How an Abortion is Done
There are 2 types of abortion, medical or surgical. This guide details what happens during each type of abortion procedure.
Medical Abortion
A medical abortion can be done in a clinic, or sometimes at home if you're less than 10 weeks pregnant. When you have a medical abortion, a doctor prescribes 2 medicines ("abortion pills"), called mifepristone and misoprostol. You then need to:
- take 1 mifepristone tablet
- wait 1 to 2 days
- take misoprostol – misoprostol may be tablets that dissolve in your mouth, or tablets you insert into your vagina
Around 4 to 6 hours after the second medicine, the pregnancy should begin to be passed (come out) through the vagina. If the pregnancy does not come out completely, you may need more medicine. Talk to a doctor or nurse about prescribing an extra dose of misoprostol.
Important: Do not buy abortion pills online
You will not know if abortion pills bought online are genuine or harmful. They need to be prescribed by a doctor.
Surgical Abortion
A surgical abortion is usually done after 10 weeks of pregnancy, but can be done before. There are 2 types of surgical abortion:
- using suction to remove the pregnancy through the vagina – this can be done between 7 to 14 weeks of pregnancy and usually takes about 5 to 10 minutes
- using forceps to remove the pregnancy through the vagina – this can be done from around week 15, and usually takes 10 to 20 minutes
Before your operation, you'll have 1 of the following:
- a local anaesthetic to numb the opening to your cervix (the opening of your womb)
- a general anaesthetic to make you sleep during the operation
- sedation medicine, to keep you relaxed while you're still awake
You'll usually be allowed to go home the same day. If you have a general anaesthetic, you must not drive home, and you should have someone with you for the following 24 hours.
Comparison of Abortion Methods
| Method | Typical Gestational Period | Duration of Procedure |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Abortion | Up to 10 weeks (sometimes at home) | 4-6 hours after second medicine (passing begins) |
| Surgical Abortion (Suction) | 7 to 14 weeks | 5 to 10 minutes |
| Surgical Abortion (Forceps) | From around week 15 | 10 to 20 minutes |