Question 1

How Much Does Mosaic Health Charge For Its Services?

Accepted Answer

All of our services, including pregnancy testing and STI/STD screenings, are free of charge. Free ultrasounds, parenting classes and more will become available after your initial appointment with Mosaic Health staff.

Question 2

Is Mosaic Health A Medical Clinic?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as a limited medical facility, we provide select medical services related to pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. We are under the direction of a licensed medical doctor and are able to answer most pregnancy test, ultrasound, STD and general pregnancy questions.

Question 3

Will My Parents Find Out If I Visit Mosaic Health?

Accepted Answer

As a limited medical facility, we have a strict confidentiality policy and adhere to medical confidentiality practices. No matter what service is provided, your results and information are kept private.

Question 4

What Type Of Pregnancy Test Do You Provide And How Accurate Is It?

Accepted Answer

We use BFP Early Pregnancy Test Strips that are 99% accurate. Learn more about our free pregnancy testing process on our pregnancy test information page.

Question 5

When Will I Get The Results Of My Pregnancy Test?

Accepted Answer

You will receive the results during your pregnancy test appointment.

Question 6

I Already Know That I’m Pregnant. Why Should I Have An Ultrasound?

Accepted Answer

Although a positive pregnancy test may be very accurate, up to 1 in 4 pregnancies will end in miscarriage. An ultrasound can confirm or determine if you have a viable pregnancy (a pregnancy that is likely to continue to full term) and how far along you are.

Question 7

I Am Pregnant Without Insurance. What Do I Do?

Accepted Answer

During your pregnancy test appointment, we can share many resources with you and provide you with a proof of pregnancy form for Medicaid enrollment for the purpose of prenatal care.

Question 8

What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

Ectopic pregnancies are pregnancies that implant, or attach, outside of the uterus. These pregnancies typically occur in the fallopian tube, but can also develop in other parts of the abdomen or pelvis.

Not only is an ectopic pregnancy nonviable, or unable to develop and survive like a normal pregnancy, but it can also cause life-threatening bleeding if left undetected or untreated.

Question 9

What Are The Symptoms Of An Ectopic Pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

While some women don’t experience any initial symptoms of ectopic pregnancies, it’s possible the first signs will be similar to those of normal pregnancy. These can include a missed period, tenderness in the breasts, and unexplained nausea. 

Because of this, many women will receive positive pregnancy tests. Unfortunately, a true ectopic pregnancy cannot develop and does not have a chance for survival outside of the womb. The longer the egg continues to develop, however, the more intense the symptoms will become. 

Some of the first symptoms that might point to ectopic pregnancies will include vaginal bleeding and pain in the pelvic region. As bleeding continues, some individuals may experience shoulder pain, lightheadedness, and fainting. These symptoms might indicate that the fallopian tube has ruptured and that there is internal bleeding.

See your doctor immediately if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms.

Question 10

Why Are Ultrasounds So Important?

Accepted Answer

If you’ve received a positive pregnancy test, it’s essential you schedule an ultrasound as soon as possible. Not only are ultrasounds an excellent way to learn about your pregnancy, but they’re also instrumental in identifying life-threatening conditions like ectopic pregnancies. 

Ultrasounds use sound waves to create images that will be displayed on a monitor for you to view. Your ultrasound scan will help identify where your pregnancy is located and if it is viable.

If an ectopic pregnancy is identified, you’ll need immediate care to remove the developing cells.

Question 11

How long after sex until a pregnancy test can be accurate?

Accepted Answer

A pregnancy test is most accurate at least seven days after your missed period. Waiting at least a week allows your body to produce detectable levels of hCG—the pregnancy hormone. Taking a test too early could result in a false negative.

Question 12

Do you offer abortions?

Accepted Answer

We do not offer abortions at our pregnancy center. We provide free ultrasounds to confirm your pregnancy. Our client advocates also supply free information on all pregnancy outcome options in a confidential environment, so you can make the right decision for you.

Question 13

What is the safest type of abortion?

Accepted Answer

All abortions come with potentially serious side effects. Some of these include:
Abdominal cramps
Vaginal bleeding
Sore breasts
Fatigue
Nausea and vomiting 

Abortion also comes with a number of emotional side effects:
Anger
Anxiety
Depression
Suicidal thoughts
Guilt
Regret

Abortion is a serious medical procedure. As with any other procedure, it’s essential to know all possible outcomes, risks, and side effects, so you aren’t caught off guard, and your health isn’t compromised.

