Which abortion is the safest

What are my abortion options? Medical Abortion A medical abortion, also called the abortion pill, utilizes the drugs Mifepristone and Misoprostol. Surgical Abortion There are various forms of surgical abortions and the technique used depends on the gestational age and development of the pregnancy.

What type of abortion am I eligible for? Which Type of Abortion is Safest? Surgical Abortion Side Effects and Risks Like the abortion pill, surgical abortions can also be accompanied by abdominal cramping, pain, nausea, vomiting, heavy bleeding, and diarrhea. What do I do? Medical Abortion. Surgical Abortion First Trimester. Surgical Abortion Second Trimester. Patient Education. Reasons to Choose a Suction Curettage Surgical Abortion It requires fewer office visits The procedure takes a short amount of time It is more effective than medical abortion less risk of an incomplete procedure Women usually do not have heavy bleeding at home Reasons to choose a medical abortion It can be used in the earliest weeks of pregnancy It requires no surgery It requires no anesthesia It has the potential for greater privacy Some women feel it gives them greater control over their bodies It may feel more "natural" for some women For more information and frequently asked questions, see the tables below.

A doctor uses suction to empty your uterus. A combination of medications ends the pregnancy and causes your uterus lining to shed. How does it work? During a visit to the clinic, a doctor places a speculum into your vagina. The doctor numbs the cervix and then gradually widens, or dilates, your cervix.

Then, a tube is placed into your uterus. Suction, created by an electric machine or by a hand-held syringe, is applied on the other end of the tube and empties your uterus. You will first swallow a medication that causes your pregnancy to stop growing. One to three days after swallowing the first medication, you will place into your vagina another medication. Your uterus will contract and you will have bleeding and cramping at home. You will return to the clinic to confirm that the abortion was successful.

How effective is the method? About 3 percent to 5 percent of women will need a suction curettage abortion due to continued pregnancy, prolonged or excessive bleeding, or patient choice. How far along in my pregnancy can I use this method? Six to14 weeks since the first day of your last menstrual period. Women are often asked to wait until six weeks of pregnancy to decrease the possibility of leaving all or part of the pregnancy behind after the surgical procedure. If performed earlier than six weeks, the procedure may be less effective.

Four to nine weeks since the first day of your last menstrual period. Medical abortion can be performed as soon as a woman knows she is pregnant. It is more effective and leads to less bleeding at earlier gestations five to seven weeks compared to eight to nine weeks.

How many clinic visits are required? As it is a surgical procedure, it also involves anaesthetic. A medication abortion involves a miscarriage induced by medication. It can involve multiple visits to a GP or clinic, and the miscarriage generally takes place at home over a 24 hour period. It doesn't involve an anaesthetic but most women will experience symptoms like cramping and nausea as part of the process.

It is only available under 9 weeks gestation. For more detailed information on what each of these procedures may involve, please see our surgical abortion and medication abortion procedure information.

Your decision will depend on a number of factors, including your personal preference. Some other factors women take into consideration are:.

Location: Depending on where you live, you may have difficulty finding a service which provides your preferred option. Providers of medication and surgical abortion around Queensland are listed here. Access to either option can be much more difficult if you are in a rural, regional or remote community, although medication abortion via telehealth may be an option for women who live within an hour of a hospital.

Gestation: Surgical abortion is available from around 6 weeks gestation to up to 19 weeks, although there are only two providers in Queensland who will offer procedures in the 19th week.

The upper gestational limit differs according to which provider you are seeing; some only offer to 14 weeks gestation.