Early Options

From the moment you contact Early Options, you are immediately put at ease about your decision. From the consultative approach to the actual procedure, the entire staff is endearing, professional and provides an atmosphere of comfort that even the most nervous would appreciate. We contacted many providers claiming to offer this unique and exclusive approach yet none actually do what Early Options provides – a safe and exclusive service that is noninvasive, that is discrete and secure. My wife was back on her feet in less than hour – amazing recovery that was safe and fast. My wife and I are so grateful for their service. If one must pursue this option, we cannot say enough positive remarks about Early Options. more

One word: great - Staff is just fabulously warm and these ladies have human qualities that are far beyond what I could have expected. Service was top-notch. From welcoming me warmly when i arrived, to the extra care and genuine interest they had in me and my life, the thorough explanations and instructions given, the reassuring words, the smiles, the efficiency of the doctor and her process, the medical assistant holding my hand and distracting me during the painful few seconds of the procedure, and the time dedicated to me afterwards. This is how it is supposed to be! No judgement, people who care, great service. This private practice should get all the advertising it deserves so that less women would be likely to go somewhere else where they are treated like cattle. more

The staff here is amazingly supportive and the procedure was faster than I imagined. Post-procedure cramping was minimal, too. I am grateful to them for providing a caring and supportive space to have this procedure done more

Six years ago I found myself pregnant after being raped. I called a number of gynecologists in NJ seeking an abortion or a referral but none would help. Searching on my own, I found Early Options; I was intrigued. Not only would they schedule me immediately, they were extremely professional, empathetic, they made me feel very comfortable plus they guarded my privacy . I made an appointment for a consultation, figuring I could still back out but after speaking to the doctor, decided to go ahead with the procedure & have the ""aspiration"". It was fast, easy, painless and a quick recovery. Fast forward to the present when I discovered that I was 7wks pregnant but the baby wasn't viable. Rather than going through the pain, mental anguish, the symptoms of a possible long drawn out miscarriage or a surgical D & C, I went back to Early Options. I can't rave about Dr. Joan and ""L"", her assistant, and the staff enough. They are caring, gentle and patient, answering all my questions and calming my fears. The procedure lasted less than 5 minutes, the cramping was less than a minute. I went out to lunch and back to my normal activities afterwards and have suffered no ill effects as a result. Why this is not offered more places or why so many health care professionals are not educated about this non - invasive procedure is beyond me! more

I went to Early Options today to terminate my pregnancy at 5 weeks. I am a professional and could not take off more than half a day of work without causing a stir at my office. I called Early Options on Monday and they fit me in Tuesday. I had an abortion once before, many years ago at a clinic and it was a very scary experience. The phone receptionist at Early Options was so helpful and I honestly didn't feel like I was a bother with the many questions I had for her. I kept apologizing for keeping her on the phone so long but she never once seemed annoyed. When I got to the office, it was very discrete, something that I appreciated. There is nobody in the waiting room when you arrive and you are immediately escorted to your room. I brought a friend to keep me company and it was wonderful that she was allowed in with me. The nurse soon came in to see me and was so sweet, easy going, and just a wonderful person to have through this process. The nurse knew me 5 minutes and I felt like she was my friend/mother and that was exactly what I needed during this rough time. I didn't have to wait very long for the doctor. She was very calming and explained what I would be going through. The process seemed to go very fast. My friend was doing her best to distract me by reading a funny book and the nurse stood next to me and held my hand and helped me breathe. I'd say that was one of the most memorable parts of the visit. I truly felt that the doctor and nurse cared about me and my decision and respected me for it, something I don't think you see or expect to see at a clinic. The intense pain was bad, but it was 90 seconds at most. Nobody rushed me to get up and get dressed---I just sat with my friend in the room until I felt well enough to move. As I was leaving the office, the doctor came to give me a hug. I can't even explain how wonderful that made me feel. I never thought I'd walk out of an abortion feeling okay--well, better that okay. I would HIGHLY recommend anyone seeking an abortion to go here. It was definitely worth the cost---I don't care if a clinic would have been free, the care you receive is worth a lot more than you pay. There is no comparison between this office (and procedure) and a clinic. Please, if you have the option to come here to terminate a pregnancy, I highly recommend doing so. more

