How long do u have to get an abortion

How far along can you be to get an abortion?

By Attia @ Planned Parenthood | July 1, 2020, 3:55 p.m.

Category: Abortion

Updated November 3, 2022

In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. This means that states can now ban abortion. Some states have banned abortion or created lots of restrictions. But abortion is NOT banned nationwide. Abortion is still legal in many states, and it's legal to go to a different state to get an abortion.

Laws about abortion continue to change. You can find more information about laws in your state and how to get an abortion from your nearest Planned Parenthood health center or AbortionFinder.org.

How late you can get an abortion depends on the laws in your state and which abortion provider you go to. But in general:

You can use abortion pills (also called medication abortion) up to 77 days (11 weeks) after the first day of your last period.
You can get an in-clinic abortion until 24 weeks (or later in some cases, for medical reasons). But most most abortions happen early in pregnancy, and it can be hard in some places to find an abortion provider who can do an in-clinic abortion after around 12 weeks into pregnancy.

There may be things that can delay your abortion, too. If you’re under 18 and live in a state with parental notification laws and need a judicial bypass, it can take a while to get through the process. If you live in a state where abortion is illegal, you may have to go to another state to get an abortion and it can take time to arrange travel. And because some states have banned abortion, there may be longer wait times for an appointment in the states where abortion is still legal.

So if you're pregnant and need an abortion, it's important to take action right away. You can contact your nearest Planned Parenthood Health Center or visit AbortionFinder.org to find an abortion provider and get information about the laws in your state and all of your options. They can also connect you with resources that may be able to help you arrange and pay for transportation, lodging, childcare, and other costs if you have to travel to get an abortion.

When you're looking for a place to get an abortion, beware of “crisis pregnancy centers." These are places that say they offer abortion or other pregnancy services, but they’re actually run by people who want to scare or pressure people out of getting an abortion. They don’t provide abortion or give you honest information about your pregnancy options. And most crisis pregnancy centers aren’t legitimate medical clinics, so they don’t have to follow HIPAA and keep your information private, like most real health care providers do. Planned Parenthood or AbortionFinder.org can help you find a trustworthy health care provider

Tags: Abortion

Abortion - What happens - NHS

Abortions can only be carried out under the care of hospitals or licensed clinics, by qualified doctors.

If you're less than 10 weeks pregnant and having a medical abortion, the hospital or clinic can usually give you the second dose of medicine to take at home.

Most people having an abortion do not usually need to stay in the clinic or hospital overnight, but you may need to go to appointments on different days.

Before an abortion

Before having an abortion, you'll need to have an assessment appointment. This usually happens at the hospital or clinic, but you may be offered a phone or video assessment.

During this assessment, you may:

discuss your reasons for considering an abortion and whether you're sure about your decision
be offered the chance to talk things over with a trained counsellor if you think it might help
talk to a nurse or doctor about the abortion methods available, including any associated risks and complications
be offered an ultrasound scan to check how many weeks pregnant you are
be offered testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
need to have other tests such as a blood test, depending on any medical conditions you have or the stage you're at in the pregnancy

When you're sure you want to have an abortion, you'll be asked to sign a consent form and the clinic or hospital will arrange a date for the abortion.

You can change your mind at any point up to the start of the abortion.

Methods of abortion

There are 2 main types of abortion:

medical abortion ("abortion pill") – taking medicine to end the pregnancy
surgical abortion – a procedure to remove the pregnancy

Medical and surgical abortions can generally only be carried out up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.

In very limited circumstances an abortion can take place after 24 weeks – for example, if there's a risk to life or there are problems with the baby's development.

You should be offered a choice of which method you would prefer whenever possible.

Medical abortion

Medical abortion involves taking 2 different medicines to end the pregnancy.

The medicines are prescribed by the hospital or clinic, and you usually take them 1 or 2 days apart.

The pregnancy is passed (comes out) through the vagina. This usually happens several hours after you take the second medicine.

It does not need surgery or an anaesthetic.

