Houston Women’s Clinic

I have very mixed feelings about my experience at this clinic. The nurses and staff were overall extremely warm and caring, especially the ones in the front and those who took my vitals and gave me my medication.
On the other hand, during my first appointment, I was called by a number for the entire time. I understand the privacy issues that this method is trying to address, but it felt cold and impersonal. I was very upset, as, like with most women, making this decision was extremely difficult for me. Being called by a number did not help.
When I came back for my second appointment, I was called by my name, which was an improvement. I only waited about 20 minutes before being called to the back where a nurse pricked my finger to check my RH, took my blood pressure, and administered medication for pain, nausea, constipation, and to soften my cervix.
I made it very clear during both appointments that I suffer from anxiety and preferred IV sedation. I was assured that I would be put into a twilight state, which is what I expected.
When the time came for me the have the procedure done, suddenly everything was rushed. I had worn a dress, and was instructed to just take off my panties and pull up the dress above my waist. I was then instructed to lay on the table with my legs in stirrups. A nurse put an IV in my arm and told me that there would be a sting. Unfortunately, there was not a sting. Instead a cramp coursed up my arm and I FELT ABSOLUTELY NO SEDATION. I told the nurse this, but she ignored me. The doctor had come in at some point during this time and he didn’t even greet me. Even though I said several times that I was not sedated, the doctor went ahead with the procedure. It was extremely painful and I was in excruciating pain afterwards. I was cleaned up and led to the recovery room, where all of the other women were sleeping. Instead of resting, I was writhing in pain, due to having not been sedated AT ALL.
I was not offered anything to eat or drink — apparently Sprite and crackers are the norm. Though I was moaning and writhing in pain, the nurses barely paid attention to me, and instead maintained a diatribe about the protestors outside. They were more involved in their conversation than checking in on a patient in obvious distress. After a while, a nurse finally came over and asked me what was wrong. I told her that the sedation did not work and that I was in a lot of pain. She then gave me another pain pill, which of course didn’t kick in until after I’d already returned home. They went ahead and called my boyfriend to come and get me, as I clearly was not sleeping, so all in all, I was out of the clinic within about 20 minutes of having the procedure. The pain was unbearable all the way home (about a 15 minute ride) — each pothole was like a stab to my uterus.
I believe that the pain management and attitude toward me and my concerns at this clinic on this particular day were negligent. I cannot speak for the clinic as a whole, but my experience was, from the procedure on, truly horrible.
Though I am happy that this clinic exists and that I have access to abortion services in my city, I do believe that the staff and the doctor need to take more care with their patients. At the least, make sure that the patient is sedated before beginning the procedure and maybe even greet the patient before sticking a tube into her uterus to vacuum out the pregnancy. The procedure is invasive enough as it is without feeling like you are being manhandled and rushed to the next step to make room for the next woman.

I yelled out in pain when a needle was inserted into my birth canal during an IUD insertion. Dr. Rosenfeld and his assisting nurse raised their voice to me and made it very clear that crying out in pain, something very natural, was unexceptable and I was told not to do it again because of other patients in the waiting room who were scheduled for abortions. He was very cold, never made eye contact and left the room mumbling the steps I should take in the coming weeks. He was more concerned with me scaring other patients and had little concern for me or my pain. With the exception of a few nurses this place isn’t going to treat you like an individual or with very much compassion. You are cattle here. Come in, pay your fee, get your abortion AND don’t you dare scream out in pain. I think this Dr. has lost his compassion for the individual and their personal experience. A «hello», a handshake or even a smile works wonders for women who are scared & nervous. And if you don’t want women screaming out in pain then you should politely let it be known. Also, it’s not the patients’ responsibility to reassure other patients of their decisions. If a scream inspires someone to leave and change their mind it most definitely is not my fault or yours. Treat your patients with compassion, Sir. We are individuals and not objects or robots and we are not sitting on a makeshift line waiting for our turn to be examined. I’ll never go back to this place. Wish I could rate this with no star.

