Abortion FAQs

Following are the common questions about Abortion:

1. What is surgical abortion?
2. What are the different methods for surgical abortion?
3. Who is an ideal doctor to perform a surgical abortion?
4. What diagnostic tests are done before a surgical abortion?
5. What happens during a surgical abortion?
6. How much time does a surgical abortion take?
7. Do I need to stay at the clinic after undergoing surgical abortion?
8. When can I start my daily routine after a surgical abortion?
9. What is the recovery time after a surgical abortion?
10. What is the cost of a surgical abortion?
11. What factors affect the overall cost of a surgical abortion?
12. What to avoid after a surgical abortion?
13. I was diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy. Can I choose a surgical abortion?
14. I was diagnosed with a molar pregnancy. Can I undergo a surgical abortion?
15. Can I undergo a surgical abortion after an incomplete miscarriage?
16. When to meet the doctor after a surgical abortion?
17. Does a clinic offer privacy during the surgical abortion?
18. What are the benefits of a surgical abortion?
19. How to prepare for surgical abortion?

Q. What is surgical abortion?

A. Surgical abortion, also called surgical termination of pregnancy, is a procedure to end unwanted pregnancy with surgical procedures. Surgical abortion is considered the best way to remove pregnancy when it exceeds nine weeks, medical abortion fails, miscarriage becomes incomplete, or a woman has molar or ectopic pregnancy.

Q. What are the different methods for surgical abortion?

A. Surgical abortion is also called in-clinic abortion. There are two types of surgical abortions that include:-

• Aspiration Abortion (This is the most common type of surgical abortion)
• Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) abortion

Which surgical abortion is best for you depends on many factors such as the type and duration of your pregnancy, your general health, and other health conditions that you have, etc.

Q. Who is an ideal doctor to perform a surgical abortion?

A. An obstetrician-gynecologist is an ideal medical practitioner to perform surgical abortions. Therefore, to undergo a surgical abortion, you should choose an experienced OB-GYN licensed under MTPA.

Q. What diagnostic tests are done before a surgical abortion?

A. The obstetrician-gynecologist recommends pelvic ultrasound to confirm the duration and type (molar or ectopic) of pregnancy. After that, the doctor also asks for blood and urine tests to detect if the patient has any other medical conditions such as diabetes, high or low blood pressure, etc.

Q. What happens during a surgical abortion?

A. During a surgical abortion, the obstetrician-gynecologist first gives general anesthesia to the patient to minimize the pain and discomfort during the entire process. Then, the doctor dilates the cervix and places a small suction tube into the uterus. After that, the doctor uses suction to remove the embryo and related pregnancy tissue from the uterus.

Q. How much time does a surgical abortion take?

A. Surgical abortion takes less than 30 minutes to complete. It's performed under the influence of general anesthesia, so you don't feel pain or discomfort during the entire process.

Q. Do I need to stay at the clinic after undergoing surgical abortion?

A. No, you don't need to stay at the hospital after undergoing a surgical abortion. It's performed on an outpatient basis. The doctor discharges the patient just within a few hours of the procedure.

Q. When can I start my daily routine after a surgical abortion?

A. You can resume your daily routine just after 1-2 days of your surgical abortion. However, you should avoid strenuous physical activities, sexual intercourse, and swimming for 10-15 days.

Q. What is the recovery time after a surgical abortion?

A. Complete recovery after surgical abortion takes around one week. However, it may also vary from case to case.

Q. What is the cost of a surgical abortion?

A. The average cost of a surgical abortion ranges between Rs. 20,000-50,000. However, it's not the final cost of the procedure. Many factors affect the overall cost of surgical abortion.

