How long will I need to stay in an abortion clinic? How long does the abortion take?

How long will I need to stay in an abortion clinic? How long does the abortion take?

If you are less than 14 weeks pregnant and are having a simple vacuum aspiration, the procedure takes about 5-10 minutes from start to finish and you will usually be awake during the procedure. You will then be monitored in a recovery area for 30 to 60 minutes before being discharged. Overall, you can expect to be at the clinic for a couple of hours.
 
If your pregnancy is more advanced and you are having a dilation and evacuation (D&E), you will usually have to attend the clinic a day before for cervical preparation. On the day of the procedure you will probably be given a general anaesthetic and you will then wake up in the recovery area. The D&E procedure itself takes about 10-20 minutes. You will then be monitored for a further 1-2 hours in the recovery area before being discharged. In rare cases you may be asked to stay overnight for observation.

    • Related Articles

    • How do I get an abortion in a clinic abroad?

      Apart from using abortion pills, the other main way women in Malta have abortions is by travelling to clinics abroad. This usually involves the following: Identifying appropriate countries and clinics. Contacting clinics and agreeing appointment ...

    • How is a surgical abortion in a clinic performed?

      For pregnancies of up to 14 weeks, it is performed with a local anaesthetic and involves inserting a small tube into the uterus and aspirating the pregnancy. This is called vacuum aspiration. For this procedure you can expect to be at the clinic for ...

    • How long do abortion pills take to arrive?

      Delays in shipment were common during the COVID-19 pandemic, however the situation has now improved and most women receive their abortion pills in good time. Women on Web's shipments take 1-2 weeks to arrive, and you will be provided with a tracking ...

    • Will I be given an anaesthetic during a surgical abortion?

      In almost all cases, some form of anaesthesia or sedation is used during a surgical abortion. The type of anaesthesia used depends on how advanced the pregnancy is, and your personal preferences. There are three main options: - Local anaesthetic: ...

    • How many morning after pills do I need to take? Will I need more than one dose if I am overweight?

      In most cases, you only need to take one pill. An exception to this rule is women who are over 70 kg or BMI over 26 , who may need to take a two pills if they are using Levonelle or Escapelle. This does not apply to EllaOne. Each dose protects you ...