As you probably know, abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. In-clinic abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. In-clinic abortion procedures are safe and effective. They are also called surgical abortion.
Several types of abortion procedures will depend on the length of your pregnancy.
- Suction abortion is the most common type of surgical abortion. You can do it 14-16 weeks after the last period.
- Expansion and evacuation is another type. Use suction and medical tools to empty the uterus, usually if 16 weeks have passed or longer than the last period.
- A medication abortion is an abortion using pills and it’s available until 10-12 week of pregnancy.
So, how long does a surgical abortion take?
The abortion itself takes 5-10 minutes, and you’ll get medicine to help with any pain. A D&E abortion takes between 10 and 20 minutes, with more time potentially being needed for dilation.
But, here is the whole procedure:
How to prepare?
Before the abortion, you’ll meet with a nurse or doctor to discuss whether abortion is the right decision for you and what your options are. You will be given instructions for laboratory tests to determine your general health, and then you will go to the ultrasound to determine which week you are pregnant.
A nurse or doctor will let you know if there is anything else you need to do to prepare yourself for an abortion. They’ll give you written instructions on how to take care of yourself and how to take painkillers. You will also receive a number that you can call if you have any questions or any problems while recovering. Also:
- You need to arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure
- Please don’t take any medications for 48 hours before the procedure without discussing it with your doctor
- Don’t eat for a certain amount of time before an abortion
How does a surgical abortion work?
You will receive a painkiller that will help you further. You may be able to get sedation. With some types of sedation, you are awake and fully aware of everything around you, and with others, you are fully asleep. You also get antibiotics to help prevent infection.
The nurse will give you medicines to help you open the uterus before the procedure. Sometimes, they also put small sticks called laminaria a day or a few hours before the procedure. Laminaria absorbs fluid from your body and becomes larger, which slowly widens your uterus.
The most common question is: How does a surgical abortion take? and then How to recover from surgical abortion?. Here is the answer:
You will probably have some bleeding and cramps after the abortion. So, give yourself and your body enough time to recover. Be sure to take some painkillers like ibuprofen, but don’t take aspirin because it can make you bleed more.
Does an abortion hurt?
Having an abortion feels different for everyone. It can be super painful or just a little uncomfortable. For most people, it feels like intense period cramps. It depends on your general pain tolerance. You can minimize your pain with:
- Having a warm bath
- Taking OTC pain relief medication
- Using a hot compresses
After an abortion
When the procedure is done, you need to rest at the clinic under supervision for about 30 minutes. Then you can relax until you are ready to go home. If you had a D&E, you may need a few more days of rest.
If you decide on this procedure, or you have any questions, we are at your disposal. The abortion clinic Fort Lauderdale offers you a professional team of doctors-you is in good hands.
