Pregnancy Termination
General Information and Preparation
Commonly Asked Questions
Cost
AppointmentsIn Australia, approximately 80,000 terminations of pregnancy are performed each year. The procedure is legal under certain circumstances including threat to the life of the mother or to her emotional and psychological well-being. Socio-economic and financial resources are also considered. The procedure is one of the safest operations, and up to 16 weeks, is safer than giving birth.
How do I make an appointment for an abortion?
If you would like to make an appointment for a termination, contact this clinic on (02) 6651 5037.
When you call allow 10-15 minutes for the receptionist to make your appointment.
How do I prepare?
The type of anaesthetic we use is called intravenous sedation. For this reason, the most important thing to remember is not to have anything to eat or drink for five hours prior to your appointment. This includes sips of water, lollies and chewing gum. Sedation can only be administered on an empty stomach.
You will also need to bring along:
Your Medicare card
Pension or Health Care Card if you have one
If you are a full time student, proof that you are studying full time
Any current medications that you are taking
A long T-shirt or a nightie
A spare pair of clean underpants
About half a pack of regular sanitary pads
Proof of your blood type*
Any blood test results or ultrasound results that you may have
Someone who is able to accompany you home afterwards
If you are between 14-16 years old, proof of age
If you are under 14 years of age, you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is required to give their written consent. If accompanied by a guardian, proof of guardianship is required.*If you do not have proof of your blood type, this test can be performed at the clinic.
Please note:
* It is not necessary to have a doctors referral in order to have a termination
* It is important that you shower on the morning of your appointment and arrange child care if necessary
* Please reconfirm your appointment as requested by the receptionist
* Having intravenous sedation can make you clumsy and impair your mental ability and judgement. You cannot drive a car for twelve hours after your operation. If you don’t have someone who can take you home (by car or public transport), we prefer that you get a taxi. You could accidentally injure yourself if you operate machinery (including a sewing machine) or fall if you climb a ladder. Avoid knives and hot boiling water for about four hours afterward. It’s good if you can organize the next meal beforehand or get takeaway. If you have children, try and get a friend to help with them and also, someone to pick them up from school.
What can I expect?
If you have decided on a termination, you will be at the clinic for approximately three hours. The receptionist will ask you to complete a form giving your personal details. Payment is requested at this point. We accept cash, EFTPOS or credit card, but no cheques.
You will see the counsellor who will discuss your decision with you, take a brief medical history and explain the procedure. Contraception can also be discussed at this time. Your partner, friend or relative may accompany you during this part.
Following this you will be seen by the sedationist and the doctor who will perform the procedure.
After changing, you will go into the Theatre where you will be sedated.
A termination will then be carried out using a method called suction curettage. Firstly, an instrument called a speculum is inserted into the vagina. This is slowly opened to expand the vaginal canal. After dilation of the cervix a thin plastic tube is passed through the vagina and cervix into the uterus. Gentle suction is then applied to remove the contents of the uterus which the doctor will examine to check that the pregnancy has been terminated. A vaginal ultrasound is also performed to be sure that the uterus is empty and all tissue has been removed.
This part of your stay will only take 5 ~ 10 minutes.Throughout the procedure you will be strongly sedated. The drugs will make you very sleepy and you will not remember the operation or the first fifteen minutes afterward.
Some patients prefer to only have local anaesthetic. The pain is mild to moderate but will only last for a few minutes. You will be fully conscious during the procedure. Having local anaesthetic means that you may drive home afterward.
What happens next?
After the procedure you will be taken into Recovery where you will be given something to eat and drink. The nurses will keep you under observation until you are well enough to go home with your support person.
For the rest of the day, you may feel sleepy and have mild cramping pain. Some Panadeine, Nurofen or Naprogesic and a good lie down should take care of this. You should be able to go to work or school the next day but avoid vigorous activity for one week. Put nothing in your vagina for two weeks: no swimming, have showers rather than baths, use pads not tampons and no penetrative sex for two weeks.
During your consultation, the doctor will have explained general post-operative care as well as the symptoms that you should look out for in the next few days. You will be given an information sheet which covers these details. Make an appointment with us or your local doctor for a check-up two weeks after your termination.
If you have post operative problems, call Blue Water Medical Clinic on (02) 6651 5037 (24 hours) or see your doctor. If symptoms are severe, go straight to hospital.
Commonly Asked Questions
Will I be able to have children after an abortion?
Termination of pregnancy is one of the safest surgical procedures and, up to sixteen weeks gestation, is safer than giving birth. It is very rare for a termination to affect your fertility. The biggest risk is infection and you will be prescribed antibiotics to reduce this. Having sex, using tampons, swimming or taking baths within the first two weeks can increase your chance of infection. Sometimes infection occurs even if you follow all the instructions. If an infection develops it can be treated with extra antibiotics. It is very unlikely, with adequate treatment, that infertility will occur.
It can be very easy to fall pregnant soon after having an abortion so it is very important that you follow through with the contraception you have chosen.
