- Virginia Women’s Wellness
Asleep Abortions
An Asleep Abortion is an abortion where, from your perspective, you are completely asleep during the abortion and where you will not feel any pain. It is a form of intravenous anesthesia. It is a form of anesthesia that we offer during abortion procedures. Abortion procedures are generally relatively quick, lasting between 5-10 minutes in the first trimester. During that time, you will be “knocked out” (to use the words of our patients) to the point where you will not feel anything and you will not remember anything.
If you are concerned about pain, and if you would like to have a painless abortion procedure, then you should choose to have an Asleep Abortion. It is not medically necessary, the other options to an Asleep Abortion are a Twilight Abortion or an Awake Abortion. With a Twilight Abortion, this is also an intravenous sedation, but lighter. You will be “in-and-out” of sleep. You sense of pain is dulled but not eliminated. One patient said, “I felt it, but it didn’t bother me”. And you may or may not remember the abortion, but your memory may “fuzzy” or “blurry” to use the words of some patients. With an Awake Abortion, you will be completely awake during the abortion. Your provider will numb your cervix with local anesthesia, but that does not numb the entire uterus. So, during an Awake Abortion, you will feel some pain during the 5-10 minute procedure. And you will remember it. Completely.
Why choose an Asleep Abortion? Asleep Abortions are a great choice for women who do not want to feel pain and do not want to remember the abortion. But there is an additional fee for the anesthesia and you do need a driver to take you home.
Why not choose a Twilight Abortion? Twilight abortions, like Asleep Abortions, are intravenous sedation, only lighter. Both involve IV access. Both medicate you. But from the patient’s point of view, you do not get the “full effect” of being asleep. If you want to feel no pain and have no memory, then do not choose a Twilight Abortion, choose an Asleep Abortion. On the other hand, if you don’t want to be fully asleep but want some (but not complete) pain relief and memory block, then choose Twilight Abortion. Asleep abortions are more popular than Twilight, but some women prefer Twilight Abortions.
Call now to speak with our team about Asleep Abortions.
Asleep Abortion Care Up to 27 Weeks
We provide asleep abortion care up to 27 weeks, later than most providers in this region. For many women, we are the closest place they can receive abortion care at their stage of pregnancy.
Everything Done in One Visit
- In-person counseling with a trained counselor
- Ultrasound and evaluation
- On-site laboratory testing (state-accredited clinical laboratory)
- Consultation with a licensed provider
- Procedure performed during your visit
- Recovery and discharge instructions
Who This Option Is For
- You do not want to feel any pain.
- You do not want to remember the abortion (possibly for the rest of your life)
- You are afraid that you may move on the table and injure yourself during the abortion
- You are not comfortable with gynecologic procedures in general
- You don’t like metal speculums in your vagina
- You are anxious about having an abortion
Care for Women Traveling from Across the South
- Asleep Abortions with no pain and no memory
- One-day care in most cases
- No waiting periods under Virginia law
- Efficient scheduling
This allows many patients to travel, receive care, and return home the same day. Many patients travel from:
- Florida
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Texas
Respectful, Supportive Care
- Kind, nonjudgmental staff
- All-female team
- Professional, respectful environment
- Clear communication throughout your visit
Experienced Medical Care
- Serving women since 1997
- Over 100,000 patients cared for
- Licensed, board-certified providers
- On-site, state-accredited laboratory
- Team-based medical care
Private and Professional
- Discreet medical environment
- Respect for your confidentiality
- Professional setting
Anonymous Abortion Option Available
- No legal name required
- Care managed using a pseudonym and secure PIN
- No identifying information connected to your medical record
What to Expect After Your Visit
- You will be monitored during recovery
- You will receive clear discharge instructions
- Your driver will drive you home.
- Our team will be available if you have questions
Schedule Your Appointment
- Complete your care in one visit
- Choose your comfort option
- Get care without delays
- FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Asleep Abortion?
An Asleep Abortion is an anesthesia option that is available at Virginia Women’s Wellness. With an Asleep Abortion you will not remember the abortion and will not feel any pain during the abortion. In an Asleep Abortion you will perceive that after you are given the anesthesia that you will go to sleep and wake up in the Recovery Room. You will not remember anything about the abortion and you will not feel any pain.
Am I unconscious during an Asleep Abortion?
No. This is not general anesthesia. You are actually conscious, but you will not remember anything and will not feel any pain. To you, it will seem as if you were completely asleep and not feeling any pain during the whole abortion, because the anesthesia drugs block pain and block all memory. But, in reality, you are not unconscious. You are merely sedated. The correct, proper medical name for your Asleep Abortions is “conscious sedation”. “Asleep Abortion” is the name that we have given to the anesthesia and the procedure so that patients understand and know what to expect. From your perspective, what patients report to us when return for their follow-up visit, is that “after you gave me the medications, I went to sleep. The next thing I know is that I woke up in the recovery room. I didn’t feel anything and I don’t remember anything about the abortion.”
That is the patient’s perspective. However, from the perspective of the providers in the procedure room taking care of you, you are actually awake and talking throughout the abortion. You may be slurring your words and saying funny things, but you are not unconscious. And you are not in pain. However, because the drugs we give you blocks all memory, you will not remember any of the abortion.
We utilize conscious sedation for our “Asleep Abortions” because we feel that it gives the patients the best of both worlds. On the one hand, they do not feel any pain or remember the abortion, but on the other hand conscious sedation is safer than general anesthesia.
Am I Asleep During an Asleep Abortion?
Maybe. But you are not unconscious. The difference is that someone who is asleep can be awoken, and someone who is unconscious cannot. What will really happen in the procedure room is that you will be sedated with intravenous medications. These medications will block all pain and all memory of the abortion. They will also produce a “sedated” state in you. Similar to, but different than, being very, very drunk. Like someone who is drunk you may slur your words. Like someone who is drunk, you are breathing on your own. Like someone who is drunk, you may doze off and go to sleep, or you may not. You are not unconscious, but your consciousness is impaired. Unlike someone who is drunk, you may have visual hallucinations. Unlike someone who is drunk, you will not feel pain and you will not have any memory, at all, of the procedure.
What intravenous drugs do you use during an Asleep Abortion?
Why don’t you use General Anesthesia?
How far along can I be?
We can provide Asleep Abortions from 5 week to 27 weeks.