Abortion Care Clinic

If you have an early medical, it is recommended that you stop breastfeeding for 14 days from the first day of treatment. If you are having a surgical procedure under general anaesthetic, please wait 24 hours after the anaesthetic before starting breastfeeding again.

If you are under 16 and considered able to consent to medical treatment, the law allows you to have an abortion without requiring parental or carer permission. However, you will be encouraged to involve an adult for support.

The type of abortion you have will depend on how long you have been pregnant for. The abortion pill will be recommended for the first 10 weeks’ gestation and a surgical abortion will be recommended afterwards.

For all consultations, early medical abortion and surgical abortions, you should follow these instructions:
– Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing
– Bring a list of an prescribed medicines or inhalers
– If you are on prescribed medications you should continue to take these as normal
– If you are prescribed the following medications please contact us: Aspirin, Warfarin or Clopidogrel (Plavix)
– You will need to bring a supply of sanitary towels (not tampons)

– Do not eat from midnight before your surgical abortion
– You may drink clear fluids up until 6.00 am
– Make sure you have someone to care for you for 24 hours following treatment
– We strongly recommend that you do not smoke for 24 hours before and after your surgical procedure
– Bring with you a dressing gown and slippers
– Please remove all facial and body piercing, makeup and nail varnish
– Please remove all contact lenses before your procedure
– If you are ill within 48 hours prior to your surgical procedure, please contact the clinic as you may have to rebook
– You must not drive for 48 hours

You will have pain because your uterus (womb) contracts to expel the pregnancy. The effect of an abortion is different for everyone, but it can cause menstrual-like pain and other discomfort. The level of pain is also determined by which abortion you have.

Yes, this is how your body passes the pregnancy. You may bleed more heavily than a period with large blood clots. After the pregnancy passes, you may have light bleeding for two weeks.

Sometimes the pregnancy can be too early for us to see via an abdominal (tummy) scan so we may need to insert a small ultrasound probe into your vagina. If we can’t see the pregnancy on a vaginal scan we can’t be sure that the pregnancy is developing as it should and the nurse/doctor will discuss this further with you. It may be that your pregnancy is too early to see on scan, an early miscarriage has occurred or that the pregnancy is developing outside the uterus (womb) – an ectopic pregnancy.

If you feel unsure regarding your decision, please don’t worry. You can change your mind right up to the point where treatment begins. If for any reason you feel like you need more time to determine your decision, please tell us. If you feel that you would benefit from speaking to a trained counsellor we can arrange this for you.

No, the client advisors are trained to listen to you and to provide information and support. We respect your right to choose and are transparent and honest in all that we do.

Yes, there is a legal requirement that you have two doctors’ signatures on the relevant forms. Before any treatment is decided you will receive a consultation with a doctor or nurse where she or he will explain all your treatment options and answer any questions you may have about the abortion.

No. You must come to the clinic in person to take the abortion pill.

It is strongly recommended that you bring someone with you when having an abortion.

Of course; you may find that having the support of a loved one or a friend will help you through the day. They will be able to accompany you for some parts of your consultation, but during other parts you will need to be on your own. Whilst you have your procedure, they will be directed to the waiting room. If you are under 16 years old and you wish to be accompanied throughout treatment, please let a member of our team know.

Unfortunately, we do not allow children at the clinics so you must arrange childcare for the day of your appointment. Failure to do so might mean that you have to rebook your appointment or treatment.

After a termination, you may feel woozy and be in some discomfort. Some bleeding is also normal.

It is recommended that you wait four weeks after terminating a pregnancy to have sex to reduce the risk of infection.

Most women prefer to rest and recover for about two days after a termination before returning to their day to day activity.

After a termination, women are likely to experience stomach cramps and vaginal bleeding. The cramps can be eased with ibuprofen. The early medical abortion pill can cause diarrhoea, sickness, hot flushes and chills. Usually these symptoms disappear within a few hours.

After you pass the initial pregnancy, you may see bleeding for up to 2 weeks and spotting until your next period.

You are advised to have a check-up in 4 weeks’ time. You should have repeated your pregnancy test by then. The check-up can be at the clinic, Contraception and Sexual Health Clinic or the clinic that referred you to us.

After an abortion, a woman can get pregnant as soon as 5 days after. Contraception is therefore necessary to avoid getting pregnant again.

If you have had a general anaesthetic you must not drive for at least 48 hours.

Having an abortion should not affect your ability to get pregnant. In fact, your fertility can return to normal immediately, so it is very important that you use contraception to prevent becoming pregnant again.

There are a few risks associated with abortion. Please note that abortions are safest earlier in the pregnancy:
• infection of the womb (1 in 10 abortions)
• some of the pregnancy remaining in the womb (1 in 20 abortions)
• Excessive bleeding (1 in 1,000 abortions)
• Damage to the cervix (1 in 100 surgical abortions)
• Damage to the womb (1 in 250 to 1,000 surgical abortions)