauthorized before your visit for this service. My-IUD.com has contracts with most private insurance companies, Illinois Medicaid, and Medicaid programs in many other states as well.
Finding the ‘best’ birth control method can take some time. Your needs and preferences are unique to you. Your friend may really like the depo shot but you might prefer birth control pills. Every person is different. Keep in mind that you may need to try a couple of different methods before you find the right birth control for you! We recommend that you explore your options before you come in for your visit. You can go to our birth control page for more information on available birth control options.
Keep in mind that most birth control methods do not help to protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV and chlamydia. It is important to use a condom every time you have sex to protect yourself, especially if you or your partner have more than one sex partner. Some STDs are viruses that cannot be cured, which means that they will never go away. If not treated quickly, some STDs it can make it harder for you to become pregnant in the future. At FPA, we provide STD testing and referrals for free STD testing at your request.
Our fees are based on the length of pregnancy and your out-of-pocket cost will depend on your insurance coverage. Often, insurance can help to reduce your out of-pocket expenses.
Illinois Medicaid covers abortion care. If you have current Illinois Medicaid coverage or are eligible and willing to apply for coverage, we can provide free abortion services for you. It takes about 10 minutes to complete the application for emergency coverage, in our office.
If you live outside of Illinois or are not eligible for Illinois Medicaid, please know that Family Planning Associates does offer affordable abortion and family planning services. We will do everything we can to help you get the financial assistance you need. Please let one of our staff members know if you are facing financial hardship. We do not want you to delay care for financial reasons.
Please call us for more information. We will work with you and help you obtain financial assistance so that you can come in as soon as possible for the care that you need. There is also help available with transportation and travel expenses.
We offer free pregnancy tests.
Most of our patients do not have to pay for abortion care if they live in Illinois. Illinois Medicaid fully covers the cost of abortion care. If you have current Illinois Medicaid coverage or are eligible and willing to apply for coverage, we can provide free abortion services for you. It takes about 10 minutes to complete the application for emergency coverage, in our office.
If you live outside of Illinois or are not eligible for Illinois Medicaid, please know that Family Planning Associates does offer affordable abortion and family planning services. Most patients qualify for generous financial assistance and reduced fees. We will do everything we can to help you get the financial assistance you need. Please let one of our staff members know if you are facing financial hardship. We do not want you to delay care for financial reasons.
Please call us for more information. We will work with you and help you obtain financial assistance so that you can come in as soon as possible for the care that you need. There is also help available with transportation and travel expenses.
If you have current Illinois Medicaid coverage or are eligible for Illinois Medicaid and willing to apply for coverage, we are able to provide abortion care for you at no cost.
For patients who live out of state or are not eligible for Illinois Medicaid – At FPA, we work very hard to make sure that all patients can afford our services regardless of insurance coverage. We offer discounted fees when a patient is uninsured or facing financial hardship. Many of our patients receive very generous financial assistance from The National Abortion Federation, the Chicago Abortion Fund, and other funding organizations when possible. We will work with you to help you get the financial assistance you need.
If you have current Illinois Medicaid coverage or are eligible for Illinois Medicaid and willing to apply for coverage, we are able to provide abortion care for you at no cost.
For patients who live out of state or are not eligible for Illinois Medicaid – At FPA, we work very hard to make sure that all patients can afford our services regardless of insurance coverage. We offer discounted fees when a patient is uninsured or facing financial hardship. Many of our patients receive very generous financial assistance from The National Abortion Federation, the Chicago Abortion Fund, and other funding organizations when possible. We will work with you to help you get the financial assistance you need.
There are some special considerations if you are using insurance to cover the cost of your care.
When you take a medication to the pharmacy, that medication will become part of your record and usually is automatically billed to your insurance.
We Respect Your Privacy. We will never give your adult family member, or anyone, any medical information or information about your appointment, unless you ask us to. Please let our staff know if you have any privacy concerns.
You do not have to tell a parent or an adult family member about your choice, if you are planning on having an abortion procedure. This is true whether you live in Illinois or are travelling from another state.
If you choose not to involve a parent, we can take steps to help protect your privacy but there are some special considerations if you are using insurance to cover the cost of your care.
If you have private insurance through a parent, you may not be able to use your insurance and keep your care confidential. Most private insurance companies send statements in the mail or electronically that explain the medical care provided in detail. We will help you find financial assistance if you cannot use your insurance and you cannot afford to pay for your care out of pocket.
If you have Illinois Medicaid coverage, your care should be covered confidentially without any information being sent via mail or electronically to your family – unless you ALSO have a private insurance policy as well.
When you use a credit or debit card to make a payment, the charge will state ‘Family Planning Associates’. Anyone who has access to the account will be able to view the charge.
