Frequently Asked Questions

You can have sex as soon as you feel ready. Your fertility returns to normal soon after an abortion. If you do not want to get pregnant again it is important to use contraception. Find out more about post-abortion contraception here.

You should rest for around 2 days after an abortion. It’s important to listen to your body and do only as much as you feel comfortable with. You may only have the energy to do light or low impact activities for a couple of weeks after an abortion.

Call our Aftercare Line on 0333 016 0400 if you do not bleed at all, or only have spotting or a little bleeding 48 hours after taking all the Misoprostol pills.

Find out more about how to monitor your bleeding on our Abortion Aftercare page.

You will have pain and cramping during a medical abortion.

You may have some pain and cramping after a surgical abortion. This cramping feels like period pains.

Call our Aftercare Line on 0333 016 0400 if you have abdominal (tummy) pain or discomfort that is not helped by pain relief medication, or by using a heat pad.

After you pass the pregnancy, bleeding will gradually reduce. You may see bleeding for up to 2 weeks and spotting until your next period. Some people find that they bleed on and off for up to 4 weeks. Your period will usually come back 4 – 8 weeks after your abortion.

Call our Aftercare Line on 0333 016 0400 if you have heavy bleeding that soaks 2 heavy-flow sanitary towels per hour for 2 hours in a row.

It is normal to bleed as much as your usual heaviest menstrual period after a surgical abortion. Bleeding usually stops after 1-2 weeks. You may have spotting until your next period. You may pass small blood clots. You may not bleed until your next period and that’s normal too.

Call our Aftercare Line on 0333 016 0400 if:

• You are bleeding more than your usual heaviest period
• You have heavy bleeding that soaks 2 or more heavy-flow sanitary towels per hour, for 2 hours in a row

You can usually return to normal activities as soon as you feel comfortable to, including using tampons and menstrual cups – however do comply with normal hygiene measures.

Your period will usually come back 4 – 8 weeks after your abortion has completed. You will need to take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after your medical abortion to check the treatment has worked.

Some types of hormonal contraception can change your period or stop them all together. If you are using a new type of contraception after your abortion check to see if this can affect your menstrual cycle.

You will need to take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after your medical abortion. This is to make sure the treatment has worked. We will give you a pregnancy test in your Aftercare Pack. Please use the test we give you, as it is different to tests you can buy in the shops. We will give you instructions on when to take the test. If the test is positive, please call us for further advice.

Abortion is legal in England, Scotland and Wales under the Abortion Act 1967 and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The law says you can have an abortion if:

• You have been pregnant for less than 24 weeks
• Two doctors agree that having an abortion would cause less damage to your physical or mental health (or that of existing children) than continuing with the pregnancy

Our clinicians are bound by these laws. Our doctors will only agree to perform abortions for reasons that are within the law.

Abortions after 24 weeks are available in exceptional circumstances, such as to save the life of the pregnant person, or if there has been a diagnosis of a serious or fatal foetal anomaly.

Abortion has been decriminalised in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland abortion is legal for any reason up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. After 12 weeks you can have an abortion if:

• You have been pregnant for less than 24 weeks.
• Two doctors agree that having an abortion would cause less damage to your physical or mental health (or that of existing children) than continuing with the pregnancy.

Abortions after 24 weeks are available in exceptional circumstances, such as to save the life of the pregnant person, or if there has been a diagnosis of a fatal foetal anomaly.

If your pregnancy is under 10 weeks, abortion services are available in Northern Ireland from five Health and Social Care Trusts (Belfast, Northern, South Eastern, Southern and Western).

If you need abortion care that is not yet available in Northern Ireland, you can come to England for care. Abortion care in England is free for residents of Northern Ireland. Your travel and accommodation will also be covered by government funding.

Learn more about Abortion in Northern Ireland.

Abortion has been decriminalised in Guernsey. Abortion care is available up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Abortions after 24 weeks are available in exceptional circumstances, such as to save the life of the pregnant person, or if there has been a diagnosis of a serious foetal anomaly.