Q. What factors affect the overall cost of a surgical abortion?

A. Several factors significantly affect the overall cost of a surgical abortion. This primarily involves the following:-

• The type of surgical procedure
• The fee of the obstetrician-gynecologist
• Location and type of the clinic
• Charges of the diagnostic tests done before surgical abortion
• Extra procedures in case of emergency
• The fee of follow-up meetings with the doctor after surgical abortion

Q. What to avoid after a surgical abortion?

A. You should follow everything your doctor has advised you to. However, you must ensure that you avoid the following things for at least one week after your surgical abortion:-

• Sexual intercourse
• Heavy exercise
• Swimming
• Fast foods and cold drinks
• Lifting heavyweights

Apart from all the above, based on your general health, you should talk to the doctor about what extra things you should keep in mind during the recovery period.

Q. I was diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy. Can I choose a surgical abortion?

A. Yes, surgical abortion can be used to terminate an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is when a fetus develops outside of the uterus, especially in a fallopian tube.

Q. I was diagnosed with a molar pregnancy. Can I undergo a surgical abortion?

A. Yes, you can easily undergo a surgical abortion if diagnosed with molar pregnancy. Usually, a molar pregnancy ends on its own with miscarriage. However, if this doesn't happen, you can choose surgical abortion after consulting with an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Q. Can I undergo a surgical abortion after an incomplete miscarriage?

A. Yes, you can undergo surgical abortion after an incomplete miscarriage. If you have an incomplete miscarriage, the OB-GYN performs a few tests and, based on the findings, goes ahead with the surgical procedure to eliminate the remaining pregnancy tissue from the uterus.

Q. When to meet the doctor after a surgical abortion?

A. Usually, you need to visit your doctor within 15 days of your surgical abortion so that the doctor can ensure everything is good. However, if you experience any of the below-mentioned symptoms, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible to avoid further complications in time effectively.

• If you notice heavy bleeding
• If you have abnormal pelvic pain
• If you experience severe cramping or abnormal pain

Ignoring these symptoms can lead to further complications. Therefore, you should contact your doctor as soon as you notice these symptoms.

Q. Does a clinic offer privacy during the surgical abortion?

A. Yes, most clinics offer privacy and confidentiality of surgical abortion. However, you should directly talk to your healthcare service provider and ask whether they provide privacy during surgical abortion or not.

Q. What are the benefits of a surgical abortion?

A. Surgical termination of pregnancy, also called surgical abortion, is the best method to terminate an unwanted pregnancy when it exceeds nine weeks, when miscarriage turns out to be incomplete, or when medical termination fails.

The following are the top benefits of choosing surgical termination of pregnancy (STP):-

• Research suggests that 99% of surgical abortions are successful. Only about 1% of the patient needs a repeat procedure or other medical intervention to remove the pregnancy tissue completely.
• The risk of complications is almost zero. But you must ensure that you choose a licensed and experienced obstetrician-gynecologist to undergo the surgical abortion.
• Surgical abortion is a daycare procedure. So you don't need hospitalization. The doctor will discharge you within a few hours of the surgery.
• Surgical abortion takes less than 30 minutes to complete. This is the best method for those who want to get rid of their unwanted pregnancy in just one day.
• Surgical abortion involves minimal bleeding. If you suffer from blood-related complications or are scared of bleeding, this procedure can be the best option for you.
• Recovery after a surgical abortion is speedy and comfortable. Most women resume their daily routines after 1-2 days of surgical abortions.

Q. How to prepare for surgical abortion?

A. Undergoing a surgical abortion is a big decision. Therefore, you should do thorough research and prepare yourself for it. If you consider undergoing a surgical abortion, visit your doctor and discuss everything about it.

After that, talk to your partner, family, and friends, and a counselor if needed. Doing so helps you have a 360 degree perspective on surgical abortion and make a well-informed decision. Once you decide to undergo the surgical abortion, be confident and hopeful and trust your doctor.

Apart from all the above, you should also discuss your current medications with the doctor, don't eat/drink anything for 8 hours before the surgery, don't shave the surgical site yourself. On the day of the surgery, you should also bring a soft sanitary pad to absorb bleeding post-procedure.