Question 14

What are the risks of the abortion pill?

Accepted Answer

According to the Mayo Clinic, the following risks are associated with the abortion pill:
Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn't work
Heavy and prolonged bleeding
Infection
Fever
Digestive system discomfort

Question 15

Will Illinois Medicaid help with pregnancy expenses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you qualify for Illinois Medicaid, you will be insured for pregnancy expenses.

Question 16

Can I have a baby without passing along my STD?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is possible. Common STDs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and genital herpes can be passed to the baby through the infected birth canal during birth. It’s important to get tested for STDs before giving birth, so you can receive treatment and mitigate risk for the baby.

Question 17

What is an open adoption?

Accepted Answer

An open adoption plan allows you to maintain contact with your child after placing him or her with another family. You are in control of the parameters you set, and choose the amount of contact and communication you would like with your child.

Question 18

What is a closed adoption?

Accepted Answer

A closed adoption means the birth records will be closed, and you will not have contact or communication with your child or adoptive family after birth. Women who choose this kind of adoption usually do so because they want to close this chapter of their lives, and feel it is for the best.

Question 19

What Are The Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

With early pregnancy, many of the symptoms that women experience are the same, and some women may only have one or two. Every woman’s body reacts differently to pregnancy. Here are some of the most common early pregnancy symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic:

A Missed Period
Early symptoms of pregnancy can show up in various ways, but the one consistent sign that all women have is a missed period. If you experience irregular periods, you could miss this pregnancy sign. If you are a week or more past your regular period cycle date, you may be pregnant.

Tender, Swollen Breasts
If your breasts have been extra tender or swollen, pregnancy could be the reason. Your body will take time to adjust to the pregnancy hormones, which causes certain areas like your breasts to be sensitive during the transition period. Once your body adjusts to all the hormones, the tenderness should lessen.

Frequent Urination
Do you find yourself going to the bathroom more frequently than normal? When you’re pregnant, the amount of blood in your body increases. This means your kidneys are processing more fluid than normal, causing increased urination.

Nausea With Or Without Vomiting
Nausea alone is not a pleasant experience, and nausea with vomiting is even worse. Nausea with or without vomiting is common for women, as new pregnancy hormones affect the body. You may be experiencing early pregnancy if you are noticing either of these symptoms.

Question 20

What Is An Incomplete Abortion?

Accepted Answer

Abortion is a medical procedure to remove all parts of a pregnancy from the uterus. Any time anything is removed from your body, there’s the potential for serious problems. Although rare, tissue from your pregnancy can stay inside your body which is considered an incomplete abortion.

During a surgical abortion, a doctor removes all parts of the pregnancy by using scraping tools and even forceps to ensure all fetal parts are accounted for. Because the abortion pill method is performed by you, there’s no one to ensure the procedure was done correctly. 

The Mayo Clinic lists the first potential risk of medical abortion as “Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion.” You have a greater possibility of an incomplete abortion with the medical abortion procedure. 

If not taken care of quickly, an incomplete abortion can lead to long-term medical issues like infertility or even death.

Question 21

Are Women Affected Mentally By Abortion?

Accepted Answer

Abortion is a serious medical procedure with considerable mental and physical side effects. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), women with a history of abortion do experience “elevated rates of mental illness” compared to women who haven’t had an abortion. 

In a separate study, the NIH found, “fetal loss seems to expose women to a higher risk for mental disorders than childbirth; some studies show that abortion can be considered a more relevant risk factor than miscarriage.” 

Additionally, The American Psychological Association’s (APA) Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion (TFMHA) concluded that “it is clear that some women do experience sadness, grief, and feelings of loss following termination of a pregnancy, and some experience clinically significant disorders, including depression and anxiety.” 

Due to the wide variety of evidence pointing to the correlation between mental health challenges and abortion experiences, we recommend speaking with a mental health expert if you have had an abortion. If you are currently contemplating abortion and you are unsure about your decision, our team can help explain the risks associated with the procedure, as well as other pregnancy options.