After finding out that I was a week late in getting my period, I decided to take an at-home pregnancy test. Shocked beyond belief, it was positive. My fiance felt strongly that we shouldn't keep it and I struggled with the whole idea of not keeping it. I was raised that when I get pregnant, keeping the baby is the only option. I didn't want to ruin my relationship with my fiance, so I decided to look into my options. ""Early Options"" was the first step in my Google search. I felt so comfortable with what I read on their website, that I called immediately and scheduled an appointment. I was so emotionally frazzled that it didn't even occur to me to look for/read reviews. I'm hoping that if there are people out there who are looking for the best possible option, once deciding to terminate their pregnancy, that they choose to work with ""Early Options"". From the moment I called, it was professionalism at it's best. I called at 7:30am before going to work, so no one would hear me, and there was a live, understanding person there to answer my questions and ease my mind. When I arrived for my appointment, I couldn't help but notice how clean everything was. It was a bright, clean, cheery, office- which completely helped me to feel better about what I was about to undergo. The nurse and doctors listened closey to my feelings, concerns and took an interest in who I was. The level of care and attention to detail, is something I've never experienced before. All of my options and the potential risks were thoroughly explained to me. I highly recommend this practice. I'm so fortunate that this was available to me. more

When I found out I was pregnant, my husband and I knew we would not be able to go through with it. We talked with our previous OB/GYN who suggested going to planned parenthood. After a visit to that clinic I knew their was no possible way I could go back their. They do not allow anyone back during visits with you and the only choices were to take the pill or have a surgical procedure. We spent a few days researching online and found Early options. Although it was out of state, they allow you to have a companion/spouse with you which was one of my main priorities, and they have the non-surgical aspiration method. We made an appointment and visited the Manhattan office. The office was very friendly, clean, and personable. We were treated with respect and did not feel judged at all. We were immediately escorted into a exam room, and seen right away by the doctor. She explained everything that would take place, and how I would feel during and after the procedure. The assistant that was present was awesome as well, she assisted and was very comforting during the procedure. After almost 2 weeks I feel great and had no complications or any pain. I am glad we choose to travel to this office, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great, and experienced Dr, as well as a great team of staff members. more

This was a difficult decision to make. Having a child right now was not an option for me or my boyfriend; we both have very busy lives at the moment. I went into Early Options with my boyfriend and was very nervous. I never thought I would have to make this decision and I was afraid of the procedure. The office was clean and everyone was friendly. I never felt judged. It looks more like a spa. The nurse was so nice to me and helped ease my anxiety. The doctor also came in to explain Aspiration to me. I was so thankful that my boyfriend could stay with me the whole time and the nurse too. The Aspiration was done in less than 5 minutes and I had a minute of cramping and it was over. The cramping felt like regular cramps before taking Advil. I was emotional afterwards. I think any woman would be. I'm greatful for the doctor and the nurses for helping me. They made this process a lot easier. more

More doctors should be as kind, professional, understanding and as gentle as Dr. Joan- this is NOT an easy decision for women to make. Trust me- as I am a professional woman in NYC w/ her own company-having an early abortion is very emotional for a woman. I had another when I was 19- I am now 31. Unfortunately birth control is not an option for me as my body rejects it, I have tried them all. I was not ready for a child- both my boyfriend and I have extremely demanding jobs. I found Early Options through a friend - THANK GOD. The clinic I had gone to at 19 yrs old was a horrible place- it was such a traumatic experience for me. At Early Options- the staff and doctors are so comforting and helpful from the second that you walk into the door. They greet you with kindness and explain every step and detail to you. The facility is spotless- and the atmosphere is beautiful and comforting. They also educate the women who come there about the difference of procedures and how they offer the safest options that will not hurt women's chances of having children in the future- in case they decide to become mothers later on. Dr. F is a noble women offering a controversial service within the medical industry- but thank God for her. MORE WOMEN SHOULD KNOW THAT SHE IS HERE. The company I started revolves around superior doctors in NYC and LA...I truly consider Dr. Joan an exceptional practitioner. I would recommend her to anyone..she is wonderful. I cannot express enough positive feedback about this practice. Thank you Dr. Joan from the bottom of my heart. more

