What is it?
Surgical termination of pregnancy is a safe day-surgery procedure. It can be performed anywhere between 7 to 22 weeks. Women may have a termination for an unintended pregnancy or because of pregnancy complications.
If it is for an unintended pregnancy, this will need to happen at a private facility and there may be costs.
What do I need to do to prepare?
You will not be able to drive for 24 hours and you will need to arrange for someone to take you home. Your appointment may be cancelled if you can’t provide the details of who will be going home with you.
You will be given instructions from the service doing the procedure. This will include when you will need to fast from and when to take any regular medications. Make sure you tell the service if you are on any blood thinners or medication for diabetes.
It is helpful to:
- Bring all the scans and reports that your GP gave you to the appointment
- Wear two-piece clothing such as a top and pants. Also bring extra underwear
- Bring something to read or do while you are waiting
What will happen?
You will need to change into a surgical gown (the sort that open at the back). If you are having IV sedation, a drip will be put in your arm. This is used to give you the anaesthetic and sometimes antibiotics. There are two types you may be given and this will be discussed with you before the procedure.
- Twilight plus local – this makes you feel like you feel like you are floating. A local anaesthetic is then given to stop you feeling anything. There are few health risks with this option
- General anaesthetic – this puts you to sleep. You won’t feel anything and will wake up after the procedure is finished. There are some health risks with this option.
- Some women choose to only have a local This means you are alert the whole time but can’t feel anything in your cervix or uterus. However, getting the local anaesthetic can be painful
The type of procedure used depends on how far along the pregnancy is:
- Up to 14 weeks gestation (vacuum curettage) – the cervix is dilated (widened) and the contents of the uterus is removed using gentle A spoon shaped instrument called a curette is used to check the uterus is empty. The procedure takes a few minutes but you will then have to rest and recover for a few hours
- After 14 weeks gestation (dilatation and evacuation) – the cervix is dilated and instruments are used to remove the contents of the uterus. For pregnancies after 16 weeks, you may need to attend appointments over two This is because the cervix needs to be widened further. You will need to stay somewhere close by
Many clinics can also insert an intra-uterine device (IUD). This is a type of long-acting removable contraceptive. It is cheaper and easier than having it inserted later. If you are having this procedure because of an unplanned pregnancy, talk to the clinic when you make your appointment about whether this is an option.