Guernsey is not part of the United Kingdom but is part of the Common Travel Area. Guernsey residents wanting to access a wide range of abortion services often travel to England.

Abortion has been decriminalised in Isle of Man. Abortion care is available for any reason up to 14 weeks of pregnancy.

From 14 – 24 weeks of pregnancy, abortions are available in the following situations:

• The pregnancy was conceived from rape or incest.
• Continuing the pregnancy poses risk of serious injury to the pregnant person.
• A serious foetal anomaly has been diagnosed.
• The pregnant person claims serious social grounds.

Abortions after 24 weeks are available in exceptional circumstances, such as to save the life of the pregnant person, or if there has been a diagnosis of a severe or fatal foetal anomaly.

Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom but is part of the Common Travel Area. Isle of Man residents wanting to access a wide range of abortion services often travel to England.

In Jersey It is legal to have an abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy if the pregnancy is causing the pregnant person distress. From 12 – 24 weeks of pregnancy you can have an abortion in the following situations:

• Two doctors agree that having an abortion would prevent death or grave permanent injury to the pregnant person’s physical or mental health.
• Two doctors agree that the foetus is suffering from an incurable and serious foetal anomaly.

Abortions after 24 weeks are possible to save the life of the pregnant person.

Jersey is not part of the United Kingdom but is part of the Common Travel Area. Jersey residents wanting to access a wide range of abortion services often travel to England.

In the Republic of Ireland, you can legally have an abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Abortions after 12 weeks are available in exceptional circumstances, such as to save the life of the pregnant person, or if there has been a diagnosis of a fatal foetal anomaly.

Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom but is part of the Common Travel Area. Ireland residents wanting to access a wide range of abortion services often travel to England.

If you live in the UK and can access NHS services, abortion care will usually be available at no cost to you. Please give us a call to find out if you can access NHS funding.

If you live outside the UK then you would need to pay for abortion care. This is known as private healthcare, or self-funded treatment. At NUPAS we offer both NHS and private care options.

Find out more about our NHS and private abortion services.

Most of our patients living in England, Scotland and Wales have their treatment paid for by the NHS. Patients travelling from Northern Ireland to England for care can access government funded treatment.

If you are not eligible for NHS funded treatment, we also offer private (self-funded) care options.

Find out more about our NHS and private abortion services.

In the UK, abortions can only be provided by a hospital or licensed clinic. We offer abortion care services at our clinics in the Northwest, Greater London, Midlands and Yorkshire. If you live in these areas, you can call us to check if we are your local abortion provider. We will ask you for your address and GP’s details. We will not contact your GP unless you want us to.

You can find all our clinic locations here. We don’t offer walk-in appointments, so please call us to book an appointment in advance.

No, we will never try to sway your decision, whatever that may be. Our patient advisors are trained to listen to you, provide medical information and support. We never judge you. We respect your right to choose and are transparent and honest in all that we do.

Find out more about counselling here.

Yes, the abortion consultation is a legal requirement of offering abortion care. You will have a consultation with a clinician before treatment is offered. This can be face-to-face, or over the phone. If you are under 16 years old you will be seen within one of our clinics.

The clinician will talk to you about your medical history to find the best treatment options for you. They explain what an abortion involves, including possible risks and complications so that you can consent to treatment. They will also answer any questions you may have.

Find out more about consultations at NUPAS here.

If you feel like you need more time to come to your decision, please tell us. If you feel that speaking to a trained counsellor could help you to feel more confident in your decision, we can arrange this for you.

If you start to feel unsure about having an abortion after your consultation, please don’t worry. You can change your mind right up to the point where treatment begins. If you do change your mind about having an abortion just let us know so we can cancel your appointment.

If you change your mind after taking the first medical abortion tablet (Mifepristone) and decide to continue the pregnancy please inform us as soon as possible. This is because although Mifepristone is not known to cause birth anomalies, there may be an increased risk of miscarriage later in the pregnancy. We encourage you to also inform your GP and Midwife

There are no clinical guidelines that recommend any medications to reverse a medical abortion.

