The methods of ‘abortion’ that are used:

The abortion pill:

• This works for up to 9 weeks after the date that you had your last period
• It involves two or three visits to the clinic or hospital
• You take tablets given to you by the clinic or hospital at the first visit
• Two days later you visit again and have prostaglandin pessary (tablet) inserted into your vagina. You stay in hospital for a few hours after this until you have aborted, which sometimes involves having strong pains like period pains
• For a small number of people (less than one in twenty) this method does not work and you have to have the suction method described below

The suction, or vacuum aspiration, method:

• This can be used up to 12-14 weeks after you have had your last period
• You normally will be ‘put out’ by having a general anaesthetic, which may when you come round from it, make you feel tired for a bit
• You don’t normally have to stay in the clinic or hospital overnight

Both these methods are very safe and are unlikely to lead to any complications like not being able to have a baby later on.

For abortions after 12 weeks:

• after 12 to 14 weeks different methods of abortion are used
• over 13 weeks there is a similar method as the abortion pill method but with some variation, and there may be more pain and bleeding
• another method is dilating your cervix under anaesthetic and sucking out the foetal remains

Remember

If you think that you might be pregnant, and think that you want to have an abortion – act straight away – don’t wait – because the earlier that you have an abortion, the safer and easier it is.

You can get pregnant again two weeks after you have had an abortion, so that even if sex is the last thing you are thinking of, make sure you get some decent advice about contraception

All about abortions

If you’re thinking about having an abortion

Who to talk to

The laws about having an abortion

Some useful numbers for more information