Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Abortion remains legal in the State of New Mexico at all stages in pregnancy. However, we cannot give you any legal advice regarding abortion in your state. 
You can call the Repro Legal Helpline at 844-868-2812 for any additional questions you may have. You can also visit their website at www.reprolegalhelpline.org 

When you make your appointment, please let them know that you would like resources for financial help. We can provide referrals to groups who may be able to help with the cost of your procedure, provide travel assistance and much more. We also have in-clinic funding that may be available.

We accept straight New Mexico Medicaid. Please mention your medicaid information over the phone so we can verify eligibility.

No, but we can discuss funding options that are available. 

We provide care for patients up to 34 weeks of pregnancy.

Yes. We offer keepsakes and/or grief support to anyone who wants it. Keepsake options can be deeply personal and we will do our best to accommodate requests.

At VAG Clinic, abortion is safe, and no condition automatically prevents someone from receiving care. In some cases, though, it may be safer to get an abortion in a hospital setting. When you call to schedule, we’ll ask a few questions about your health history to ensure we can safely care for you in our clinic or coordinate the best setting for your needs.

Yes. There are no lifestyle choices that would prevent you from being able to receive abortion care. 

No, New Mexico does not have parental involvement laws so minors don’t need to bring a parent or guardian. 

You may bring support people into the clinic but make sure to mention this over the phone when making an appointment as we will not allow unexpected people in-clinic. 

You may bring children into the clinic, as we have designated areas for them. Children are not to be left unattended and must be supervised by someone over the age of 18 at all times. Please bring a support person over the age of 18 to supervise your children if bringing children to your appointment(s).  

We offer oral and IV sedation. All patients who would like any form of sedation must have someone drive them home or to their hotel, which can include a rideshare service. Many people have their first trimester abortion procedure without sedation and only use numbing medication. If you do not want any sedation at all, you do not need to have anyone drive you home and are safe to drive yourself if you choose. 

We pride ourselves in providing attentive, and personalized patient care, meaning that your appointment duration will vary. Most patients can expect to be in the clinic for 4-6 hours for single day procedures or the first day of their care. The duration of the following appointments can be discussed over the phone. We recommend booking travel for the day following your abortion, if possible. We will always aim to provide care in a timely fashion, however we cannot guarantee or promise a check-out time especially on days with many patients.

We have many ways in which we can increase the level of comfort during your procedure. We have numbing medicine, medications that you can take by mouth, and medications that we give you through your veins. The medications make you feel sleepy, groggy, loopy and relaxed–some patients report not remembering the procedure afterwards. We do not offer general anesthesia (like during surgery), which means you may still experience discomfort, like sensations of pressure or cramping. Our goal is for you to be as comfortable as possible.

Most people can return back to normal activities within 24-48 hours, but are encouraged to gently increase activity level in the first week. Light to moderate bleeding or spotting can continue for days to a few weeks. Pain can usually be managed with ibuprofen or acetaminophen, heating pads, rest, and comfort measures. Fertility can return to what it was before pregnancy quickly. Birth control can be started right away if desired.

Note: You can expect to test positive on a pregnancy test up to 6 weeks after your abortion, even though you are no longer pregnant.