It involves the following steps:

you first take a tablet containing a medicine called mifepristone – this blocks the main pregnancy hormone. You take this tablet at the hospital or clinic, and you'll be able to go home afterwards and continue your normal activities
usually 1 to 2 days later, you take a second medicine called misoprostol – you put the tablets under your tongue, between your cheek and gum, or inside your vagina. You can usually take the medicine at home if you're less than 10 weeks pregnant – if you're over 10 weeks pregnant you need to take these tablets at the clinic or hospital
within 4 to 6 hours of taking the second medicine, the lining of the womb breaks down, causing pain, bleeding and loss of the pregnancy

Sometimes you need to take more doses of misoprostol to get the pregnancy to pass.

Occasionally, the pregnancy does not pass and an operation is needed to remove it.

Surgical abortion

Surgical abortion involves an operation to remove the pregnancy from the womb. It may be done with:

local anaesthetic (to numb the cervix)
conscious sedation (where you're relaxed but awake)
deep sedation or general anaesthetic (where you're asleep)

Most people having deep sedation will not remember anything and will not be aware during the operation. If you have a general anaesthetic, you'll be fully asleep during the operation and will not remember anything.

What kind of anaesthetic or sedation you have depends on your circumstances, how many weeks pregnant you are and your own preference.

Before a surgical abortion, you'll be asked to have a medicine to open the cervix. This happens either a few hours or 1 to 2 days before the operation, depending on the medicine used.

There are 2 methods of surgical abortion.

Vacuum or suction aspiration

This can be used up to 14 weeks of pregnancy.

A tube is inserted into the womb through the cervix (the opening to the womb from the vagina), and the pregnancy is removed using suction. The doctor may need to use special instruments to help remove the pregnancy, depending on how many weeks pregnant you are.

Vacuum aspiration takes about 5 to 10 minutes and most women go home a few hours later.

Dilatation and evacuation (D&E)

This is used after 14 weeks of pregnancy. It involves inserting special instruments called forceps through the cervix and into the womb to remove the pregnancy.

D&E is usually carried out under sedation or general anaesthetic. It normally takes about 10 to 20 minutes and you're usually able to go home the same day.

After an abortion

You do not usually need to have any other tests or appointments after a surgical abortion, or a medical abortion in hospital.

If you have a medical abortion at home, you may need to have a special kind of pregnancy test or scan to make sure the pregnancy has ended.

If you have a medical abortion, you may have short-lived side effects from the medicines, such as diarrhoea and feeling sick.

If you have a surgical abortion, the general anaesthetic and sedation medicines can also have side effects.

For all types of abortion, it's likely you'll have some stomach cramps (pain) and vaginal bleeding. Bleeding usually lasts a week or two. Sometimes light vaginal bleeding after a medical abortion can last up to a month.

After an abortion, you can:

take painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol to help with any pain or discomfort
use sanitary towels or pads rather than tampons until the bleeding has stopped
have sex as soon as you feel ready, but use contraception if you do not want to get pregnant again as you'll usually be fertile immediately after an abortion

You can usually return to normal activities as soon as you feel comfortable to, including having a bath or shower, using tampons, exercising (including swimming) and heavy lifting.

When to get medical help

Get advice if you:

have pain or bleeding that does not get better in a few days
still feel pregnant after about a week
have a temperature, flu-like feelings or unusual vaginal discharge – these could be signs of infection
have any other worries

The clinic will give you the number of a 24-hour helpline to call if you're worried. If you cannot find the number, contact a GP or 111.

You may experience a range of emotions after an abortion. This is common.

If you need to discuss how you're feeling, contact the abortion service or your GP.

They will be able to provide counselling or refer you for counselling if you need it.

Buying abortion pills online

It's against the law to try to cause your own abortion. This includes buying abortion pills online.

You will not know if pills sold online are genuine and they could be harmful.

Before doing anything, contact an abortion advice service such as the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), MSI Reproductive Choices UK, a GP or sexual health service, who can help you find appropriate care for free and in confidence.

Page last reviewed: 24 April 2020
Next review due: 24 April 2023

Medical termination of pregnancy in the early stages in Nizhny Novgorod at the Tonus clinic, medical abortion, mini abortion

Termination of pregnancy is an important step in the life of a woman who is going to do this. It is important to think carefully about everything, and also, to choose a clinic where you would like to have an abortion. After you have made up your mind, the question arises, where to have an abortion? Not all clinics are licensed to perform abortions, so if you want to do abortion, clinic , in which it will be performed, must have the appropriate permission.

