Surgical Abortion

There are different surgical abortion procedures and the method used depends on how long you have been pregnant and your personal choice. Surgical abortions are performed as a day-care procedure so you will not have to stay in the clinic overnight. Discharge times differ depending on the length of the pregnancy and on the anaesthetic used.

This procedure is known as a Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) and is recommended for women who prefer to be awake throughout the treatment and whose pregnancy is up to 10 weeks in gestation.

For the surgical termination of pregnancy, gel is applied to the cervix (neck of the uterus) to help numb the area before a local anaesthetic is injected.  The cervix is then gently stretched using dilators and the contents of the uterus are removed through a suction tube. The procedure takes approximately 10-15 minutes to perform and you are able to eat and drink as normal up until the time of treatment.

This method is ideal for women who prefer to ‘be asleep’ while the procedure takes place and whose pregnancy is up to 23 weeks 6 days in gestation. Currently, NUPAS offer the surgical termination of pregnancy procedure for up to 18 weeks. This procedure is carried out under a general anaesthetic, which involves an injection into the back of the hand that gently sends you off to sleep. The cervix (neck of the uterus) is gently stretched and the contents of the uterus are removed using a suction tube.

Should you choose to have a surgical termination of pregnancy under general anaesthetic, you will NOT be able to eat, drink, smoke, suck a sweet or chew gum from midnight prior to the operation.

Cervical priming

Depending on the stage of your pregnancy, you may need cervical priming.  Misoprostol tablets are given orally, prior to treatment. This will soften the cervix and help to minimise the risk of damage to the cervix.

Discharge from the Clinic

Recovery is quick and you are usually discharged within an hour of treatment.
Bleeding varies from slight bleeding on and off to as much as your heaviest period.  It is normal to pass small clots a few days after the operation accompanied by stomach cramps.  After this time, the bleeding will reduce but you could bleed on and off for 3-4 weeks.

If you have a surgical abortion with general anaesthetic, we recommend you have someone with you (or nearby) for the first 24 hours after treatment.

If you have any concerns you can always contact us.

Post procedure

You can take your normal painkillers (they must not contain aspirin) to relieve any discomfort. Do not take more than two in 4 hours. The nurse will discuss suitable pain relief with you before you leave the clinic.

Your first period may occur 4-6 weeks later and it may be heavier than normal.

We also advise that you avoid any heavy lifting or exercise for 2-3 weeks.

It is advisable to carry out a pregnancy test 4 weeks later to confirm your treatment was successful.  It the pregnancy test is positive, please contact the clinic for further advice.