I have heard that any doctor can do an abortion. How can I be sure that I am in good hands?
Terminations at this clinic are performed by Dr Sue Brumby who has been specially trained in this area. She has been performing terminations for over twenty years and has worked in most of the abortion clinics in Sydney and Newcastle. She is regarded by her colleagues as a leader in the field.
In 2001 Dr Brumby established Macquarie Fields Womens Clinic to provide women’s services in South Western Sydney. In 2008 she opened Blue Water Medical in Coffs Harbour. The clinic offers an affordable, quality service which connects with other health and support services in the area.
Our philosophy has always been to treat the whole person and we take great pride in the excellent reputation we have been able to develop since Macquarie Fields Womens Clinic was established.
Is it painful? How long does it take to recover?
This clinic uses anaesthetic called intravenous sedation. This is administered by a dedicated sedation doctor. The drugs include painkillers and one which inhibits the brain’s ability to store memory for about half an hour. During the termination, you will be conscious, but very drowsy. You may feel slight discomfort or movement, but no great pain. The amnesiac effect of the sedation also means that it is unlikely that you will remember your time in theatre.
Afterwards, some women experience cramping similar to period pain. This should not be severe and can be alleviated with oral painkillers.
You will spend about one hour in recovery where you will be monitored closely. You may feel tired and uncomfortable for a little while afterward, but this should settle reasonably quickly. We recommend that you rest for the remainder of the day and don’t plan any strenuous activity for the next week. You should be able to attend work or school the next day as normal.How many weeks pregnant do I need to be? What is the latest I can have an abortion?
We perform terminations from five weeks of pregnancy. This is calculated from the first day of your last period, not from when you think you may have fallen pregnant. If a termination is performed any earlier there is a small chance that the embryonic sac may be missed.
If a termination is performed and the doctor is unable to see that the sac has been removed, blood is taken to determine the level of the pregnancy hormone. The day after the termination, the test is repeated. If the hormone level has fallen, then the termination has been successful.
Initially Blue Water Medical will be operating for one day a week. Because of this our cut-off is approximately 16 weeks.
Do I need a doctors referral?
A doctors referral is not necessary to have an abortion. However, if you have seen your doctor and a referral was written, we ask that you bring it along.
Is there any chance of someone finding out that I have had an abortion?
No. Our staff are bound by strict confidentiality agreements which makes them unable to disclose any information from the clinic. Similarly, Medicare is also unable to disclose information of any kind regarding the treatment of a patient.
When you come to the clinic, you will be given guidelines on how we manage patient information.
I am under sixteen. Can I still have an abortion?
If you are aged 14 to 16 years, we are able to perform a termination if you bring in proof of your age.
If you are under 14 years of age, we can only perform a termination if you are accompanied by one parent or guardian, who will need to provide us with written consent.
I don’t have a Medicare card. Do I need one to have an abortion?
It is not necessary to have a Medicare card to have an abortion, nor do you need to be an Australian citizen. If you don’t have a Medicare card, payment will need to be made ‘up front’. You will be quoted the amount that you need to pay when you make your appointment.
How will I feel? Will I experience any long term psychological damage?
You may experience any number of feelings after having an abortion. These feelings range from relief, thankfulness, anger, guilt, sadness, renewed confidence and energy or regret. You may experience some of these feelings or none at all. There is no one way that you will or should feel.
Studies worldwide has shown that the majority of women do not report symptoms of severe trauma or regret. It is true that some do report negative feelings and suffer guilt and depression afterward. Having said this, others report that they only had positive feelings and are at peace with themselves. For most, their reactions are a mixture of both positive and negative. If they are severely negative, this is very often due to an underlying problem that began well before they made a decision to have a termination.
Rest assure that should you find that you are experiencing a number of troubling feelings or do not feel at peace with yourself, help is readily available in the form of counselling. Most feelings can be worked through and sorted out with the help of an experienced and sympathetic counsellor. Counselling prior to your operation can be arranged either with us or with a third party. If you feel that you need ongoing counselling, even if this is several weeks or months after your termination, contact us or your local doctor for this to be arranged. A referral from a doctor is not required. Please don’t ever feel that you need to battle on alone.
What about my partner? Can he have counselling too?
As the decision to terminate a pregnancy is ultimately the choice of the woman concerned, many men experience feelings of being ‘left out’ or isolated. Some experience frustration at their inability to control the situation.
Their feelings are important too and they are welcome to attend a counselling session with you, if you are in agreement, or individually if this is more appropriate.
Please inquire with reception if you and your partner would like counselling prior to making an appointment for a termination or if your partner would like to attend an individual session.Cost
The cost of a termination of pregnancy varies depending on how many weeks pregnant you are.
If you are a concession card holder or a student, we can offer a reduction
- Please phone our clinic for these costs
Appointments
Pregnancy terminations are performed on Tuesdays.
The number to call is 1800 892 909 or 6651 5037.
blue water medical clinic ©
29 april 2009