Question 22

How Does The Abortion Pill Work?

Accepted Answer

The abortion pill terminates a pregnancy by utilizing two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. 

The first drug, usually taken in a clinic, blocks progesterone. Without this hormone, the uterine lining thins, and the embryo or fetus can no longer implant or grow. 

After 24 to 72 hours, you would begin taking misoprostol. This drug causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy through the vagina with cramping and bleeding.

Question 23

Can The Abortion Pill Be Reversed?

Accepted Answer

It is possible to reverse the abortion pill if you’ve only taken the first pill.

Known as abortion pill reversal, it works by adding progesterone back into your body to flood the receptors, so the pregnancy can continue. 

Progesterone has been used safely in pregnancy since the 1950s. It’s also prescribed to prevent miscarriage and premature birth.

A 2018 peer-reviewed study showed abortion pill reversal worked 64-68% to save a pregnancy from termination.

Question 24

When Should Abortion Pill Reversal Start?

Accepted Answer

If you took the first abortion pill, mifepristone, and now want to reverse the effects of the pill, time is of the essence. The sooner you start treatment, the greater the chances of success.

Call the abortion pill reversal hotline today at 1-877-558-0333 to get started on reversal.

Question 25

Is The Abortion Pill Right For Me?

Accepted Answer

Deciding if the abortion pill is right for you can be an extremely difficult choice. From exploring the risks and side effects to weighing your other pregnancy options of parenting and adoption, it can be a challenge to know what’s right. 

Mosaic Health is here to help you during this time. Our free services include the following:

1. Lab-quality pregnancy testing and ultrasound scans to confirm your pregnancy and determine its gestational age

2. STD testing and treatment to ensure you’re not at risk for further abortion pill complications and infections.

3. Options counseling with a qualified professional to help you explore all of your options, ask questions, and process as needed. 

4. Parenting courses and baby items to help those who decide parenting is right for them

Question 26

How Does The Abortion Pill Work?

Accepted Answer

Contrary to popular belief, the abortion pill is actually a two-step process, rather than a simple consumption of one pill.

The first medication (mifepristone) restricts fetal development. This happens by blocking the uterus from absorbing progesterone. The lining of the uterus thins and prevents the pregnancy from developing.

The second medication (misoprostol) is taken hours or days after the first drug. This medication causes uterine contractions, which expels the pregnancy tissue.

Question 27

What Is Plan B And How Does It Work?

Accepted Answer

You may know it as “the morning-after pill” or Plan B — whatever you call it, it’s important to know the difference between Plan B and the abortion pill.

Plan B is an over-the-counter drug that can be used within 72 hours of having unprotected sex to attempt to prevent pregnancy. Plan B prevents pregnancy by interfering with the physical processes of ovulation or fertilization, depending on when it was taken. It can also prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg if it’s not able to prevent fertilization.

It’s important to note that while Plan B prevents pregnancy from keeping the sperm away from the egg, the abortion pill is used to terminate a pregnancy that has already begun to grow and develop.

If you have already taken a positive pregnancy test, do not take Plan B. Visit your local pregnancy center for a free ultrasound scan and medical consultation to explore your pregnancy options and resources in a safe and judgment-free environment.

Question 28

Does Plan B Have Side Effects?

Accepted Answer

Side effects of Plan B may include heavy menstrual bleeding, nausea, lower abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, and delay of menses.

Question 29

What Is The Abortion Pill And How Does It Work?

Accepted Answer

The abortion pill is a two-pill process used to terminate a pregnancy in the first 10 weeks of gestation. A medical abortion process requires taking two drugs, Mifepristone and Misoprostol, to end the pregnancy.

The first drug, Mifepristone, is used to terminate the pregnancy by blocking the womb from absorbing the hormone called progesterone, which is needed to maintain a healthy pregnancy.

After the pregnancy ends, Misoprostol is taken to cause contractions and force the fetus from the uterus. The fetus will be expelled in the form of large (sometimes lemon-sized) blood clots.

Question 30

Does The Abortion Pill Have Side Effects?

Accepted Answer

Yes, women who take the abortion pill should expect to experience bleeding and cramping, as well as other potential side effects, including exhaustion, nausea, fever and chills, vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, and dizziness.