Early Options is a model of how all medical care should be—not just abortion, and not just women’s health. Doctor F is a visionary, with a commitment to treating women’s reproductive decisions with privacy, dignity, and respect. I would imagine that for many people, as was the case for me, making the decision to have an abortion is something that may be painful and fraught. I can honestly say that the emotional suffering I endured throughout the course of my unplanned pregnancy began to dissipate the minute I walked through the door. The clinic is clean and discrete, the staff is attentive and kind, and the doctor is gentle, caring, and patient. I would recommend Early Options to absolutely anyone facing a similar situation. Apart from the soothing setting and the remarkably caring professionalism of the staff (it’s true that the assistant will offer to hold your hand during the procedure!), what was most surprising to me was how absolutely simple the aspiration procedure is. Done with only local anesthesia and a plastic syringe, the procedure is no more complicated or painful that a slightly prolonged pap smear. Indeed, the abortion itself was so quick, painless, and fast that once it was over, I was back on my feet in minutes and feeling great. Not quite believing in advance how simple the procedure would be, I had arranged to take the afternoon off from work, but it turned out that I could have gone back immediately had I chosen to. Once the abortion was over, I could not believe all the political and moral hoopla that surrounds this procedure! Anti-abortionists (and even many supposedly pro-choice people) describe abortion as a trauma to the body, but it was so minor and insignificant compared to the physical ills that accompany pregnancy! I had almost no cramping, very little bleeding, and the nausea from my pregnancy that I had been feeling all month began to dissipate right away. I also learned from talking to the doctor (and from some follow-up research that I did on my own) that the procedure she uses is, unfortunately, not widely employed anymore in the United States. But it is used through much of the world in places where abortion is hard to obtain and is called menstrual extraction. Because the procedure is so simple, it is one that women can administer to one another in basic clinics, and elaborate medical technologies are not required. Early Options is an actually existing instance of how abortion would be administered in an ideal world. I feel lucky to live in New York and to have had the opportunity to meet Dr. F! more

I was faced with a difficult situation. I didnt want to have an abortion but right now in my life Im not able to to care of a child. I jus started school and it wasn't good timinfg for a child right now. I want to be able to give my child the world and I cant right now. It was definetly a very hard decision. Who ever said this was easy lied. I had the aspiration procedure a week ago. This was my first abortion and hopefully my last. I found early option through the internet. I read about 30 reviews before calling them. I called them at least 5 different times before setting an appointment with them. The were very friendly over the phone and in person. I love the fact that someone can be with you through the whole procedure. My boyfriend came with me .When I got to the office it was clean and inviting. it was everything the described on there website. Dr. Washington was the best. She is a very soft spoken lady and makes you feel very comfortable and you dont feel judged on what you choose to do. First they had a consultation . Then they took blood .then an ultra sound. After I lay on the exam Chair she put a warm heating pad on my stomach. And began the Procedure. I broke done crying and they were very comforting to me and gave me time to get myself together and contiuned with the procedure. It is like a pap smear.I t did hurt alot for me. The pain is really just very bad cramps.My boyfriend and The assistant held my hand through the whole thing and also They all talked and comforted me through it. The procedure is like they said no longer then 10 min if that. After the procedure I did throw up but after I threw up I felt much better. She said sometimes this happens.They aloud me to lay down for about 15 min then she told me to walk around the room to see if I felt any better. Which I did. She gave me medicine and I was on my way. I am sad that I had to go through this but I am happy with my decision. DONT FEEL LIKE YOU DONT HAVE ANY CHOICES. EARLY OPTIONS IS A GOOD PLACE TO GO IF YOU CHOOSE THAT ROUTE. after the procedure I thought I would be fine emotional NOT. everyday for me is a working process because this isnt easy for any woman to go through. I hoped I helped whoever reads this because all the 30 reviews I read helped me be comfortable with my decision on chooseing early option and chooseing to do the procedure. And I see that im not the only woman in the world that went through this. SO thank you Early Option for giving me a second chance and thank you to the women hwo wrote a review on here. : ) more

