Surgical Abortion

A surgical abortion using manual vacuum aspiration can be offered up to 14 weeks of pregnancy. This involves passing a tube into the womb through the vagina and cervix. The surgeon uses a syringe and gentle suction to remove the pregnancy through the tube.

This type of surgical abortion can be done under local anaesthetic (up to 10 weeks of pregnancy), conscious sedation, or general anaesthetic.

The procedure is very quick, usually taking 10-15 minutes. You will usually need to be at the clinic for half a day.

A surgical abortion using dilatation and evacuation is offered after 14 weeks of pregnancy. This method uses special instruments called forceps. The forceps are very slim and are inserted into the vagina, through the opening of the cervix and into the womb. The forceps are used to remove the pregnancy from the womb through the vagina.

This type of surgical abortion is usually done under general anaesthetic (being asleep during the procedure).

The procedure normally takes about 10-20 minutes. You will usually need to be at the clinic for half a day.

The cervix is at the top of the vagina and is the opening to the womb. Cervical priming makes the cervix easier to dilate (open). It also reduces the risk of damage to the cervix during the procedure.

Cervical priming involves taking medication to soften the cervix a few hours before the procedure. We may also need to insert small synthetic rods into the cervix the day before. The rods gradually swell and expand overnight. As they expand, they gently open the cervix.

This is available for patients who are under 10 weeks pregnant.

Local anaesthetics stop a part of your body from sending pain signals to your brain. Numbing gel is applied to the cervix (neck of the womb) before a local anaesthetic is injected. You may feel a stinging pain from the injection.

You will be awake during the surgical abortion and can talk to your nurse and doctor. The anaesthetic will numb pain from the procedure. You may still feel some pressure or movement.

You can eat and drink as normal up until the time of treatment.

Recovery time is quick. You can usually leave the clinic after resting for a short time in our recovery room.

This is available for patients who are under 13 weeks 6 days pregnant.

Conscious sedation uses a combination of medicines. It helps you relax and blocks pain. An anaesthetist will inject medicines through a vein in your arm or back of your hand. Local anaesthetic is also used to numb the cervix.

You will be awake but drowsy. You may feel drowsy for several hours afterwards. You may have limited memory or no memory of the procedure afterwards.

Recovery time is quick. You can usually leave the clinic after resting for a short time in our recovery room. We ask that you have a trusted adult to accompany you home and stay with you until the next day. You will need to arrange transport home as you cannot drive soon after conscious sedation.

This is available for patients up to 23 weeks 6 days of pregnancy.

General anaesthetic uses medicines to send you to sleep. You will not remember the procedure or feel pain. An anaesthetist will inject a liquid through a vein in the arm or back of the hand. Local anaesthetic is also used to numb the cervix.

You will need to fast before having general anaesthetic. This means from midnight before your procedure you will not be able to:

• Eat
• Drink
• Smoke
• Suck a sweet
• Chew gum

Recovery takes a little longer with general anaesthetic. You can usually leave the clinic after resting in our recovery room for a couple of hours. We ask that you have a trusted adult to take you home and stay with you for 24 hours. You will need to arrange transport as you cannot drive soon after general anaesthetic. You may feel like your memory and concentration is affected for a day or two.