This place is amazing! I would recommend it to any woman making a hard decision. You are with in your own support team of girls, and you can really feel a sense of sisterhood being in this clinic. You have patients, and the staff for moral support. I can’t thank this team enough for all their help in this really hard time. There are so many resources they can connect you with to help as well I would recommend this to woman that needs the help. Keep up the good work at this clinic!

Of course no one wants to make this decision but if you do this place is where you want to go. The staff is so nice. I hate being called sweety and honey by girls but when they did it it was comforting and what i needed to hear to feel human. Its a two day process. The first day you pay 80 and they do an ultrasound and take your vitals and tell you step by step what will happen during the procedure. They were not judgemental at all. They only gave you honest medical information. Even the only patients are sweet. The second visit you take a variety of pills including valume. After a bit they call you in the room and start the procedure. They start the iv and it will knock you out. I barely remember seeing the doctor and i felt no pain. I promise. It was like 30 seconds and it was over. The nurses held my hand the whole time. Then they put you in a recliner and give you crackers and wait for your ride home. They help you to your car and thats it. This part cost 400. I was so scared but the whole staff was absolutely wonderful. Only you know what is best for you. And this is the place to go.

No one wants to make this decision. And for some people — it is a necessity. If you have a miscarriage and need a D&C done, this type of establishment is still where you may need to go.
Regardless, I found myself at Houston Women’s and was distraught. Yes, the place is packed. Yes, sometimes it’s wall to wall. But what I appreciated most of all was the care and concern I received from all employees here — from the security guard to the doctor himself.
I found myself near or in tears several times. No one treated me as if I was some loser or bad person. It was more appreciated than they could ever know.
It’s two day process. Process one included getting blood work done and an ultrasound. The ultrasound was the worst as it makes it «real». But you can choose to not view it. After speaking with a counselor privately about any concerns you may have, you then wait to talk to the doctor himself. This was much appreciated. He was kind and wanted to remind me that because of my age (early 30’s), that my fertility will decline naturally so having this child may be my last chance at motherhood. I told him that I understood but already have a son.
We scheduled my appointment for the following day at 8:30. I got there early at about 8:05 and was called back early. I waited with other women for about 20 minutes but was given several pills. About four anti-​anxiety pills (two each of two different kinds) to make me more relaxed and drowsy, a pill to soften my cervix and to make my uterus contract as well as anti-​nausea and anti-​diarrhea pills. I was then walked to a darkened room with about 5 other women who had clearly had their pills and were feeling the effects.
We all began talking and this eased me as well. All were nervous. Some had been through this before and others were new to this as I was. We all were feeling loopy from the drugs. The pill that effected my cervix and uterus caused some cramping, but not worse than period cramps. And in about 30 minutes, (this gave enough time for the medications to work) we started being called into the procedure room.
I was understandably nervous. I was asked to undress from the waist down and to put a gown over my bottom half. The nurse was very patient and kind and gave me an IV of more medication that made me loopier. As I stared at the ceiling, it clearly began to take effect and I honestly can’t recall if I was awake or not. I don’t remember hearing the doctor come in. I can recall hearing a sound but I don’t recall hearing voices until I was asked to sit up. I asked if it was over already. The nurse smiled and assured me that it was.
After receiving help to put my clothes on, I was brought to the recovery room where more women were in leather recliners. I remembered them from the room after we had taken our medications. We held short small talk about how «well» it went. Some were upset from the emotional part of it. I passed out a couple of times after drinking the Sprite that they offered me, (I declined other beverages and crackers).
Then I was told that I could go to the bathroom and was then walked out to the SUV at the side door where my mother was waiting for me.
This was hard. I’ve always been pro-​life and its easy to say you feel that way until you find yourself in an awful situation. But I can honestly say that the doctor and staff at Houston Women’s were compassionate, helpful and never once treated me as if I was some scum or loose Jezebel just wanting to get rid of my unwanted child.
I’m so grateful to the staff for making this horrible situation more bearable. I will never forget them for that.