I had the aspiration procedure about 3 weeks ago and words are not enough to describe how glad I am to have chosen Early Options. Having to make the decision to terminate a pregnancy is hard enough... I was familiar with the clinic surgical method and knew I did not want to go that route. When i discovered Early Options on line I'm not going to lie it sounded too good to be true bc in my mind I thought how can a procedure described so safe, effective and fast not be offered in clinics. I decided to make the call and find out for myself and it was the best decision I made. From the person that took my call to the nurses and the Doctor everyone was AMAZING!!! I loved the privacy not a packed waiting room, the doctors office has a very calm spa feel to it which put me at ease before I even saw the doctor. The nurses are amazing they took the time to talk to me answer all my questions and really made me feel comfortable. The procedure it self was so fast and the nurse held my hand through it all. It felt like a long paps smear and there was some cramping during but it lasted maybe 5 minutes the doctor talks you through everything so there are no surprises. I had very little bleeding after or the days to follow more like a regular period. I felt fine after and went out to lunch with a girlfriend. I felt dignfied and at ease about my decision all bc of the Early Options staff. I urge any woman reading this review that if your faced with this difficult decision please give yourself the chance to experience a safe, fast and dignified method of abortion DO NOT! go to the surgical abortion clinics where women are treated like an assembly line. I would recommend Early Options to anyone facing the hard decision of terminating a pregnancy. more

As a young woman who is usually not at a loss for words, I must say that I cannot say enough good things about Early Options. more

First, let me assure you that I am a REAL person who had an appt. at Early Options in Brooklyn in July, 2011. It started off as one of the worst days of my life. I couldn't have dreamed this place could be so wonderful. I am an EXTREMELY scared patient, and was already very sick from the pregnancy, and I immediately felt comforted as soon as I walked in. The Dr. and assistant were reassuring, kind, very thorough, did not rush me through all my questions and were completely NON-judgmental. They provided me with immense relief from my anxiety and fear. Everything on their website is accurate...I thought it seemed too good to be true, but it's not. The aspiration procedure itself is very quick..about 10 minutes and I had some cramping, but very bearable. The assistant held my hand and told me what to expect throughout..very comforting. The doctor even held my hand afterwards. You are also allowed to have a friend or family member with you throughout the ENTIRE time you are there. Other places do NOT allow this. They do a sonogram before and after which offers reassurance that everything went well. I was given as much time as I needed afterwards until I felt ready to leave. The written instructions about what to expect over the next 6 weeks were clear and detailed. My recovery went smoothly.. only a little cramping and spotting for a couple of days, and then back to normal. Also, the office IS private and clean! Appts. run on time and I saw only 1 other patient on their way out the door my entire 2 hours there. They helped me through a very negative experience with kindness, compassion and professionalism. I have never been treated that well by anyone in the medical profession before. I have no doubt that anyone who goes here will NOT be sorry and will be as grateful as I am for having found this option. SO much simpler and safer than a D&C and general anesthesia. Five stars without reservation. more

Honestly, they are just the best. I would never dare to go anywhere else. They are CLEAN, courteous, caring, understanding, patient, and above all, SAFE! This is the only place I would ever choose to go to for ending a pregnancy. I would be terrified if I had to go else where. more

My experience: I found out I was pregnant on a Thursday night. I called Early Options on Monday. They got me in for an appointment the next day. I was so early in the pregnancy that the ultrasound didn't show anything. I asked for the abortion pill, but the doctor said it was better to do an Aspiration procedure in my case since they couldn't see the pregnancy in the ultrasound. She said it's best not to mess with hormone levels when there's any chance the pregnancy could be outside the womb. She suspected the pregnancy was normal, just very early, but better to be safe in case it was ectopic. Luckily, I was able to come back the same day and get my procedure done! This was such good news because I was scheduled to leave the country for work for 3 months on Friday and I would be stationed in a country where abortion is illegal. Literally, I had just 1 week to deal with my situation. It was very stressful. NONE of the other 6 offices I called beforehand would work with me & my unique situation, including various Planned Parenthood offices, Eastside Gynecology, and two other private OBGYN's. I came in later that day for the procedure and they drew blood to test my hormone levels. I was probably in the office for a total of 2 1/2 hours, but the actual Aspiration procedure took only 10 minutes. Yes, it hurt very much, but supposedly it hurts more when the woman is earlier than 6 weeks along because there is less tissue. I was probably 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 weeks along. If I had to do it over, I would've asked for strong pain killers in addition to the 800mg of Ibuprofen & local anesthetic they gave me. Definitely. I was thankful that the nurse and the doctor were both female. I'm not sure why, I think maybe it made a stressful, personal situation less stressful. The nurse held my hand and talked me through the entire procedure. I'd recommend having a close friend or boyfriend come in the room during the procedure. I think it really would have helped me to have someone close there. The total cost was $740 cash. There were no hidden costs. I barely had any bleeding afterwards, but some minor cramping. I went in for a follow-up two days later to get my blood drawn to make sure my hormone levels had gone down. On Friday, the doctor personally called me to tell me the good news that my hormone levels had gone way down and the procedure was successful. I was able to leave for my new job on Friday as planned! Early Options really saved my life in so many ways. more