When you take a medication to the pharmacy, that medication will become part of your record and usually is automatically billed to your insurance.
Your parent may have an email or text alert set up to notify them when a medication is ready for pickup.
The safest option, if you do not want your family to know about your prescription medication, is to use a different pharmacy chain from the one your family normally uses.
Make sure to ask the pharmacy staff if you have ever had a prescription filled with that chain and if they have any information on file for you.
Remember to request to pay out of pocket for your medications. You can use programs like Good RX for discounted prices.
If you have a unique concern or special request that would help us protect your privacy, please inform our staff.
Insurance companies will only cover services for patients who are listed on the insurance policy. Since your partner will not be receiving medical treatment from our facility, we cannot bill their insurance company for the service unless you are also listed on the plan as a spouse or a domestic partner.
We will never notify your partner about your medical care without your permission. However, if you are using health insurance that has your partner listed as the ‘primary’ on the policy (for example if the insurance is through their job), it is possible that your partner may have access to the billing information we provide to your insurance company. If this is a concern for you, we recommend that you contact your insurance company to discuss their policy on confidential services.
Our fees are based on the length of pregnancy and your out-of-pocket cost will depend on your insurance coverage. Often, insurance can help to reduce your out of-pocket expenses.
Illinois Medicaid covers abortion care. If you have current Illinois Medicaid coverage or are eligible and willing to apply for coverage, we can provide free abortion services for you. It takes about 10 minutes to complete the application for emergency coverage, in our office.
If you live outside of Illinois or are not eligible for Illinois Medicaid, please know that Family Planning Associates does offer affordable abortion and family planning services. While abortion services are not free of charge in most cases, we will do everything we can to help you get the financial assistance you need. Please let one of our staff members know if you are facing financial hardship. We do not want you to delay care for financial reasons.
Please call us for more information. We will work with you and help you obtain financial assistance so that you can come in as soon as possible for the care that you need. There is also help available with transportation and travel expenses.
If there are changes to your insurance, just let us know as soon as possible. When you arrive at our facility, the receptionist will ask to see your insurance card and your photo identification. Please be prepared with these items, or contact us before your appointment to make alternative arrangements.
If your insurance plan requires a referral, it is your responsibility to contact your primary care physician or insurance company before your visit with Family Planning Associates. If you do not have an authorized referral on the day of your appointment, we will not be able to bill your insurance for your services.
We strongly recommend that you have your referral sent to our office before your appointment. It can be sent to us via fax at (312) 707-9223 or email at info@fpachicago.com. Sometimes the referrals we receive have errors. If your physician’s office is closed or unable to respond to same day requests, we may not be able to get a corrected copy of the referral on the same day.
When we verify your eligibility and benefits, we ask your insurance company detailed questions about your coverage. If you have a deductible or co-insurance, payment due, that means you have not met (paid in full) your deductible for the year or perhaps your insurance company only covers part of the cost associated with your services.
Any payment that you make to FPA will be reported to your insurance company, at your request. This means that your payment to us will help lower your out-of-pocket insurance costs for the rest of the year, in most cases.
When you schedule an appointment for an abortion services or a gynecological service, we will ask that you provide us with your insurance information. We do this as a courtesy for our patients. Once we have this information, we can verify your insurance coverage and let you know about your benefit details before you come in for services. This information will allow you to financially prepare for your visit.
It is rare, but sometimes we receive inaccurate information about your coverage from your insurance carrier.
If your insurance coverage is terminated, even after your visit, the insurance company can refuse to pay on your claim.
Some insurance policies just do not cover elective abortion procedures.
In these cases, we can offer you our discounted, uninsured rate.
If you have any additional questions, please call 312 707-8988 and ask to speak with the insurance department.
Family Planning Associates has been providing professional, compassionate, and confidential reproductive health care, including abortion care, in the Chicagoland area since 1988.
Thousands of patients have utilized our services in the past thirty plus years, and FPA is widely recognized for the high level of care we provide for our patients. We are a referral source for many hospitals, medical groups and independent physicians throughout the Midwest.
There may be protesters at our office on the day of your visit. In our experience, the protesters who come to our office are not violent. According to a 2009 Chicago ordinance, if you are within 50 feet of the clinic entrance, protesters must stay 8 feet or more away from you, unless you give them permission to come closer.
You do not have to speak with the protesters if you do not want to or take any paperwork or information from them. Protesters cannot stop you or make you speak with them or prevent you from entering the office. If you use the parking lot across the street from the office or park on a nearby street, you do not have to speak with any strangers that come up to you.