The type of abortion you have will depend on how long you have been pregnant, your medical history, and personal preference. Abortion pills will be recommended if you are under 10 weeks’ pregnant, and a surgical abortion will be recommended afterwards.

Some people will need to have an ultrasound scan before an abortion. We do this to date your pregnancy. The number of weeks you have been pregnant is also known as gestation. Knowing your gestation will help us know what treatment options are available to you.

Sometimes the pregnancy can be too early for us to see with an abdominal (tummy) scan. If this happens, we may need to insert a small ultrasound probe into your vagina for a clearer scan image. We will only do this with your permission. The earliest pregnancy found using scanning equipment is around 4 weeks and 6 days gestation.

If you are having a surgical abortion under general anaesthetic, please wait 24 hours after treatment before you start breastfeeding again.

If you have an early medical abortion (abortion pills) you can continue with breast feeding.

You can let us know if you are taking any regular medication during your clinical assessment. If you are taking prescribed medication you should continue to take these as normal. If you are prescribed Aspirin, Warfarin or Clopidogrel (Plavix), please tell the clinician during your consultation.

Abortions are very safe when provided by a registered clinic like NUPAS. Our teams are highly trained as abortion care specialists.

As with any medical treatment, there are some known risks, side effects and possible complications. Complications have warning signs so we will give you information on what to look out for. You can call our 24-hour Aftercare Line to speak to a nurse if you have any concerns after your abortion.

Having an abortion should not affect your ability to get pregnant in the future.

However, as fertility can return to normal very quickly after an abortion, it is very important that you use contraception to prevent becoming pregnant again.

We will talk to you about possible risks, complications and side effects of abortion treatment at your consultation. Learn more about medical abortion and surgical abortion.

For your consultation please have a list of any medicines or inhalers that are prescribed to you.

For your abortion treatment:

• Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing.
• Have a supply of sanitary towels that are suitable for a heavy flow (not tampons).
• Have a supply of pain relief at home, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, or any regular pain relief medication you would normally use.
• Heat pads or a hot water bottle can also be effective at managing pain.

If you are having a surgical abortion with sedation or general anaesthetic, we will give you instructions on how to prepare for treatment.

Yes, we offer counselling sessions for anyone considering abortion. In pre-abortion counselling you can discuss your feelings around pregnancy options. This can happen before booking your abortion appointment.

Our counsellors will not make decisions for you. They are there to listen to your feelings and work with you on coping strategies. If you decide to have an abortion, you can access care with us.

We can only offer post-abortion counselling to patients who have had their abortion care with us. All abortion providers will have post-abortion counselling services. We recommend getting in touch with your abortion provider to access free counselling.

No matter how long ago you were in our care, you are welcome to access our counselling service.

We are only able to provide abortion counselling for NUPAS abortion patients or those considering an abortion with us. Sadly, this means we are not able to offer counselling services to partners or other family members. If you are not a NUPAS patient and would like counselling, you can find information on NHS counselling services here.

If you don’t feel like you need counselling but would still like a place to talk about your abortion decisions, visit our friends at www.abortiontalk.com. Their Talkline is for anyone with abortion experiences, including partners.

If you are under 16 years old and considered able to consent to medical treatment, the law allows you to have an abortion without permission from your parent or carer. We will encourage you to involve an adult for support if that feels safe for you to do.

You do not need to speak to your GP for an abortion referral. You can refer yourself for abortion care by calling 0333 004 6666.

Yes, however we will also see you in one of our clinics for an ultrasound scan and to collect some further information from you. This is for us to speak to you in person to make sure that you understand the treatment options, and possible risks and complications.

You can book a consultation appointment by calling 0333 004 6666.

We will make sure that you are fully aware of what is involved with the abortion treatment. You can agree to the treatment yourself if you understand the procedure and the possible risks and complications. You can ask us any questions you have about the abortion and what to expect.

You do not need anyone else’s consent for an abortion. We do encourage you to tell a parent or other adult who can support you. This could be a friend, family member, social worker or anyone else over 18 who you trust.

