Surgical Abortion

The surgical abortion procedure at AMAC uses electric vacuum aspiration to remove a pregnancy. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic with pain control and sedation (drowsy not asleep) and requires one full day appointment at our clinic.

Before the surgical procedure two tablets, each containing 200μg of Misoprostol are given orally. A sedative medication may also be taken at this time. It is also usual at AMAC to be given antibiotics before, during and after the surgical procedure, to treat or prevent infection. In some cases, the doctor may change the doses and types of drugs. A full written explanation on these medicines will be provided at AMAC.

Who can use this procedure at AMAC?

Most women can use it, however, AMAC will not provide the procedure if:

  • You are unsure about your decision to have an abortion because once you have taken the pre-operative medicines there is a risk that if the pregnancy continues, the baby may be born with abnormalities. Discuss any difficulties in making a decision with your doctor, nurse or counsellor
  • You have an ectopic pregnancy (where the fertilised egg is implanted in the tube rather than in the womb)
  • The scan reports the pregnancy as being < 6 weeks
  • The scan reports the pregnancy as being > than12 weeks
  • Your haemoglobin is unusually low.

In some other circumstances it may be unsuitable to perform the procedure in a freestanding day clinic like AMAC, so tell your doctor if you have any medical condition such as:

  • Heart complaints
  • High blood, pressure
  • Bleeding disorders
  • Severe epilepsy.

How is the procedure performed?

Approximately one hour after taking the medications, the nurse will take you through to the procedure room. Further medications are given to you by injection into a vein. These drugs are to prevent severe pain and shock. A local anaesthetic is injected into the cervix to make it numb.

A plastic catheter (6mm - 10mm in diameter) is passed through the cervix into the uterus. The catheter is attached to a suction vacuum machine, which removes the pregnancy tissue from the uterus. The surgical procedure usually takes less than ten minutes to complete. Antibiotic suppositories are administered to help to prevent postoperative infection.

If you have a rhesus negative blood type, an injection called Anti D will be offered to you to protect against antibodies forming in the blood, which may cause problems in a future pregnancy.

What are the effects of the surgical procedure?

After taking the Misoprostol tablets occasionally some women bleed or experience period like cramps as the cervix dilates. Some women have period like vaginal bleeding others have virtually none. Some women experience period-like cramps during the procedures and others not until after the abortion. (Full written procedural and aftercare instructions are given on the day.)

What about contraception?

It is possible for you to become pregnant again immediately after the abortion is complete, so you will need to start contraception such as oral contraceptives the day after your procedure. IUCD’s can be fitted in the procedure room immediately after the abortion. Depo Provera can also be given immediately your procedure is complete.  Discuss the choices further either at AMAC or with your doctor. 

Please note that you must not drive a car, operate machinery or make any important decisions for twenty four hours following the sedative drugs we have administered during the your procedure

What to expect after you go home

You will be advised not to put anything into the vagina for 14 days i.e. no tampons, no sex, bathing or swimming.

You will be required to make an appointment with your Referring Doctor in 10-14 days to make sure you have made a full recovery.

You will be advised not to have sexual intercourse for 14 days after the abortion is complete.

It is normal to get period-like cramps that may persist for 24 hours. A small number of women may develop an infection.  This may cause a temperature, pain, discharge or unusual bleeding.  See your doctor if you get any symptoms so that antibiotics can be given if needed.

You may continue to bleed from a few days or as long as ten.  If the bleeding is heavy (more than two maxi-pads in an hour for two hours) you should call AMAC, your Referring Doctor or emergency hospital medical services.

You should recover fairly quickly from your abortion, but take things easy for a few days.  Further counselling is available if you feel it would be helpful.
(Comprehensive written aftercare instructions will be provided at AMAC.)