Services > Surgical Abortions

Surgical abortion is a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy through a suction procedure or using instruments to remove the pregnancy. It is typically performed using vacuum aspiration (called a dilatation & curettage, D&C) or dilation and evacuation (D&E), depending on the stage of pregnancy.

We will review you and your pregnancy to make sure it will be a safe and effective procedure. Depending on your specific context, there may be recommendations for one or other procedure. Otherwise, we can help you figure out what is most convenient and acceptable for you.

Our clinic does all procedures under what's known as "conscious sedation". This means you get medication to help you be calm and not remember, as well as strong medications to control pain. But it is important to understand that we do not put you to sleep. The procedure itself involves dilating the cervix and using a suction device to remove the contents of the uterus. We will be talking to you throughout the 5 to 10 minute procedure, and keeping an eye on your comfort level to optimize it.

Surgical abortions can feel crampy, similar to a heavy or painful menstrual period. This typically happens during the last few minutes of the procedure. During the procedure, we do give you strong pain medication as well as anti-anxiety medication. The local freezing can also be painful for a few moments with each injection, but tends to be well-worth it, so you feel the most comfortable during the procedure itself.

Surgical abortion is a highly safe procedure when performed by trained medical professionals in a healthcare setting. The risks of complications are low, but, like any medical procedure, there are potential risks, which our counsellor and physician will discuss with you.

Check out the Blog entitled "LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU" to prepare for your appointment.

Recovery varies by individual, but most people can resume normal activities immediately. You will experience bleeding and cramping for a few days up to a few weeks. We recommend you do not do any heavy lifting/ running/ vigorous exercise for a couple of weeks after the surgery, as it may increase your bleeding and pain. If you need a note to this effect, we can provide this at the end of your service. It is very important, however, to keep active by walking and standing as much as possible and avoiding long periods of rest (other than when you go to sleep at night).

An uncomplicated abortion has not been shown to change a woman's fertility. If there are severe complications (which are highly unlikely) there may be effects on fertility. These complications will be reviewed with you in detail, to make sure you understand them before you have the abortion. However, keep in mind that the risk of all possible complications added together is extremely small and much lower than giving birth. For example, the risk of perforating the uterus is less than 0.05%, and most perforations do not threaten fertility.