I had both procedures done about 3/2 years ago, but felt compelled to write about the experience since one of my close friends is in the same predicament I was once in right now. She would be the 2nd person I direct to Early Options. To make a long story short, I got pregnant twice: The first time 3 years ago, the second time, 2 years ago. Needless to say, I was dating someone who was horribly wrong for me and I knew deep down that I didn't want him being the father of my children. I did my research (as one should when making such a major decision in one's life) and saw EO coming up again and again in the search engines. I was impressed with the website and liked the idea of not having to cut my body up with surgery. I called the number provided. The person on the phone (I don't remember who it was) was very kind, knowledgeable, and non-judgemental of my situation. I called on a Wednesday, went in on a Thursday for a check up (to see how many weeks along I was and to discuss options) and went that Saturday for my procedure. For pregnancy number 1, I chose the ""Pill"" method. The doctor and her assistant took their time in education me about how I would feel after taking it. They knew their stuff! I felt so completely relaxed being in the office. I agree with some reviews on here that state that being in the office felt more like being in a spa. It is THAT calming. Anyways, lets get to the effects of the Pill: About 35 minutes after ingesting it, I started getting horrible cramps. My body temperature rose to 103 and I started shivering and getting cold sweats. Every person reacts differently, but this was my reaction. About an hour and a half into it, I start bleeding very heavily. Long story short, my pregnancy is terminated. I continued to bleed for about 4 weeks. The 2nd time I went to visit EO I chose the aspiration method. The procedure itself didnt last more than 7 minutes. I have a very low tolerance to pain, so I was given some painkillers, even though originally the doctor was going to inject me with a more potent painkiller but couldn't bc my veins were VERY hard to find. The aspiration itself still hurt very much (it's like having very intense menstrual cramps), but I felt fine after wards. I didn't even spot. All in all, this is THE place any woman should come to if she ever is faced with the unfortunate decision of having to terminate. I forgot to mention that after each procedure, I left with a 6 month supply of Nuva Ring, free! I couldn't have asked for a more pleasant experience. One of my biggest fears was having actual surgery and being in crowded place where I would be another number, waiting in line to be served. At Early Options, I felt like a human being. That's why I had no problem telling my close friend to chose Early Options. I will be forever grateful to the staff and doctor at Early Options. They saved my life. more

I had an abortion two months ago. It was a quite difficult decision. My mother accompanied me and she was overwhelm by how nice the staff were and the cleanest of the place. Everyone was nice. Thank you Early Abortion options. more

Went yesterday. Found them on web after making a decision I never before thought was mine to make.I read through their entire website and all the comments here prior to making my appointment. Driving to my appointment I was skeptical as the naysayers had me thinking this place was too good to be true. I decided that I would go but would high tail it out of there at the first sign of anything being amiss. I drove up, the building looked ok from the outside so I parked and walked in. The office was bright, clean, professional, looked like a doctor's office, smelt like a spa, so I sat down. I spoke with the doctor (Dr. W) and the clinician (E), they were superb. They seemed to have everything in order, nothing kitchy or chintzy about the place. So I stayed. more

I went to early options yesterday and had the aspiration procedure. This was one of the hardest times in my life and one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, but early options made this a lot easier! I am 35 years old and always dreamed of having a family, but a few months ago I was laid off, and my boyfriend and I just split up. Needless to say, I am not prepared to do this alone. I couldn't go to my family, I never felt so scared. I came across early options online and I have to admit, I was hesitant. I called them and I felt so relieved - they were so helpful and understanding and took the time to talk to me. When I came in I waited for only about 5 min, and then I was called to the back. The medical assistant was so nice and the doctor was truly amazing. She was so calming and answered all of my questions. The procedure itself wasn't that bad, yes, there is some cramping but they help you breathe through it and within a few minutes I felt so much better. THANK YOU EARLY OPTIONS!! more