Safe, Private Abortion Care and Services in Jacksonville, FL
Private and individualized abortion care in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is one of the very few cities in Florida that provides women the option of obtaining a safe abortion procedure. Our dedicated medical doctors and full time medical support staff at Florida Women’s Center provide truly safe, comfortable and confidential abortions and abortion services. Our fully licensed and exceptionally experienced full time medical doctor has been assisting women by providing abortion care for over 20 years and we provide care to women who have made the choice to obtain abortion care in a dignified, personalized and professionally run, private and safe medical environment.
As an extremely private and personal decision, a woman’s right to reproductive freedom and personal choice is protected by our United States Constitution. We realize that beyond the emotional and often difficult decisions to terminate a pregnancy is the need and responsibility to provide women with the opportunity to have a safe surgical abortion or medically induced abortion in a professional and safe medical environment. We know and respect how difficult the decision to terminate a pregnancy can often be, and we are dedicated to provide you with information you may need to come to a decision that is right for you and your individual situation. Our goal to make sure women always have a safe facility and experienced pro-choice physician to go to when this decision is being made.
No one ever wants to be faced with the decision to have an abortion. We know this is true. Often we go through our life thinking “this will never happen to me.” But as a woman between the ages of 13–50 years old, it is likely that there will be a time in your life that you will be faced with an unplanned and even impossible unintended pregnancy. The chances that a woman in her reproductive years will elect to have an abortion is almost 1 out of every 2 sexually active women of reproductive age. For some women, the choice is very clear. For others, the choice can be more difficult. We recognize and support the fact that this is now about making a decision and choice that is right for you and your personal, individual situation at this time in your life. If you decide to terminate a pregnancy, we are here to help you safely transition through that decision with safety, comfort, and understanding.
Be assured that if you are making a decision to have an abortion, you are definitely not alone. The surgical abortion in the first trimester is now one of the most common procedures performed in the United States. Although women understandably keep their medical decisions private and personal, we want you to know that if you choose to have an abortion, our physicians and staff are here to assist you in every way we can.
Parental Notification Laws in Florida
In Florida, the State legislature has implemented and imposed a requirement that any patient under the age of 18 seeking a pregnancy termination who is not an emancipated adult must comply with what are called parental notification and parental consent statutes before being able to obtain a pregnancy termination. As we have always requested that minors seeking medical care to bring a parent with her to her appointment even before this law was implemented, this simple requirement has never interfered with our ability to provide safe and immediate medical care of patients under the age of 18 years old, but in compliance with this statute, we remind minors and parents of minors under the age of 18 to please have a parent present with them at your appointment. Safety is always our highest and primary concern. For additional information, our friendly phone staff can assist you with the details of this requirement.
24 Hour Waiting Period in Florida
Florida law requires a 24 hour waiting period between the time a patient was evaluated to the time an abortion could be performed. Please understand you will be required to come to your first appointment for consent and specific evaluation, and then you will be required by law to wait 24 hours before returning to begin your medical procedure. Our office is being proactive in abiding by this law to protect our patient scheduling to provide better schedule certainty for patients seeking care from our facility. Fortunately we are open Monday through Friday with both morning and afternoon appointments and so most cases we will be able to schedule your 2nd appointment the next day for the the medical pill abortion procedures or as soon as available for surgical care after your initial visit.
