Whatever kind of abortion you have, there will be some discomfort or period-like pain. Pain management will be prescribed.

 

All medical and surgical procedures have risks, but for most women an abortion is a safe procedure. The earlier you identify the pregnancy and have an abortion the safer the procedure is. You will be informed about any risks and complications by the doctor or nurse during your consultation. If you have any concerns, please discuss these with them.

 

You should plan to rest and take it easy for 24 - 48 hours following your abortion.

Avoid any heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and activity for 2 weeks. You should also avoid swimming for 2 weeks as this might increase your risk of infection.

 

Your fertility should not be affected by having an abortion and you could become pregnant immediately following your abortion if you do not use contraception.

During your visit to our Clinic we will offer you advice and contraception. It is important that you make arrangements with us, your GP or your local family planning clinic for contraception immediately to prevent becoming pregnant again.

Some methods of contraception can be started immediately after your abortion. Please check with a nurse or doctor at the Clinic. Alternatively you can receive advice from your local GP or family planning clinic. 

 

If you have an early medical abortion, it is recommended that you stop breastfeeding for 24 hours following treatment. If you have had a surgical procedure with a general anaesthetic you should wait 24 hours before you recommence breastfeeding.

 

To reduce your risk of infection you should not have sexual intercourse for 3 – 4 weeks following an abortion.

If you have not already been tested for a sexually transmitted infection(STI) now is a good time. You should also speak to your partner about getting tested and staying sexually healthy.

If you do not arrange contraception, your first menstrual period following your abortion should appear between 4 and 8 weeks after your abortion. You should complete a pregnancy test 4 weeks following your abortion to make sure that the abortion has been successful.

 

You may continue to experience symptoms of pregnancy such as morning sickness and breast tenderness for a week or so after your abortion. If these symptoms continue, especially if you do not have a period after 4 weeks, you should do a pregnancy test and call the Aftercare helpline and speak to a nurse. There may be a chance that the abortion has failed.

 

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

 

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 you pregnant again.

 

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales most abortions are fully funded by the NHS (96%). 

Please give us a call with your location and GP’s details to find out if you are eligible for funding. If you live outside England, Scotland and Wales then you would need to pay for the treatment yourself. 

 

Of course; you may find having the support of a loved one or friend will help you through the day. However, they will not be able to be with you during your treatment and consultation. Space is limited so we have to restrict visitors to one per patient. If you are under 18 years old we will always ask you to bring a responsible adult who is over 18 with you. If you are under 16 years and you wish to be accompanied throughout your 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 may mean we have to rebook your appointment or treatment.

 

All consultations and treatments are completely confidential. We will not disclose your details to anyone unless we have your permission to do so. We will respect your privacy and dignity at all times.

 

 

Please be assured that the fetal tissue removed during your abortion is disposed of in a sensitive and respectful manner. You have the right to ask about the disposal options of the fetal tissue and any personal requests for the tissue will be met wherever possible. If you would like to discuss this please ask the Doctor or Nurse for more information during your consultation.

 

Your consultation and treatment with us will be kept completely confidential, even if you are under 16 years old. We would only inform another person or organisation about your treatment if we felt that you were in danger or you were being harmed in any way. However, we would discuss this with you before we did so.

 

If you do not speak English we will organise for a trained independent interpreter to support you during your time at the Clinic. We apologise but we do not allow partners, relatives or friends to provide interpretation.

 

The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists have recommended that women with unplanned pregnancies are no more likely to experience mental health problems whether they choose to have an abortion or continue with the pregnancy. Deciding to have an abortion is not always an easy decision and most women will experience a range of feelings and emotions such as sadness, loss, relief or guilt at the time of the abortion. However studies have shown that only a small amount of women will continue with these feeling long-term. Where a woman has a history of mental health problems she may experience further mental health problems whether she chooses to have an abortion or continue with the pregnancy. If you have any concerns about how having an abortion will affect your mental health please discuss these with the doctor during your consultation.