Frequently Asked Questions
At Luminous we believe that every woman is precious and deserving of really excellent and beautiful healthcare! Because of that, we have generous donors who help to make sure all women in our community can receive our services 100% free. While we do charge small fees for some of our family planning programs (to pay the instructors) scholarships are available so that these programs can be available to everyone at no cost. Ask us about our scholarships!
Birth control, also known as artificial contraception, comes with a variety of health risks – some of which can be health and life altering. Mainstream health practitioners prescribe birth control as a means of treating a wide variety of women’s reproductive health issues, but there are other, more natural and healthy treatments.
You are unique and so are your cycle and symptoms. Therefore, you deserve the best, most customized treatment possible. We offer education, resources and referrals to natural fertility specialists so you can be empowered to give your body the very best!
Just as literacy is the ability to decode the signs and symbols of a language into meaningful communication, so then Body Literacy is the ability to understand and interpret the signs our cyclic female bodies give us each day.
Women can learn to “read” their bodies. Specifically, Body Literacy teaches the four phases of the menstrual cycle, female biomarkers and what they signify, recognizing ovulation as the main event of the cycle, and an understanding that hormonal health affects overall health.
It is only in understanding how our bodies exist in a state of health that we can exercise a truly informed consent over our lifestyle and medical decisions.
Cycle Charting is a record, either written or digital, of specific observations a woman keeps about her body each day.
Cycle Charts primarily may include data on the Cycle Day, Cervical Fluid (sensation and observations), Basal Body Temperature, and/or Urinary Hormones.
Simply put, Cycle Charting is a woman becoming literate of her own body, empowering her to better understand her health. Cycle Charts can be used as effective diagnostic tools to identify underlying hormonal imbalance, as well as tools for both achieving and avoiding pregnancy.
The Fertility Awareness approach to family planning combine general Body Literacy knowledge with Cycle Charting to assist a woman or couple in determining days of possible fertility. If a couple wishes to conceive, they have the insight needed to time intercourse during moments of peak fertility, increasing their chances of conception. If a couple wishes to avoid pregnancy, they abstain from intercourse and all genital contact on days of possible fertility.
At Luminous we believe family is important. We welcome your partner, family or friend at your appointment if that’s the most comfortable thing for you to do.
You missed your period and suspect you might be pregnant but aren’t sure what to do. You probably have lots of questions right now. Your first step to clarity is with a no-cost self-administered pregnancy test at Luminous. If you are pregnant, we offer no-cost ultrasound and pregnancy counseling so you can weight out your options.
An ultrasound is an important part of protecting your health as you navigate an unexpected pregnancy. Get an ultrasound to confirm three vital pregnancy details:
- Viability (whether your pregnancy has a heartbeat & the pregnancy is progressing)
- Pregnancy location (whether your pregnancy is located within the uterus or if you’re experiencing ectopic pregnancy)
- How far along you are (also known as gestational age)
Some women experience ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. An ultrasound can alert you to pregnancy complications such as these. We offer free ultrasounds to women who receive a positive pregnancy test result with us.
There are two types of abortion procedures depending on how far along you are: chemical or surgical abortion.
Chemical Abortion: Known as the abortion pill, a medical abortion includes taking two drugs that work to terminate an existing pregnancy. The first drug in the abortion pill method is mifepristone, which blocks a hormone called progesterone. This hormone is essential for the pregnancy’s growth. Without it, the pregnancy ends. Secondly, misoprostol, is taken which causes bleeding and cramping as the body works to expel the pregnancy through the vagina. Risks include:
- The body not releasing all pregnancy tissue in the uterus
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Feve
Surgical Abortion: The two main types of surgical abortion include Dilation & Evacuation (D&E) and Dilation & Curettage (D&C). Both surgical abortion procedure dilates the cervix and uses vacuum aspiration and surgical tools to remove the pregnancy.
As each type of surgical abortion is similar, they share similar risks, including:
- Perforation of the uterus
- Damage to the cervix
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Infection
If you’ve initiated a chemical abortion by taking the first abortion pill (mifepristone, also known as Mifeprex or RU-486), you may be able to save the life of your child. If you act quickly, there is a possibility you can save your baby through a safe, painless therapy known as Abortion Pill Reversal (APR).
Time is key, please call Luminous today: 203-487-2550
After hours, please call 877-558-0333 to be connected with a medical team who specializes in this.