Alternatives to Opioids – Florida HB 743
Alternatives to opioids Talk to your health care provider about how to treat your pain. create a safe and effective treatment plan that is right for you. Alternative Medications Advantages: • Can control and alleviate mild to moderate pain with few side effects. • Can reduce exposure to opioids and dependency. Disadvantages: • May not be covered by insurance. | ||
Non-opioid Medications | Descritions, additional advantages & disadvantages | |
acetaminophen (tylenol) | Relieves mild–moderate pain, and treats headache, muscle aches, arthritis, backache, toothaches, colds and fevers. Overdoses can cause liver damage. | |
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nSaids): Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) | Relieve mild–moderate pain, and reduce swelling and inflammation. Risk of stomach problems increases for people who take NSAIDs regularly. Can increase risk of bleeding. | |
nerve Pain Medications: Gabapentin (Neuraptine), Pregabalin (Lyrica) | Relieve mild–moderate nerve pain (shooting and burning pain). Side effects include: drowsiness, dizziness, loss of coordination, tiredness and blurred vision. | |
antidepressants: Effexor XR, Cymbalta, Savella | Relieve mild–moderate chronic pain, nerve pain (shooting and burning pain) and headaches. Depending on medication, side effects can include: drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, constipation, weight loss or gain. | |
Medicated creams, Foams, Gels, lotions, ointments, Sprays and Patches: Anesthetics (Lidocaine), NSAIDs, Muscle Relaxers, Capsaicin, Compound Topicals | Can be safer to relieve mild-moderate pain because medication is applied where the pain is. Anesthetics relieve nerve pain (shooting and burning pain) by numbing an area; NSAIDs relieve the pain of osteoarthritis, sprains, strains and overuse injuries; muscle relaxers reduce pain by causing muscles to become less tense or stiff; and capsaicin relieves musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain. Compounded topicals prepared by a pharmacist can be customized to meet a patient’s specific needs. Skin irritation is the most common side effect. Capsaicin can cause warmth, stinging or burning on the skin. | |
interventional Pain Management | Includes anesthetic or steroid injections around nerves, tendons, joints or muscles; spinal cord stimulation; drug delivery systems; or permanent or temporary nerve blocks. Medicates specific areas of the body. Can provide short-term and long- term relief from pain. Certain medical conditions and allergies can cause complications. | |
non-opioid anesthesia | Opioids can be replaced with safer medications that block pain during and after surgery. A health care provider or an anesthesiologist can provide options and discuss side effects. | |
Alternative Therapies Advantages:
Disadvantages: • May not be covered by insurance. | ||
Therapies | Descriptions, additional advantages & disadvantages | |
Self-care | Cold and heat: Ice relieves pain and reduces inflammation and swelling of intense injuries; heat reduces muscle pain and stiffness. Can provide short-term and long-term relief from pain. Too much heat can increase swelling and inflammation. exercise and movement: Regular exercise and physical activity can relieve pain. Simply walking has benefits. Mind-body practices like yoga and tai chi incorporate breath control, meditation and movements to stretch and strengthen muscles. Maintaining daily exercise and overcoming barriers to exercise can be a challenge. | |
complementary therapies | Acupuncture: Acupuncturists* insert thin needles into the body to stimulate specific points to relieve pain and promote healing. Can help ease some types of chronic pain: low-back, neck and knee pain, and osteoarthritis pain. Can reduce the frequency of tension headaches. Bleeding, bruising and soreness may occur at insertion sites. Chiropractic: Chiropractic physicians* practice a hands-on, approach to treat pain including manual, mechanical, electrical and natural methods, and nutrition guidance. Can help with pain management and improve general health. Aching or soreness in the spinal joints or muscles sometimes happens—usually within the first few hours after treatment. Osteopathic Manipulative treatment (OMt): Osteopathic physicians use OMT—a hands-on technique applied to muscles, joints and other tissues—to treat pain. Clinically-proven to relieve low-back pain. Soreness or stiffness in the first few days after treatment is possible. Massage therapy: Massage therapists* manually manipulate muscle, connective tissue, tendons and ligaments. Can relieve pain by relaxing painful muscles, tendons and joints. Can relieve stress and anxiety—possibly slowing pain messages to and from the brain. At certain points during a massage, there may be some discomfort—especially during deep tissue massage. transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (tens): TENS is the application of electrical current through electrodes placed on the skin with varying frequencies. Studies have shown that TENS is effective for a variety of painful conditions. The intensity of TENS is described as a strong but comfortable sensation. Allergic reactions to adhesive pads are possible. | |
rehabilitation therapies | Occupational therapy: Occupational therapists* treat pain through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Can relieve pain associated with dressing, bathing, eating and working. Therapy includes activities that increase coordination, balance, flexibility and range of motion. Therapy interventions and recommendations will not help if the patient does not practice as instructed. Physical therapy: Physical therapists* treat pain by restoring, enhancing and maintaining physical and functional abilities. Therapy interventions and recommendations will not help if the patient does not practice as instructed. | |
Behavioral and Mental Health therapies | Psychiatrists*, clinical social workers*, marriage and family therapists* and mental health counselors* provide therapies that identify and treat mental disorders or substance abuse problems that may be roadblocks to pain management. When used to manage pain, these therapies can take time. |
Sources: american college of Surgeons, centers for disease control and Prevention, national institutes of Health, the Food and drug administration, Harvard Health and Wexner Medical center (ohio State University)
Florida Department of Health, Office of Communications, 09-20-19
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Surgical Abortion
Abortion Pill RU-486 (Mifepristone)
Anesthesia Options
Fees for Abortion Services