FAQs

About CHOICES

What insurance do you accept?

We accept most major insurance providers, as well as Tennessee and Illinois Medicaid for some services. Call our clinic for information about exactly which policies are accepted. If you do not have insurance, we also have a “cash pay” option, with financial assistance available for some patients.

Where are you located?

Our Memphis clinic is located at 1203 Poplar Avenue. The parking lot entrance is on Bellevue Avenue.

Our Carbondale clinic is located at 600 N. Giant City Road. The parking lot is directly in front of the building, and patient check-in is inside.

Do you offer financial assistance?

If you’re in need of assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Most of the people we care for qualify for financial help, and we’re here to make sure you get the support you need. Simply give us a call at (901) 274-3550, and our team will be happy to help you with your request!

Learn more about our Patient Discount Fund.

Birth Control

What is the best method of birth control or contraception?

People use birth control for a variety of reasons, whether it be to prevent pregnancy, regulate periods, treat a medical condition, or a number of other valid reasons.

Making decisions about birth control is not easy – there are many things to think about. Learning about birth control methods you or your partner can use and talking with your doctor are good ways to get started.

There is no “best” method of birth control. Each method has its pros and cons, and everyone has their own unique preferences for which method they like to use. The birth control method you choose should take into account your overall health, sexual preferences (your sexual orientation, how often you have sex, the number of sexual partners you have, etc.), if you want to have children, how effective each method is at preventing pregnancy, any potential side effects, and your comfort level with using the method.

What are the different birth control methods that I can use?

There are many methods of birth control that a person can use. Talk with your doctor or nurse to help you figure out what method is best for you, or check out the resources on our birth control page for more information.

Will birth control pills protect me from HIV and other STIs?

No. Condoms are the only birth control method that is proven to help protect you from HIV and other STIs. If you are allergic to latex, there are condoms made of polyurethane that you can use.

What is emergency contraception (or emergency birth control)?

Emergency contraception, or emergency birth control, is used to help prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex (sex without using birth control). “Unprotected” can mean that no method of birth control was used. It can also mean that a birth control method was used but did not work (like a condom breaking). Or, a person may have forgotten to take their birth control pills, or may have been forced to have sex when they did not want to. Emergency contraception should not be used as regular birth control. Other birth control methods are much better at preventing pregnancy. Emergency contraception does not protect against STIs or HIV. Emergency contraception can be a pill (like Plan B or ella), Paragard® copper IUD, or LILETTA® or Mirena^® levonorgestrel-releasing IUD.

Emergency contraceptive pills need to be used as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse and no later than 5 days after the encounter.

Are emergency contraceptive pills the same thing as the “morning after pill”?

Yes. Emergency contraceptive pills are also known as “morning after pills,” Plan B, or next day contraception.

Can I get emergency contraception at CHOICES?

Yes! We often have emergency contraception pills available for free without an appointment – but please call us first to make sure we have it available before coming in.

Is emergency contraception the same thing as the “abortion pill?”

No. Emergency contraception can keep someone from becoming pregnant, but it will not end an existing pregnancy. The abortion pill (Mifeprex, also called RU-486) works after pregnancy (after a fertilized egg has attached to the uterus). The abortion pill makes the uterus force out the egg, ending the pregnancy.

LGBTQ+ Health

Why is it important to tell my doctor about my sexual orientation and gender identity?

When your health care provider knows about your sexual orientation and gender identity, they can give you even better health care. However, it is understandable that you may be afraid to come out to your doctor, especially if you’ve had bad experiences coming out to other folks in the past.

Why would you get better care if you’re open about your gender identity and sexual orientation with your provider?

Because your provider can then ask you more specific questions about your sexual practices and know what kinds of tests they should run. If partners are regularly having anal sex, then the provider can offer an anal pap smear. If you are trans, then your provider can understand why you may be taking hormones and be sure to not prescribe something that will react badly with testosterone or estrogen.

I’m transgender, and I want to use hormones. Are there any risks?

Yes, there are some risks. If you work with a physician or nurse practitioner, then you can minimize the risks. Do not believe everything you read on websites about hormones! The most accurate information can be gathered by talking to a trans-friendly health professional

PAP Tests

What is a PAP test?

A PAP test is a screening test for cancer.

How often do I need a PAP test?

If you’re over 21 years old:

Most people who have a cervix need a PAP test every 3 years starting by age 21.
Some people with an abnormal PAP tests result will need to repeat a PAP smear every 6 months.