Our services are confidential. We will not tell your parents or carers about your abortion. We will never force you to tell them. We do encourage you to tell a parent or other adult who can support you through this process. This could be a friend, family member, social worker or anyone else over 18 who you trust.

We will not tell your GP about your abortion unless you want us to.

If you tell us something that suggests you or someone else may be at risk of harm, we may have to talk to other professionals to make sure you are safe. We have a duty of care to do this. We will tell you if we need to do this and why.

If you are under 16 years old, we recommend that an adult accompanies you home after your appointment. This could be a friend, family member, social worker or anyone else over 18 who you trust.

If you would like someone to stay with you throughout your treatment in the clinic, please discuss this with the clinician at your appointment.

Abortion pills (a medical abortion) are two types of medication used together to end an existing pregnancy. These pills do not contain hormones. The first abortion pill (mifepristone) works by blocking the hormone needed for a pregnancy to grow.

The emergency contraception pill (sometimes called ‘the morning after pill’) is used before a person is pregnant. It contains hormones that can delay an egg from being released. This delays ovulation, prevents the egg from being fertilised after sex and also prevents implantation.

It is not possible to legally order abortion pills without speaking to a clinician. The abortion consultation is a legal requirement. During the consultation we talk about your pregnancy and medical history. This is to make sure abortion pills are a medically suitable option for you.

GP surgeries are not able to prescribe abortion pills for collection at a pharmacy. In the UK, abortion pills must be supplied to patients through a licensed clinic or in a hospital.

No, if you have asked to collect the abortion pills from a NUPAS clinic you must come in person.

NUPAS offer a pills-by-post service to deliver medical abortion pills to our patients. This allows you to take the medical abortion pills at home without having to come to a clinic.

You will feel some pain and cramping as your uterus (womb) contracts during the abortion. You may find the cramps are more painful than period pains. We will give you pain medication. We recommend that you have some paracetamol and ibuprofen or any of your regular painkillers ready at home. Being comfortable at home with a heat pad is also effective at soothing pain.

The best pain relief for you to take will depend on your medical history. We will talk to you about pain relief during your consultation.

Learn more about what to expect during a Medical Abortion.

Yes, you will have vaginal bleeding. This is the effect of the womb contracting and pushing out the pregnancy tissue. You may also pass blood clots.

Bleeding can vary for each person and each abortion. It is normal to have light, moderate, or heavy bleeding during a medical abortion. Bleeding usually begins about 2 hours after taking the second pills.

Most people will bleed for around 2 – 4 hours.

After you have passed the pregnancy, you may have period-like bleeding for 7 – 14 days.

Learn more about what to expect during a Medical Abortion.

The medical abortion pill can cause diarrhoea, nausea, sickness, feeling light-headed, hot flushes and chills. These symptoms usually disappear within a few hours.

Learn more about Medical Abortions.

Abortion pills are very safe. As with any medication there are some potential risks. We will talk to you about these possible complications during your consultation.

If you feel worried about your recovery, or if you feel unwell call our 24-hour aftercare line on 0333 016 0400.

Serious complications have warning signs. If you have any of the symptoms listed below call our Aftercare Line straight away:

• Flu-like symptoms such as a fever, high temperature and feeling shivery 24 hours after your abortion as this could be a sign of infection which can lead to sepsis if untreated.
• Abdominal (tummy) pain or discomfort that is not helped by pain relief medication, or by using a heat pad.
• Vaginal discharge that smells unpleasant.
• Very heavy bleeding. Soaking through more than 2 heavy-flow sanitary towels an hour for 2 hours in a row.
• No bleeding, or only spotting or scant bleeding 48 hours after taking Misoprostol tablets.
• If you have pregnancy symptoms 2 weeks after the abortion.