When protesters are present, we often have clinic escorts at our office as well. Clinic escorts are available to help patients enter our facility safely. Our clinic escorts wear bright pink vests that say ‘Clinic Escort’, please let them know if you need assistance. We also have a security guard. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always call our office, and they can meet you and walk you into the office.
At FPA, we work with both male and female physicians. Our Associate Medical Director, Dr. Allison Cowett, is female and she is our primary physician. A female clinician will perform your pre-operative examination, and female staff members will be with you during your procedure and in the recovery area.
If you strongly prefer to be seen by a female physician, please let our staff know and we will make every effort to accommodate your request.
We offer free pregnancy tests.
Most of our patients do not have to pay for abortion care if they live in Illinois. Illinois Medicaid fully covers the cost of abortion care. If you have current Illinois Medicaid coverage or are eligible and willing to apply for coverage, we can provide free abortion services for you. It takes about 10 minutes to complete the application for emergency coverage, in our office.
If you live outside of Illinois or are not eligible for Illinois Medicaid, please know that Family Planning Associates does offer affordable abortion and family planning services. Most patients qualify for generous financial assistance and reduced fees. We will do everything we can to help you get the financial assistance you need. Please let one of our staff members know if you are facing financial hardship. We do not want you to delay care for financial reasons.
Please call us for more information. We will work with you and help you obtain financial assistance so that you can come in as soon as possible for the care that you need. There is also help available with transportation and travel expenses.
FPA provides abortion care up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
In most cases, you can have an abortion as soon as your pregnancy test is positive. If a pregnancy is not visible on ultrasound, usually before 5 to 6 weeks, we will discuss the benefits and risks of proceeding with abortion care with a pregnancy of unknown location. If you have an abortion before we are able to see a pregnancy in the uterus, you must agree to return to FPA for special follow-up care and watch carefully for any symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancies develop outside of the uterus, in an ovary, fallopian tube or the cervix. Ectopic pregnancies are treated very differently than a pregnancy in the uterus. This is a serious medical condition that can become life-threatening. If you are concerned that you have an ectopic pregnancy, please seek emergent medical care at a hospital. If you have already started abortion care at FPA, contact us right away. A 24-hour on-call service is available for after hours in case of an emergency.
FPA does not sell the Morning After Pill. Because this medication is now available over the counter at your local pharmacy, for women age 15 and older, we do not keep it in our office. However, we do offer the Paragard copper IUD, which is also an effective form of emergency contraction. Then it can be used as birth control for up to 12 years!
The morning after pill is a form of emergency contraception. This means you can take these pills to help prevent pregnancy, after having unprotected sex.
You may need to ask for this medication at the pharmacy window where you go to pick up medications. Sometimes emergency contraception is on the store shelf and sometimes it kept behind the pharmacy counter, like stronger cold medicines.
If you are younger than 15, you will need a prescription for this medication. It is safe for you to take this medication. Just call our office and we will be happy to help you.
The first trimester abortion is a simple procedure performed by aspiration (suction). This procedure is referred to as a D&C (Dilation and Curettage). This procedure generally takes about 5-7 minutes. First, the doctor gently opens the cervix, the opening of the uterus, a small amount — less than the size of your thumb. Then the physician uses gentle suction to empty the uterus.
If you choose to have sedation with the in-office abortion procedure, you will not feel or remember any pain during your procedure. After the procedure, you may experience mild to moderate cramping, if needed we will give you pain medication. If you choose to have local anesthesia with your procedure, we will numb your cervix, but you will feel some cramping, pain and pressure from the uterus. Some patients describe the pain as minimal while some patients find the pain to be more severe. You will be offered pain medication.
The in-office abortion is safe and works almost all of the time. The surgical procedure takes one day. The whole visit is normally 3-5 hours.
The abortion pill uses two medicines to cause a miscarriage and end a pregnancy. One medication ends the pregnancy and the other causes the pregnancy to pass. After you take this medication, it is normal to have heavy cramps and bleeding. We will give you pain medication to help reduce your discomfort. Even after taking the pain medications, we provide, you may still feel painful cramps until the pregnancy passes.
The abortion pill procedure is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy in the privacy of your home. It can be used up to 13 weeks. Approximately 1.75 million people in the U.S. and millions more worldwide have chosen the Abortion Pill to end a pregnancy. It is effective approximately 92- 98% of the time. How well the medication works can depend on how far along you are in the pregnancy.
