An abortion ends a pregnancy (which is why they’re also called pregnancy terminations).
You can either have a surgical procedure or take abortion pills – but both things must be done under the guidance of a certified medical professional. It is dangerous to do anything else.
At a hospital or a clinic that is legally licensed to carry out abortions.
It’s important not to go to an unlicensed clinic or an uncertified person, buy abortion pills online, or use herbal remedies or other things that are advertised as ‘at-home abortions’. These can put your health, even your life, in danger.
Abortion pills
You take two abortion pills, usually one or two days apart. The name of abortion pills are mifepristone, which blocks the main pregnancy hormone, and misoprostol, which ends the pregnancy.
You will bleed from your vagina as you pass out the pregnancy. This usually happens a few hours after you take the misoprostol tablet.
If you're less than 10 weeks (2.5 months) pregnant, you can usually take the second abortion pill at home.
Abortion pills are different from the morning-after pill. The morning-after pill prevents a pregnancy from happening in the first place. Abortion pills end a pregnancy that has already begun.
Surgical abortion
A surgical abortion procedure removes the pregnancy from the womb.
You’ll be asked to take a medicine that opens your cervix (the opening to your womb) before the operation.
Surgical abortion at 14 weeks (3.5 months) pregnant or less: If you are 14 weeks pregnant or less, you will be given a local anaesthetic to numb your cervix then a tube will be inserted into your womb to remove the pregnancy via suction. This takes about 10 minutes, and you should be able to go home a few hours later.
Surgical abortion after 3.5 months pregnant: If you are more than 14 weeks pregnant, forceps will be used to remove the pregnancy. You will be put to sleep or heavily sedated beforehand. It normally takes about 20 minutes and usually you can go home the same day.
After an abortion, it’s likely you'll get some stomach cramps and vaginal bleeding. This can last for around two weeks. If you keep bleeding after two weeks, or your bleeding is getting heavier not lighter, go and see a healthcare professional.
It’s normal to feel lots of emotions after your abortion. Everyone’s experience is different. If you are struggling, the best thing to do is to speak to someone you trust or a trained counsellor.
Different countries have different laws about when you can get an abortion and in what circumstance. In some countries an abortion is only legal if the mother’s life is at risk, or at the very start of the pregnancy. And there may be certain things you have to do beforehand, like getting agreement from more than one doctor.
It’s important to know about the abortion laws in your country so you can understand whether it is legal or not for you to have an abortion.
If it is illegal, don’t panic. You can speak to an organisation that works on reproductive rights to discuss your options. Some people who are pregnant but don’t want a baby choose adoption or even travel to somewhere where abortion is legal.
A safe abortion from a licensed clinic should not affect your ability to have a baby in the future.
It’s possible to get pregnant soon after an abortion, so it’s a good idea to think about your birth control options.
Here are a few questions to help kick-off discussions on the issues you need to talk about! You can share them on social, on WhatsApp or just get talking.
Some people may be certain they want to have an abortion, while others may find it more difficult to make a decision. Good information and support can help you choose what’s best for you.
You may want to speak to your partner, friends or family for support, but you don’t have to. A friendly healthcare professional will be able to give you information on abortion services and talk you through your options. Remember the final decision is yours to make and you shouldn’t be pressured into a choice you are not comfortable with.
There is no evidence that having a safe abortion from a licensed clinic will increase someone’s risk of developing breast cancer.
Yes – when it is performed in a registered clinic under the guidance of a certified medical professional. But it is dangerous if you go to an unlicenced person or clinic or if you try to make yourself have an abortion.
A foetus cannot feel pain until the nervous system begins to develop, which does not happen until at least 24 weeks (6 months) of pregnancy.
The best thing you can do is to give them clear and accurate information. This might be a difficult time for them so it’s important to be kind, to listen and do not judge.
If they feel embarrassed or ashamed about discussing abortion with you, give them details of a friendly healthcare professional, a helpline or factual online resources, like this website.