If you’re under 21 years old:

If you have been sexually active for 3 years or more, you should have a PAP test.
All sexually active people with a cervix should have a PAP test by the time they are 21 regardless of how many years you have been sexually active.

Pregnancy

Can I be pregnant and still have a period?

It is possible to have some light irregular bleeding during pregnancy, but it should not be like a “normal” period. Some people can confuse this for their period because often it can come right around the time they were expecting their normal period. The irregular bleeding or spotting that can occur during pregnancy is often a dark brown color or a light pinkish.

STIs and HIV

What are common signs or symptoms of sexually transmitted infections?

The most common symptom of an STI is having no symptoms at all. This is why regular STI testing and condoms are so important! Some people also experience the following symptoms when they have an STI:

Itching around the vagina
Discharge from the vagina
Discharge from the penis
Pain during sex
Pain during urination
Pain in the pelvic area
Sore throats in people who have oral sex
Pain in or around the anus
Sores on the vagina, penis, anus, tongue or throat
Small blisters or scabs on the vagina, penis, or anus
Soft, flesh-colored warts around the vagina, penis, or anus

Which sexually transmitted infections are curable?

Gonorrhea
Chlamydia
Trichomoniasis
Syphilis

Which sexually transmitted infections are treatable?

Herpes, Types 1 and 2
HIV/AIDS

How do you get an STI?

You can get and pass STIs through vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Trichomoniasis can also picked up from contact with damp or moist objects such as towels, wet clothing, or a toilet seat, if the genital area gets in contact with these damp objects. Some STIs cause no symptoms, but can still be passed from person to person even if there are no symptoms.

How do you get tested for STIs?

Depending on the STI, your practitioner may do a pelvic exam or genital exam, cultures may be collected of discharge or sores for the precise diagnosis of the illness. Urine test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea is available, and a blood sample may be drawn to test for Syphilis and HIV.

How are STIs treated?

The treatment depends on the type of STI. For some STIs, treatment may involve taking medicine or getting a shot. For other STIs that can’t be cured, like herpes or HIV, there is treatment to relieve the symptoms and help prevent spreading it to sexual partners.

Abortion

What are the medical reasons someone could not have a procedural (aspiration) abortion?

Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Uncontrolled seizure disorders
Bleeding disorders

What happens during my procedural abortion appointment at CHOICES?

You will complete several forms including a Medical History form, Demographic Information form and Consent for Provision of Services form
You will spend time with a patient educator discussing your Patient Concerns form, eligibility for financial assistance, and any other questions you may have about your procedure. Your patient educator will also schedule your second appointment.
You will meet with the doctor to discuss the risks and benefits of childbirth and abortion.
You will have lab tests done, including a measure of your hematocrit and Rh typing. We will also check your vital signs to make sure you are in good health for the procedure.

You will see the nurse, where you will be given pre-operative medications to help alleviate the pain and discomfort of the procedure. The nurse will also provide you with your aftercare instructions.
In some cases, additional pre-operative medications are administered (Misoprostol) to prepare your cervix for the procedure.
The doctor will perform the procedure (more details below).
You will spend 15 minutes in the recovery room before being discharged to go home.

How effective is the procedural abortion?

The procedural abortion is very effective. It works 98 out of every 100 times.

How safe is the procedural abortion?

Procedural abortions are very safe, but there are risks with any medical procedure. Statistically, abortion is safer than childbirth. The risks increase the longer you are pregnant. Possible risks include:

an allergic reaction
blood clots in the uterus
incomplete abortion — part of the pregnancy is left inside the uterus
infection
injury to the cervix or other organs
undetected pregnancy outside of the uterus
very heavy bleeding

Most often, these complications are simple to treat with medicine or other treatments. In extremely rare cases, very serious complications may be fatal.

What happens during your medication abortion appointment?

We will check your vital signs to make sure you are in good health for the procedure.
You will see the nurse, where you will be given instructions for taking the pills, as well as after-care instructions.
You will meet with the doctor to discuss how to use the abortion pill and how the medication abortion process works.
The doctor will give you the first abortion pill to take at the clinic (the rest will be taken 24-48 hours later.
You will also be given some cramping and anti-nausea medications, as well as antibiotics.

What happens during the medication abortion process?

Expect to have cramping and bleeding with the medication abortion. Bleeding is a sign that the abortion is working and can last for several hours but should not last longer than 24 hours. You may pass blood clots that are up to the size of a lemon. This is normal. Cramps and bleeding usually begin to ease after the pregnancy tissue has passed, but lighter bleeding, like a period, may last for several weeks. You will receive detailed written instructions and a chance to discuss the process in more detail at your appointment.

