Fertility awareness methods: Frequency Asked Questions

Avoid any substances that will alter your mental state, like alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs, on the day of your abortion. If you've used these substances, the health care provider may not be able to offer you pain medication or may not be able to perform your abortion at all. If you're concerned about pain or you're feeling anxious, many abortion providers offer pain medication and medication for anxiety. Talk to your provider in advance about what they can do for you.

We would love to be able to tell you exactly what you can expect to feel during your abortion, but unfortunately there is no one answer to this question that will be true for everyone. Some people experience very little pain, like mild period cramps, and some people experience very intense pain, which feels more like the pain of the contractions you'd have when giving birth.

The type of abortion you have will affect how long you're in pain for and whether or not you can be sedated during the abortion. If you're 11 weeks (77 days) pregnant or less, you should have a choice between the abortion pill (also called medication abortion) and the abortion procedure (also called in-clinic abortion).

The other thing that may affect your decision if you're concerned about pain is that the abortion procedure itself only takes 5 to 10 minutes, while the abortion can take several hours if you choose the abortion pill.

If you have the abortion procedure, you may have the option to be sedated with IV medication. If you have "conscious sedation" administered this way you'll be awake but very relaxed, and the procedure should be virtually pain-free. If you have general anesthesia, which is a type of IV sedation that puts you to sleep completely, you won't feel or experience anything during the procedure—you'll simply wake up when it's over. If you're not sedated, the painful part of the abortion will typically only last five to ten minutes. You should be offered pain medication that you can take by mouth if you're not choosing sedation, and you may also be offered anti-anxiety medication that you can take by mouth. You will also have a numbing medication injected into your cervix.

Many people find that any cramping is gone by the time they leave the clinic, but you may experience some cramping or pain after the procedure. A heating pad should help reduce pain after the procedure.

If you choose the abortion pill, you can take over-the-counter pain medications or your provider may prescribe you pain medication for you to take at home. In addition to pain medicine, you may find that using a heating pad reduces pain. Other techniques like breathing exercises and meditation can also help with pain.

If you're having an abortion procedure, the abortion provider you're going to should give you specific instructions about what to bring and do to prepare for your appointment, but make sure you bring:

• Your insurance card if you have insurance and want to use it.
• A photo ID (you may not need this if you don't plan to use insurance).
• A form of payment the clinic accepts.
• A list of all of the medications that you take regularly, including vitamins and supplements.
• A list of any medical conditions you have.
• An extra pair of comfortable underwear (think: granny panties) that you can use a maxi pad with.
• Something to read or do (like knitting, a crossword puzzle, or coloring) while you wait.
• Comfy clothes to leave in. You can wear comfortable clothes to your appointment (we'd recommend something without a tight waistband) and then wear the same clothes home, or you can change into comfortable clothes after the procedure.
• If your provider says you're allowed to drink clear liquids leading up to your procedure, bring the clear liquid of your choice — this could include water, apple juice, tea without milk, or sports drinks. If you're not sure if something counts as a clear liquid, ask someone at the health center.
• Money for public transportation if that's how you'll be getting home. If you are choosing to have sedation during your procedure, you'll need a support person to go with you on public transportation, ride with you in a cab or other ride service, or drive you home.
• A support person, if you have one. This person may be able to wait for you in the waiting room, or they may need to wait outside due to COVID-19 restrictions. They can also just come pick you up after the procedure. This will be required if you have sedation during your procedure.

How long an abortion takes depends on what type of abortion it is. With the abortion pill, you take two different medications. You take the first medication at your provider's office, and the second one at home (or someplace else safe and comfortable) one or two days later. The first medication stops the pregnancy from continuing to develop, and the second medication starts the actual abortion process. Once you take the second medication, the abortion can take up to several hours to be complete. With the abortion procedure, the actual abortion typically only takes five to ten minutes.

The further along in pregnancy you are when you get an abortion, the more complicated and more expensive it can be and the harder it can be to find an abortion provider. How far along you are can also affect what type(s) of abortion are available to you, since the abortion pill (medication abortion) is only available up to 11 weeks of pregnancy (and at some clinics, it isn't even available up to 11 weeks of pregnancy). Also some states don't allow abortion past a certain point in pregnancy. It's important to take the time you need to make a decision about whether you want to get an abortion. Just keep in mind that the sooner you seek abortion services, the less expensive and easier it will be, and the more options you might have.

If you're having an abortion procedure, the abortion provider you're going to should give you specific instructions about what to bring and what to do to prepare for your appointment, but in most cases:

• Prepare (and bring) a list of all of the medications that you take regularly, including vitamins and supplements, to your counseling appointment and your abortion procedure appointment.
• Prepare (and bring) a list of any medical conditions you have.
• Discuss which of your medications you should continue to take leading up to your abortion and which (if any) you shouldn't take.
• Don't take any additional over-the-counter medications, like over-the-counter pain medication, before your appointment, unless your health care provider tells you to. Wear comfortable clothes to your appointment.
• If you'll be getting IV sedation for your abortion procedure, you will need to fast for several hours (your provider will tell you how long) before the procedure. That means no food at all, but clear liquids may be allowed. Talk to someone at the clinic about what you can and can't eat and drink before your abortion.
• Arrange for a support person to pick you up afterwards. If you're having sedation with your procedure, you won't be able to drive, take public transportation, or take a cab or other ride service by yourself afterwards and will be required to have someone pick you up.

After an abortion procedure, you'll spend a little time in a recovery room before heading home.

If you've been given sedatives, you'll need someone to help you get home, like a partner, friend, or family member, even if you're taking public transportation or taking a cab or ride service.

If you have an abortion procedure, you may have some cramping and bleeding in the days after your abortion, but it should taper off over the next week or so. Some people have almost no bleeding, and others have spotting that lasts a few weeks. It varies from person to person, but generally the earlier in pregnancy you have the abortion, the less cramping and bleeding you can expect afterwards. You can go back to regular activities the very next day, and you can have sex again as soon as you feel ready.

If you choose the abortion pill, once you've passed the pregnancy tissue, bleeding should decrease over a few days. Just like with the abortion procedure, you can go back to work, school, taking care of your kids, or your other normal activities the next day and you can have sex again as soon as you feel ready.

Some health care providers will recommend a follow-up appointment a few weeks after your medication abortion to make sure the pregnancy is over.

Some health care providers prescribe preventive antibiotics for all people having an abortion.

You should get your period 4 to 6 weeks after you have an abortion. But you can get pregnant again before then if you aren't using birth control and you're having penis-in-vagina sex.

If you'd like, here's how to start on birth control after your abortion. If it's been 8 weeks or more since your abortion, and you haven't had a period, contact a health care provider

Fetal viability is the point at which the fetus is likely to be able to live outside the uterus (with medical support). It usually occurs between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

If you're pregnant and still deciding what you want to do, you have options. Abortion is one, and adoption and parenting are others. We have more information about abortion, adoption, and parenting to help you make the decision that is right for you. You can also check out All-Options for more information and to talk with impartial, non-judgmental counselors. It's important to take the time you need to make this decision. Just keep in mind that the further along you are in pregnancy, the more complicated and expensive it may become to get an abortion and the fewer options of abortion providers you may have.

Some states have laws that allow you to do your counseling appointment via telehealth, and then do your ultrasound and abortion at the same appointment, if you have to travel a long distance to get an abortion. These laws prevent you from having to travel a long distance twice or having to stay far from home during the waiting period. If you're going to have to travel a long way for your abortion, ask if virtual counseling is an option when you call to make your appointment.