Unfortunately, the abortion pill may be accompanied by more extreme health risks, such as sepsis, infection, and hemorrhaging.

Question 31

What Do I Need To Know Before Considering The Abortion Pill?

Accepted Answer

Knowing if the abortion pill is right for you can be difficult. Before making this important health decision, we recommend taking the following steps:

1. Receive lab-quality pregnancy testing to confirm you are pregnant.

2. Receive an ultrasound scan to find out if you are eligible for the abortion pill and that you are not at an increased risk for severe complications.

3. Receive STD/STI testing and treatment.

4. Talk to a medical professional about the options available to you.

5, Learn about the resources available through your local pregnancy clinic and the community.

Question 32

When Should I Take A Test?

Accepted Answer

If you are pregnant (STDs can cause complications), sexually active, or do not use a barrier method during intercourse, then the CDC highly recommends STD testing, since those infected do not always display symptoms.  

Additionally, the CDC recommends an annual screening for all sexually active women younger than 25 years to be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia, or for women over the age of 25 who have a new partner (or multiple) sex partners.

Symptoms can include: 

abdominal pain
rash
fever
itchiness and redness around the genital area
unusual discharge
sores or warts in the genital area
If you have any of these symptoms or think you may have an STD, it’s important to get tested as soon as you can.

Question 33

How Does An Online/At-Home Abortion Work?

Accepted Answer

The abortion pill is an early termination process and is not usually prescribed any later than 70 days (10 weeks) gestation. 

The abortion pill is actually two different drugs taken 1-2 days apart. The first pill is called mifepristone, which stops your progesterone levels from increasing so the pregnancy stops growing. 

The second pill, misoprostol, is taken 24-48 hours later. This second pill will force the uterus to contract so that it expels the pregnancy and uterine lining, similar to a miscarriage.

Question 34

What Are The Risks?

Accepted Answer

With at-home abortions more accessible than ever before, this approach does not come without risks. This method poses a significant health risk to women in some cases.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are some disqualifiers to be aware of if you’re considering this approach: 

If you are later than 9 weeks into your pregnancy
If you have an intrauterine device (IUD).
If you have an ectopic pregnancy (located outside the uterus).
If you have certain medical conditions, such as bleeding disorders; certain heart or blood vessel diseases, etc.
If you take a blood thinner or certain steroid medications.
If you don’t have access to emergency care.
If you do not have any of these pre-existing conditions, there are other factors to consider before you make your decision:

Possibility of an incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
The ability to skip important health screenings
Lack of emergency care or medical supervision
Unverified ingredients

Question 35

Are STDs Contagious?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Sexually transmitted diseases, also called sexually transmitted infections (or STIs), are transmitted through sexual contact from one person to another, through the vagina, mouth, anus, and gential skin-to-skin.

Because STDs are widespread and contagious, if you are sexually active, there’s a chance you could be infected.

Question 36

How Do You Know If You Have An STD?

Accepted Answer

Because an individual can be infected with an STD with little to no symptoms, the only way to know for sure is to receive STD/STI testing. If you are sexually active, testing should be considered a part of your routine healthcare, as you may be spreading an infection or disease without knowing it.

Question 37

Where Can I Receive Free STD Testing?

Accepted Answer

Not only is STD testing an essential part of ensuring you’re healthy and informed, but it’s also easy and free through your local pregnancy clinic!

Question 38

What Are the Health Risks of an Abortion?

Accepted Answer

According to the National Library of Medicine, risks of surgical abortion may include the following:

Internal damage from one of the surgical instruments
Excessive bleeding that gets worse instead of better
Infection
Scarring
Reaction to the medicines or anesthesia used
Not removing all of the tissue, requires another procedure

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the complication rate of surgical abortion is about 2 percent.

Question 39

How Will an Abortion Affect Me Physically?

Accepted Answer

Recovery after an abortion procedure is different for every woman. Some side effects are short-lived while some women will experience long-term side effects such as health complications in future pregnancies.

Question 40

What Is an STD?

Accepted Answer

STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), sometimes called STIs (sexually transmitted infections), are disease-causing infections passed from one person to another via sexual contact.

Sometimes these pathogens can be passed on to infants during pregnancy and childbirth or from persons sharing needles or contaminated blood transfusions.

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