Less than 7 weeks — Works about 98 out of 100 times the medication is taken
7 weeks — Works about 97 out of 100 times the medication is taken
8 weeks — Works about 95 out of 100 times the medication is taken
9 weeks — Works about 97 – 99 out of 100 times the medication is taken with two doses of misoprostol
10 weeks — Works about 97 – 98 out of 100 times the medication is taken with two doses of misoprostol
11 weeks — Works about 95 out of 100 times the medication is taken with two to three doses of misoprostol
13 weeks or more — Works about 92 out of 100 times the medication is taken with two to three doses of misoprostol
With the medication abortion you will have an office visit on the first day then spend 1-2 days at home completing the abortion process. The office visit for this procedure is normally 1-2 hours.
Our staff can talk with you about your options, we want you to feel comfortable with your decision.
Normally, your regular menstrual cycle will resume 4 to 8 weeks after an abortion procedure. Please note that some birth control methods can significantly change your menstrual cycle.
If you do not have a period within 8 weeks, please call us and we will schedule a follow-up visit for you at your convenience.
We work with a team of medical staff members who have special training and years of experience providing abortion care.
Abortion care is very safe, and complications are rare, but there is some risk involved whenever you have any kind of medical care or take any medication. Just like there is some risk that goes along with driving a car, flying in an airplane or even crossing a busy street. According to ACOG, The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, only about 2% of patients who undergo an abortion experience a complication associated with the abortion, and most complications are minor and easily treatable with follow-up procedures or antibiotics.
We are prepared to treat the most common complications or concerns in our office. If you have an issue after your procedure, you could need extra medication or a suction procedure to empty the uterus. For more serious complications, you may need treatment, observation or surgery in a hospital. Most of our physicians are on staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which is located just 15 minutes away from our office.
We have medical staff on call and available to speak with our patients 24 hours, every day, and this includes weekends and holidays. Call us immediately if you have a medical question or if you are having an emergency after your procedure. Our direct number is 312-707-8988. Our trained staff will speak with you any time of the day or night and may ask you to return to our clinic for an exam.
Simply put, abortion is extremely safe. According to ACOG, The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, only about 2% of patients who undergo an abortion experience a complication associated with the abortion, and most complications are minor and easily treatable with follow-up procedures or antibiotics. They also state that abortion is safer than many common medical procedures— The risk of complication or mortality from abortion is less than the same risk from common procedures like wisdom tooth removal, cancer screening colonoscopy, and plastic surgery. Lastly, they note that the risk of maternal death associated with childbirth is approximately 14 times higher than the risk associated with abortion care.
At FPA, our physicians are highly skilled and specialize in providing abortion care.
Yes, you will have the opportunity to speak with multiple staff members and medical staff before having an abortion at FPA. First you will have an exam and ultrasound with one of our Nurse Practitioners, Certified Midwives, or Physician Assistants. During this one-on-one exam, they will also review your medical health history, discuss birth control options, and answer any questions you may have. Our admitting staff will help you complete your consents and paperwork and review post-operative instructions. Lastly, you will meet the physician before your procedure and have the opportunity to ask them questions as well.
At FPA, you will have an ultrasound to determine the size and gestation of the pregnancy.
After 13 weeks of pregnancy, a blood test performed in our lab will determine your Rh factor. If your blood is Rh negative, you will be given an injection of MICRhoGAM or RhoGAM, depending on your gestation, following the procedure. There is no additional fee for this injection at FPA.
It is normal to have a range of feelings after an abortion. Studies show that most patients feel relieved, but some patients feel sadness, anger, guilt or regret. Choosing to have an abortion or not is a complex decision.
We are sensitive to your feelings before and after the procedure. We are grateful that we can offer patients a safe option to end an undesired or complicated pregnancy. For some patients, abortion is not the best option, and we have referrals for adoption and prenatal care available. Our staff is truly pro-choice and we want you to feel confident in your decision, whatever choice you make.
There is no right or wrong way to feel and that means your feelings are normal! If you are struggling with your decision, before or after the procedure help and support is just a phone call or text away. It can be very helpful to speak with someone outside of your everyday life, because they can listen and provide support without judgment or pressure.
Usually, you will feel like yourself very soon after the procedure, but if your mood keeps you from doing the things you normally do every day, please call us. There are several organizations that offer non-judgmental talk lines for patients. Their services are free of charge and offered over a toll-free telephone line. Click here for more information on these organizations.
Usually you will have some bleeding after an abortion. This bleeding is not a period, but your first period will come 4-8 weeks after the abortion.
Call us if you don’t have a period within 8 weeks of your procedure. If your period is late, please return to the office for an exam. You may be pregnant again or your period could be delayed for a different reason.
You can become pregnant again right away after having an abortion. At your visit, we will talk with you about birth control. We will help you find a birth control that you can feel comfortable using. You should start taking birth control within 7 days of your procedure, but if you are using condoms, start using them immediately.
If you start on birth control after your procedure, your period may come sooner or later than expected as different kinds of birth control change your period in different ways.