How effective is the medication abortion?

The abortion pill is very effective. It works about 92 out of every 100 times. You’ll follow up with a health care provider after your abortion, so you can be sure that it worked, and that you are well.

How safe is the medication abortion?

Most patients can have a medication abortion safely, but all medical procedures have some risks. Rare, but possible risks include:

an allergic reaction to either of the pills
incomplete abortion — part of the pregnancy is left inside the uterus
infection
undetected ectopic pregnancy
very heavy bleeding

Most often, these complications are simple to treat with medicine or other treatments. In extremely rare cases, very serious complications may be fatal.

Does CHOICES have any assistance available to help patients pay for abortions?

Yes. We believe that no one should ever have to make a decision between paying their rent, feeding their family, and paying for healthcare. Financial assistance exists to help make sure that our patients do not have to make that decision. Call us at 901-274-3550 for more information. If you would like to donate to the Patient Assistance Fund, please click here.

Do I need to make an appointment?

Yes, CHOICES provides all services by appointment only.

What is an abortion follow-up?

One of CHOICES' physicians will call you after your medication abortion to check in and make sure the medications worked properly. If necessary, you will be scheduled to come in for an in person follow-up appointment.

I’m worried about pain during the abortion. Does it hurt?

The discomfort felt during abortion comes from muscle cramps, similar but stronger than menstrual cramps. Patients may experience mild to heavy cramps during the procedure. To help with pain management, we recommend taking 800 mg of ibuprofen (e.g. Advil) or acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) every 6 hours starting the day before your appointment and including at least 1 dose the day of your appointment before you come to the clinic. You should also plan to take 600-800 mg of ibuprofen or acetaminophen every 6 hours for 3-5 days after your procedure.

Can CHOICES put me to sleep during my abortion procedure?

Yes, we do offer free, optional sedation and an optional one-time, pre-procedural dose of anti-anxiety medication. A driver must be present to pick you up after your appointment if you choose either or both of these options.

What happens after an abortion?

If you have the ability to take the next day off work, it’s great to be able to “take it easy” that day. Avoid aspirin because it can increase bleeding. We recommend not lifting heavy objects for the same reason. You may have cramping as the uterus returns to its pre-pregnant size. Other than cramps, you are not really “sore.” You can certainly go out that day, but if you can “take it easy” and stay home relaxing, you will probably feel better. You don’t have to stay in bed.

More information is available on the aftercare handout you will receive at the clinic. For 7 days after an abortion, avoid sex or putting anything in your vagina because it may increase the risk of infection. At our clinic, we give patients a 24 hour hotline number they can call to reach the clinic if they have any questions, concerns, or problems after the abortion.

I still haven’t had a period since my abortion. When should my period start?

A normal period should begin 4 to 8 weeks after your abortion procedure. It varies depending on the individual. The body may or may not need some time to re-establish its cycles.

Is it possible to still be pregnant after abortion?

For procedural abortions, it is not possible to still be pregnant after the procedure is completed. It is possible that initially the pregnancy could be “missed” during an early (5-7 weeks) procedure, but the doctor carefully evaluates the tissue that was removed from your uterus right after the procedure to make sure all the fetal tissue is there. If they don’t find all of it, they will tell you and re-aspirate while you’re still there at your appointment. This means that you can leave CHOICES that day feeling 100% sure that you are no longer pregnant.

For medication abortion procedures, which are effective 92 out of 100 times, you will need to have a follow-up appointment to be sure that the abortion procedure was completed. In the unlikely chance that the medication procedure does not work completely, you will need to then have a procedural (aspiration) abortion procedure to ensure that the abortion is complete. This additional procedure costs you no extra money–CHOICES will cover that cost for you. After this procedure, you can be 100% sure that you are no longer pregnant.

Will multiple abortions affect my ability to get pregnant in the future?

The possibility of fertility problems is the same as if you had never had any abortions — abortion does not affect fertility. The fact that you have gotten pregnant in the past indicates you are fertile and you can most likely get pregnant again. Statistically, people become less fertile as they get older, but statistics cannot predict fertility in any one individual.

Post-abortion complications are rare – they occur in less than 1% of abortions. Of those less than 1% of abortions, very few result in the inability to become pregnant.

Is there support available after my abortion?

Yes. Check out our resource page.

Teens

Can a teen get an abortion?

Yes, but the requirements may vary state by state. Call to learn more.

Can a teen get birth control and STI testing?

Yes. In the state of Tennessee, minors between ages of 13 and 17 can request and receive family planning and STI testing services without the permission of their parents or guardians.