Medical abortion

THE TWO ABORTION METHODS

There are two methods to interrupt a pregnancy, either by instruments (surgical method) or by medication (medical method).It is essential to read the documents in order to make an informed decision on the method that you prefer.

Here is a summary comparative table of both methods, which could help you make your decision. You must be aware that even if you have made your choice, the doctor must approve your eligibility to have a medical abortion, because some medical contraindications may exclude this method.

	SURGICAL ABORTION	MEDICAL ABORTION
NUMBER OF WEEKS OF PREGNANCY	BETWEEN 5 AND 12 WEEKS CALCULATED ACCORDING TO OUR ULTRASOUND	UP TO 9 WEEKS CALCULATED ACCORDING TO OUR ULTRASOUND
TECHNICAL	DILATION- ASPIRATION - CURETTAGE	1 MIFEPRISTONE TABLET 4 MISOPROSTOL TABLETS 24-48 HOURS AFTER
PLACE	AT THE CLINIC MAXIMUM 2 HOURS	PRESCRIPTION GIVEN AT THE CLINIC AND EXPULSION AT HOME
NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS	1 APPOINTMENT ONLY MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONNAL APPOINTMENTS	2 MINIMUM APPOINTMENTS REQUIRED MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONNAL APPOINTMENTS
DURATION OF ABORTION	4 TO 5 MINUTES	UP TO A FEW DAYS AFTER TAKING THE 2 MEDICATIONS
DAY OFF FROM SCHOOL/WORK	1 DAY	3 TO 4 DAYS
EFFICIENCY RATE	MORE THEN 99%	MORE THEN 95 %
PAIN	MILD TO MODERATE CRAMP DURING INTERVENTION	MODERATE TO SEVERE CRAMPS THAT MAY LAST FOR SEVERAL HOURS
PAIN RELIEF	CONTROLLED BY INTRAVENOUS DRUGS	CONTROLLED BY TABLET MEDICATIONS
BLEEDING	NONE OR MILD TO MODERATE IN GENERAL LESS ABUNDANT THAN MENSTRUATION AVERAGE DURATION FROM ABOUT 1 WEEK TO 3 WEEKS	MODERATE TO INTENSE MUCH MORE ABUNDANT THAN MENSTRUATION AVERAGE DURATION OF 10 TO 16 DAYS UP TO 3-4 WEEKS

In the examination room, you will meet the doctor and nurse that will show you where to change and deposit your clothes. The doctor will perform a gynecological exam. This will include a screening for Chlamydia and gonorrhea, but does not include a pap test. The doctor will then do a transvaginal ultrasound to confirm the number of weeks of pregnancy and to exclude an ectopic pregnancy. If your pregnancy is less than 62 days (9 weeks) and you do not show any contraindication, the doctor can give you the abortion pill, Mifegymiso. Otherwise, you can decide to have a surgical abortion immediately after meeting the adviser.

The adviser will review the medical questionnaire that you will have completed and if you wish, you will also be able to discuss about means of contraception. This meeting is essentially about getting you comfortable and preparing you for a medical abortion.

We will explain to you in detail how and when to take the medications. It is your duty to follow the protocol to ensure the effectiveness of Myfégymiso. A follow-up visit to the clinic is mandatory and the date will be fixed before your departure.

The nurse will do a blood test to check the level of pregnancy hormones and to check the RH factor. If you are RH negative, an immunglobulin will be administered intramuscularly to avoid complications for future pregnancies.

At home, when taking Mifégymiso you should expect bleeding and clots that will be more abundant than your menstrual period and also severe cramps that cause more pain than your regular period. Painkillers will be prescribed to relieve the pain. It is obligatory to take the day off of school or work and it is strongly advises to be accompanied.

Expect to see the pregnancy when it expels. The cramps will decrease but you will have much more bleeding than your menstruation until more or less 16 days after the expulsion. The bleeding can continue for up to 30 days after taking the misoprostol.

At your mandatory follow-up appointement, you will have a blood test and may need an ultrasound tomake sure that the abortion is complete. Even if there is bleeding, this does not confirm that the abortion is complete.

Possible side effects of the medication

• Diarrhea 58%
• Chills/fever 45%
• Nausea 30%
• Vomiting 21%
• Breast tenderness, dizziness, skin eruption or itching…