In-Clinic Abortion Procedures and Medical Methods

Abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. If you’re seeking an in-clinic abortion, your nearest Planned Parenthood health center or another trusted reproductive health care provider can help you understand your options. In-clinic abortion procedures are safe and effective. They are sometimes called surgical abortions, though they're generally an in-office procedure, not surgery.

Types of In-Clinic Abortion Procedures

In-clinic abortion works by using suction to take a pregnancy out of your uterus. There are a couple of kinds of in-clinic abortion procedures, and your doctor or nurse will know which type is right for you, depending on how far you are into your pregnancy.

• Suction abortion (also called vacuum aspiration): This is the most common type of in-clinic abortion. It uses gentle suction to empty your uterus and is usually used until about 14-16 weeks after your last period.
• Dilation and Evacuation (D&E): This is another kind of in-clinic abortion procedure. It uses suction and medical tools to empty your uterus. You can get a D&E later in a pregnancy than aspiration abortion -- usually if it has been 16 weeks or longer since your last period.

Comparison of Methods and Effectiveness

In-clinic abortions are extremely effective, as they work more than 99 out of every 100 times. Needing to get a repeat procedure because the abortion didn’t work is really rare. Which kind of abortion you choose all depends on your personal preference and situation.

Method Comparison Summary:

• Suction Abortion: Usually used up to 14-16 weeks; procedure takes about 5-10 minutes.
• Dilation and Evacuation (D&E): Usually used if it has been 16 weeks or longer since the last period.
• Early Medical Abortion (Abortion Pill): Suitable if you are less than 9 weeks pregnant; may take up to 24 hours to complete.

Some people choose in-clinic abortion because they want to have their procedure done at a health center, with nurses, doctors, and trained support staff there the whole time. In-clinic abortions are also much faster than the abortion pill: most in-clinic abortions only take about 5-10 minutes, while a medication abortion may take up to 24 hours to complete.

The Process: What to Expect

To get started, you may need to book an appointment for a first consultation. During your first appointment, the clinic will take your medical history and perform an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy’s duration to make sure early termination is suitable. An ultrasound is crucial as it helps determine if you are eligible for an early medical abortion or which in-clinic procedure is right for you.

Once your eligibility is confirmed, you may need to return to the clinic three days later, as this waiting period is required by some legislation. At the second visit, if you are undergoing medical termination, you will receive the abortion pill along with detailed instructions on how to use it.

Timing and Legal Considerations

How early you can get an abortion depends on where you go; in some places, you can get it as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test. Other doctors or nurses prefer to wait until 5-6 weeks after the first day of your last period. How late you can get an abortion depends on the laws in your state and what doctor or abortion clinic you go to. It may be harder to find a health care provider who will do an abortion after the 12th week of pregnancy, so it’s best to try to have your abortion as soon as possible.

Additional Resources

The websites below offer more info on abortion providers and abortion pills by mail, including relevant legal considerations:

• AbortionFinder
• INeedAnA
• Planned Parenthood