Call 999 or ask your support person to phone for an ambulance immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Relatives concerned about mental status
• Loss of consciousness
• Acute deterioration in functional ability
• Not passed urine in last 12-18 hours
• Severe allergic reaction such as facial, mouth, throat swelling or breathing difficulties.
• Extreme heavy bleeding (flooding). Soaking through heavy-flow sanitary towels every 5 – 10 minutes and passing blood clots larger than the size of your hand.
• Worsening pain in one side of the lower tummy, under the ribs, or up to the shoulders. This might indicate an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy.

Find out more about Medical Abortion Aftercare.

Yes, NUPAS offers a full range of contraceptive methods – the implant, injection, intra uterine coil , patches and oral contraceptive pills.

If you are having a medical abortion using our pills-by-post service, we can arrange for your contraception pills to be posted out to you or you can book a follow up face to face consultation at a later date.

Once fitted an IUS can be used for 3-6 years, depending on the brand.

After an IUD is fitted it works for 5-10 years, depending on the brand.

Both an IUD and IUS can be taken out sooner if you choose. Your fertility returns to normal as soon as it’s taken out.

The most effective contraception is the implant. This is followed by the contraceptive coils (IUD and IUS), the injection, patches, vaginal rings, contraceptive pills and condoms.

How effective contraception is can depend on how they are used. Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) is highly effective. This is because you don’t have to remember to take it or use it during sex. LARC includes the implant, injection, IUD and IUS.

Condoms are the only contraception to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).

Fertility returns quickly after an abortion. This can be as soon as 5 days after. Contraception will be essential if you want to avoid pregnancy after an abortion.

There are lots of contraception types to choose from. We can help you find a new method if your old contraception hasn’t been right for you.

Learn more about our post-abortion contraception services.

NUPAS offer free pregnancy testing. Book a consultation for pregnancy advice.

If you’re unable to do a pregnancy test yourself, you can bring a urine sample to your consultation. For accurate testing, bring a sample of the first wee in the morning as this will contain higher levels of the hormone we detect for pregnancy.

Alternatively, you may be able to get a free pregnancy test from your GP.

Yes, some very sensitive pregnancy tests can detect pregnancy hormones even before a missed period. Pregnancy hormones start to be produced around 6 days after fertilisation. Most pregnancy tests are best used from the first day of a missed period. Learn more about taking a pregnancy test on the NHS website.

You can take most pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period. The tests are very sensitive at detecting pregnancy hormones.

Pregnancy tests measure the level of pregnancy hormones in your urine. Pregnancy tests are very sensitive and a ‘false negative’ could happen if it is very early in the pregnancy as a pregnancy test take 3 weeks to show after sexual contact. In this situation your body may not have built up enough pregnancy hormone for the tests to detect yet. If you have any doubts, you can do a second test two or three days later.

We do not charge for carrying out pregnancy tests at our clinics.

If you’re unable to do a pregnancy test yourself, please bring in a urine sample from first thing in the morning as this will give the most accurate test result.

This will depend on which type of surgical abortion procedure you have. You will usually need to be at the clinic for half a day. We will talk to you about the different types of surgical abortion during your consultation.

To learn more about surgical abortion at NUPAS, head to our Surgical Abortion page.

Please do not take any solid food from 6 hours before your appointment.

You can drink water up to 2 hours before your appointment.

Please do not smoke, chew gum or suck sweets on the day of your appointment.

We strongly recommend that you do not smoke for 24 hours before and after your surgical abortion.

When visiting our clinic for your surgical abortion appointment you should:

• Bring a dressing gown.
• Wear comfortable and loose clothing.
• Remove any facial and body piercing, makeup and nail varnish.
• Remove contact lenses if you wear them (bring a pair of glasses with you)

We ask that you have a trusted person (over 18) to take you home after your appointment and stay with you for 24 hours.

If you are ill in the 2 days before your surgical abortion, please call us. We may have to rebook your appointment for when you are feeling better.

You cannot drive for at least 48 hours after conscious sedation or general anaesthetic. Please arrange transport home before your appointment. You may feel like your memory and concentration is affected for a day or two. If you are involved in a road accident after being anesthetised you may not be covered by your insurance. Please check with your motor insurance company for their rules on driving after having anaesthetic.

