I am a Board Certified family doctor and early abortion specialist.  For the past decade, I have pioneered the development of a family practice, or primary care based approach to abortion, called Early Options®.   At Early Options, women are able to end their pregnancies confidentially in the privacy of a family doctor’s office.  Women are offered the most safest methods to end early pregnancy.  These methods are endorsed by the World Health Organization.  The Aspiration Abortion method is recommended as the most safe, quick, and simple way to end early pregnancy.  This procedure can be completed within minutes, similar to getting a pap smear.  We also offer medical abortion (abortion pill) which can be completed in the privacy of your own home. 

Since the 1970′s, abortions in the United States have mainly been offered in clinic settings.  This has made women and doctors vulnerable to targeting.  At Early Options, we’re trying to change that.  Early abortion is a medically simple procedure,and  should be offered in mainstream doctor’s offices.  Most clinics recommend surgical abortion, and do not specialize in early pregnancy.  In 2000, the FDA approved mifepristone for medical abortion.  At that time, there were also advances in manual aspiration for early abortion.  The acceptance of these simple methods, made it possible to offer early abortion in mainstream medical settings.  At Early Options, we think the relationship with your caregiver is critical to a positive medical experience. You meet your doctor to discuss your options, and have a dedicated clinical assistant support you for the entire visit.  You are welcome to have a companion with you for as much of the visit as you choose. 

In my opinion, it is important to talk about our experience of abortion in order to advance our medical services, and to normalize this very common choice we have to make as women.  I believe Early Options is the model of the future.  Women should be able to end an early pregnancy with simple nonsurgical methods in their private family doctor’s office.  I hope the conversations created on this blog will contribute to this vision.