Consent policy

Welcome to the Morgentaler Clinic

Our priority is to treat our patients with understanding, empathy, and respect. We are committed to providing the best possible care to protect your health and fertility.

Medical abortion

Mifegymiso combines two medications used to induce an abortion. The first, mifepristone, detaches the pregnancy from the uterine lining. The second medication, misoprostol, will cause the pregnancy to be expelled. A nurse from the clinic will contact you by phone two weeks after you take the medications to assess the outcome of the procedure. A blood test may be necessary after you take the medications. We will provide you with a pregnancy test to take 4 weeks after you take the medications.

Your first visit

***Please do not empty your bladder before seeing the nurse***

You will meet privately with a nurse/counselor with whom you can discuss your concerns, express your feelings, or ask questions. The nurse will perform an ultrasound. If you are 9.6 weeks (70 days) pregnant or less, you can have a medical abortion. You will need to sign this consent form. Contraception may also be discussed, and you will be asked to provide a urine sample to screen for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

In the procedure room, the doctor will perform a gynecological exam if necessary. A nurse may need to draw some blood. She will provide you with information about what to expect once you leave the clinic.

Rh factor

Starting at 8.0 weeks of pregnancy, according to our ultrasound, we will perform an Rh factor test. If your Rh factor is negative (approximately 10% of the population has a negative blood type), certain precautions will need to be taken. You will receive an injection of anti-Rh immunoglobulin (WinRho).

WinRho is a preparation of human immunoglobulins containing Rh antibodies. It prevents serious complications in fetuses and babies during future pregnancies. It is administered to all women with a negative Rhesus (Rh) blood type during pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, and other situations. It is given as an intramuscular injection.

The method used to determine the Rh factor is a fairly accurate test. However, there are rare cases where the Rh-positive result is very weak, which can lead to a false-negative result. In these cases, patients will receive anti-Rh immunoglobulin (WinRho), even if it is not necessary. This product poses very few risks to your health, as the benefits outweigh the risks. Side effects are rare, minor, and temporary. The most common is mild pain and swelling at the injection site. More serious reactions, such as allergic reactions, are very rare.

At home

You will take the second medication (Misoprostol) at home. Possible side effects include breast tenderness, hot flashes, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, weakness, and fatigue. You should not plan any activities for the hours following the administration of the medication. About two-thirds of women experience a miscarriage within 4 to 6 hours of taking Misoprostol, but bleeding will continue for several days. The expulsion of the pregnancy can cause heavy bleeding and severe cramping. We recommend that someone stay with you for several hours after taking Misoprostol, until the heavy bleeding and cramping have stopped.