You would be able to drive after a surgical abortion if you had local anaesthetic only. However, you may have cramps after a surgical abortion. You should aim to rest for 24 – 48 hours after your procedure. For your comfort we recommend that you arrange a lift home.

Surgical abortions provided by licensed clinics such as NUPAS are very safe. As with any medical procedure there are some potential risks. We will talk to you about these possible complications during your consultation.

Serious complications have warning signs. If you have any of the symptoms listed below call our Aftercare Line straight away 0333 016 0400:

• Flu-like symptoms such as a fever, high temperature and feeling shivery 24 hours after your abortion as this could be a sign of infection or sepsis
• Abdominal (tummy) pain or discomfort that is not helped by pain relief medication, or by using a heat pad
• Vaginal discharge that smells unpleasant
• Very heavy bleeding. Soaking through more than 2 heavy-flow sanitary towels an hour for 2 hours in a row
• If you have pregnancy symptoms 2 weeks after the abortion

Call 999 or ask your support person to phone for an ambulance immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Relatives concerned about mental status
• Loss of consciousness
• Acute deterioration in functional ability
• Not passed urine in last 12-18 hours
• Severe allergic reaction such as facial, mouth, throat swelling or breathing difficulties.
• Extreme heavy bleeding (flooding). Soaking through heavy-flow sanitary towels every 5 – 10 minutes and passing blood clots larger than the size of your hand
• Worsening pain in one side of the lower tummy, under the ribs, or up to the shoulders. This might indicate an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy

Find out more about Surgical Abortion Aftercare.

If you don’t have specific wishes for the pregnancy remains, we will dispose of them in a respectful and sensitive way. We follow guidelines for cremation of remains from:

• The Royal College of Nursing
• The Human Tissue Authority

If you wish to take the remains with you to arrange a burial or cremation service, please let us know during your consultation. Personal requests for the remains will be met wherever possible. You can ask to take the pregnancy remains with you after a surgical abortion at any gestation.

NUPAS offer free pregnancy testing. Book a consultation for pregnancy advice.

If you’re unable to do a pregnancy test yourself, you can bring a urine sample to your consultation. For accurate testing, bring a sample of the first wee in the morning as this will contain higher levels of the hormone we detect for pregnancy.

Alternatively, you may be able to get a free pregnancy test from your GP.

Of course! You may find that having support will help you through the day. They can stay with you for part of your consultation, but there will be times when we need to speak to you on your own. During your procedure, they can stay in the waiting room.

If you are under 16 and would like someone to stay with you throughout your treatment in the clinic, please discuss this with the clinician at your appointment.

We strongly recommend that you bring someone (over the age of 18) with you when having a surgical abortion. This is to support you, and to accompany you home.

We do not have facilities for young children at the clinics. If you have children, please arrange childcare for the day of your appointment.

We know there will be some circumstances that make finding childcare difficult. Please let us know if you think this may apply to you when booking your appointment.

No, however you will need to take a pregnancy test at home 3 weeks after your medical abortion. This is to make sure the treatment has worked. We will give you a pregnancy test in your Aftercare Pack. If you have had pills by post we will contact you to check the result, however if the test is positive, please call us for further advice. You may need to have another appointment with us if the test is positive.

We will not share your details with anyone unless we have your permission. Your GP does not need to be informed unless you want us to tell them. We always respect your privacy and dignity.

All consultations and treatments are completely confidential. However, if we feel that you or someone else is at risk of abuse or harm we have a duty to contact a local safeguarding team. We will always let you know if we are contacting safeguarding services and our reasons why.

We send limited data to the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health and Social Care. This is to notify them that an abortion has been authorised. This is a legal requirement for all abortion providers.The information we send includes our patients’ date of birth, postcode, ethnicity, marital status, number of previous pregnancies and gestation of pregnancy before the abortion. It will not be possible to identify you from the data we send.

The information is used for statistical purposes by the Department of Health and Social Care. Abortion statistics for England and Wales are published each year by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).