Can I be sedated if I’m getting an abortion procedure?

If you’re having an abortion procedure, you may have the option to have sedation during your procedure. One way to do this is for your abortion provider to give you anti-anxiety medication that you take by mouth before the procedure to relax you. You will be awake but should be more relaxed than usual. If you have what’s called “conscious sedation”, you’ll be awake but extremely relaxed, and the procedure should be virtually pain-free. If you have general anesthesia, which is a type of IV sedation that puts you to sleep completely, you won’t feel or experience anything during the procedure—you’ll simply wake up and it will be over. Sedation generally costs extra.