In our country, at her own request, a woman can have an abortion for up to 12 weeks. There are also various indications for termination of pregnancy. Abortion for social reasons a woman can do up to 22 weeks, for medical - at any stage of pregnancy.

Abortion in this case is performed after determining the indications for it by a gynecologist and related specialists. The reason for termination of pregnancy for medical reasons can be both a serious pathology on the part of the woman and on the part of the fetus. Only a competent and experienced gynecologist will help you decide on the choice of the method of abortion - medical, mini-abortion or surgical. nine0007

The best is early termination of pregnancy . Early termination of pregnancy reduces the risk of complications in the future and can be carried out without the use of invasive techniques.

Early termination of pregnancy. Medical abortion

Medical abortion is one of the safest methods and an excellent alternative to surgical abortion. Medical abortion is performed up to 6 weeks of pregnancy. When holding medical termination of pregnancy in the early stages, drugs are used that, by their mechanism of action, inhibit the synthesis of progesterone.

Medical abortion is performed only under the strict supervision of a gynecologist. After medical termination of pregnancy, an ultrasound scan is required to examine the uterine cavity.

Early termination of pregnancy by medical abortion method does not impair the woman's reproductive function. According to many studies, after medical termination of pregnancy, ovulation is restored in the shortest possible time. An additional positive quality of medical abortion is the possibility of its implementation directly on the day of treatment. nine0007

Early termination of pregnancy - mini-abortion

Mini-abortion as a method of early termination of pregnancy can be performed from 6 to 12 weeks. The main technique for mini-abortion is vacuum aspiration. The fertilized egg is removed from the uterine cavity using a special electric suction. This option for early termination of pregnancy is more gentle than the standard options for surgical abortion.

We must not forget that the sooner have an abortion , the lower the risk of complications.

The procedure takes about 5 minutes and the woman can go home within a few hours after the procedure. The uterine mucosa, unlike curettage, is slightly injured. A contraindication to abortion in this way is the presence of infection in the acute period. After the mini-abortion, a control ultrasound examination of the uterine cavity is performed.

Where to have an abortion? nine0021

Many women (especially young women), in order not to advertise their pregnancy, start looking for options, where to have an abortion . It must be remembered that it is most correct to have an abortion in a clinic, under the supervision of specialists, and not with the help of folk remedies.

An abortion made outside the walls of a medical institution that has the right to perform this manipulation is called criminal. A self-performed abortion by untested means can lead to serious consequences. In this case, a woman risks not only the possibility of having children in the future, but also her health. nine0007

Medical abortion

Termination of pregnancy by indications or at the request of a woman for a period of 6 to 12 weeks can be performed by curettage of the uterine cavity. This procedure is a surgical procedure and requires preparation. As with any other operation, all the necessary tests are given. Termination of pregnancy is carried out on an empty stomach, as the woman is given anesthesia.

In the postoperative period during the month you need to refrain from sexual intercourse, do not go to the sauna, bath, bathing in water, it is not recommended to take a bath. All these measures are aimed at preventing infection. nine0007

It is also not advisable to overcool, be subjected to excessive stress and physical exertion for some time. It is necessary to give the body a rest, so that in the future there will be no problems with conception.

After the abortion, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist. During the appointment, the doctor will conduct a comprehensive examination with obligatory ultrasound control, as well as select the optimal method of contraception, which will help to avoid unwanted pregnancies in the future, and therefore new abortions. A large number of abortions brings with it a large number of complications that can affect the reproductive potential of a woman. nine0007

Psychological support for a woman is also important, both before and after an abortion. The doctor in this case should be not only a competent specialist, but also a sensitive psychologist who can encourage the patient.

A great role is given to conversations with a woman, since she must understand that the doctor is on her side and in no case condemns the perfect act.

Within a month after the abortion, women should monitor their well-being.

If you experience pain, bleeding, fever or other unusual phenomena, you should definitely visit a gynecologist for a comprehensive examination and identify the cause of the symptoms. nine0007

Where to have an abortion in Nizhny Novgorod?

Termination of pregnancy in Nizhny Novgorod is performed by experienced specialists at Tonus Medical Center. It is possible to carry out manipulations at various stages of pregnancy. An abortion performed at Tonus Medical Center is a safe procedure carried out by highly qualified doctors who choose an individual approach to each woman and provide reliable medical care.