An abortion ends a pregnancy (which is why they’re also called pregnancy terminations).
You can either have a surgical procedure or take abortion pills – but both things must be done under the guidance of a certified medical professional. It is dangerous to do anything else.
At a hospital or a clinic that is legally licensed to carry out abortions.
It’s important not to go to an unlicensed clinic or an uncertified person, buy abortion pills online, or use herbal remedies or other things that are advertised as ‘at-home abortions’. These can put your health, even your life, in danger.
Abortion pills
You take two abortion pills, usually one or two days apart. The name of abortion pills are mifepristone, which blocks the main pregnancy hormone, and misoprostol, which ends the pregnancy.
You will bleed from your vagina as you pass out the pregnancy. This usually happens a few hours after you take the misoprostol tablet.
If you're less than 10 weeks (2.5 months) pregnant, you can usually take the second abortion pill at home.
Abortion pills are different from the morning-after pill. The morning-after pill prevents a pregnancy from happening in the first place. Abortion pills end a pregnancy that has already begun.
Surgical abortion
A surgical abortion procedure removes the pregnancy from the womb.
You’ll be asked to take a medicine that opens your cervix (the opening to your womb) before the operation.
Surgical abortion at 14 weeks (3.5 months) pregnant or less: If you are 14 weeks pregnant or less, you will be given a local anaesthetic to numb your cervix then a tube will be inserted into your womb to remove the pregnancy via suction. This takes about 10 minutes, and you should be able to go home a few hours later.
Surgical abortion after 3.5 months pregnant: If you are more than 14 weeks pregnant, forceps will be used to remove the pregnancy. You will be put to sleep or heavily sedated beforehand. It normally takes about 20 minutes and usually you can go home the same day.
After an abortion, it’s likely you'll get some stomach cramps and vaginal bleeding. This can last for around two weeks. If you keep bleeding after two weeks, or your bleeding is getting heavier not lighter, go and see a healthcare professional.
It’s normal to feel lots of emotions after your abortion. Everyone’s experience is different. If you are struggling, the best thing to do is to speak to someone you trust or a trained counsellor.
Different countries have different laws about when you can get an abortion and in what circumstance. In some countries an abortion is only legal if the mother’s life is at risk, or at the very start of the pregnancy. And there may be certain things you have to do beforehand, like getting agreement from more than one doctor.
It’s important to know about the abortion laws in your country so you can understand whether it is legal or not for you to have an abortion.
If it is illegal, don’t panic. You can speak to an organisation that works on reproductive rights to discuss your options. Some people who are pregnant but don’t want a baby choose adoption or even travel to somewhere where abortion is legal.
A safe abortion from a licensed clinic should not affect your ability to have a baby in the future.
It’s possible to get pregnant soon after an abortion, so it’s a good idea to think about your birth control options.
Here are a few questions to help kick-off discussions on the issues you need to talk about! You can share them on social, on WhatsApp or just get talking.
Some people may be certain they want to have an abortion, while others may find it more difficult to make a decision. Good information and support can help you choose what’s best for you.
You may want to speak to your partner, friends or family for support, but you don’t have to. A friendly healthcare professional will be able to give you information on abortion services and talk you through your options. Remember the final decision is yours to make and you shouldn’t be pressured into a choice you are not comfortable with.
There is no evidence that having a safe abortion from a licensed clinic will increase someone’s risk of developing breast cancer.
Yes – when it is performed in a registered clinic under the guidance of a certified medical professional. But it is dangerous if you go to an unlicenced person or clinic or if you try to make yourself have an abortion.
A foetus cannot feel pain until the nervous system begins to develop, which does not happen until at least 24 weeks (6 months) of pregnancy.
The best thing you can do is to give them clear and accurate information. This might be a difficult time for them so it’s important to be kind, to listen and do not judge.
If they feel embarrassed or ashamed about discussing abortion with you, give them details of a friendly healthcare professional, a helpline or factual online resources, like this website.
