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Ryan Center

FAQs - The Ryan Center

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding The Ryan Center and the abortion process: 

Are there self-pay options available?

Yes, please call (773) 702-6118 for information about self-pay options and costs.

First-trimester pregnancy termination (abortion) options: 

If you are less than 11 weeks pregnant, you have two options for termination. One option is a surgical abortion, called a Dilation & Curettage (D&C), which can be performed in the office. The second option is a medication abortion, which is completed at home.

How do I choose between a D&C and a medical abortion?

The choice between a medication abortion and a D&C is mostly a personal decision. Below are the differences between the two options.

Medical Abortion D&C
  • Requires no surgery
  • Potential for greater privacy
  • People report it being "like a miscarriage" or it "feeling more natural"
  • Expect to have heavy bleeding at home 
  • The patient needs to return to the clinic to ensure the procedure was successful 
  • Some women experience other side effects, such as nausea or fever from the medications 
  • It requires fewer office visits 
  • The procedure time is very short 
  • Women do not have heavy bleeding at home
  • Has the risks of all surgical procedures (bleeding, infection, damage to surrounding organs)  

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology