Medical Abortion Information -
The Abortion Pill
General Information and Preparation
Commonly Asked Questions
Cost
Appointments
Documents
In 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 20 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 pregnancy termination, contact the clinic on (02) 9605-2247.
When you call allow 10-15 minutes for the receptionist to make your appointment.
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
Proof of your blood type*
Any blood test results or ultrasound results that you may have
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
* Please reconfirm your appointment as requested by the receptionist
If you have any of the following conditions you CANNOT have a medical termination (MTOP)
Chronic adrenal failure
Haemorrhagic/bleeding disorder
Inherited porphyria
Severe anaemia
Long term anticoagulant therapy
Corticosteroid therapy
Confirmed or suspected ectopic (tubal) pregnancy
Allergy to the abortion pillor prostoglandin like medicine
IUD in place — this must be removed first
Irritable bowel disease or uncontrolled bowel disease (eg severe diarrhoea, Crohn’s disease)
Serious systemic illness (eg severe liver disease, heart disease, kidney failure, uncontrolled seizure disorders)
Serious pelvic infection
Unwillingness to undergo a surgical termination
Other important considerations
You can only have a medical termination if you are no more than 9 weeks pregnant.
You MUST return to the clinic in two weeks.
Live within 30 minutes of a hospital and have reliable transport.
Have a reliable telephone.
Consent to a surgical termination if the medical termination fails (at no extra cost).
Commonly Asked Questions
What is a Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTOP)
A medical termination is one where the woman takes two different drugs that will terminate or end a pregnancy of up to 9 weeks in a similar way to a miscarriage.
These drugs have been used widely and safely on millions of women throughout the world, including France and China, UK, Sweden, USA and New Zealand. The abortion pill is not approved for general use in Australia. Your doctor has been authorised to prescribe it. prostoglandin like medicine has been approved to treat stomach ulcers in Australia. It is widely used in Australia and overseas in termination clinics.
How do they work?
The abortion pill is an anti-progesterone drug. Progesterone is a hormone that is necessary to maintain the early stages of pregnancy. Without progesterone, the lining of the uterus breaks down, the opening of the uterus softens and bleeding begins. However, the uterus needs to contract effectively to expel the pregnancy tissue, hence the need for prostoglandin like medicine. This drug causes the uterus to contract and empty and is given to you to take at home 1—2 days later. Most women will have a miscarriage anytime up to 2 days after the prostoglandin like medicine has been taken.
This method is approximately 92—95% successful at terminating the pregnancy and may be used up to and including pregnancies of nine weeks duration. The earlier the pregnancy, the more successful the drugs will be. A minimum of two visits to the clinic is required approximately two weeks apart to ensure a successful termination.
How is an MTOP performed?
The first visit:
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Assessment and counseling
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Ultrasound and testing to confirm pregnancy.
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The abortion pill(1 tablet of 200mg) is taken orally.
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If you have rhesus negative blood you will have an injection during this visit.
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A base line pregnancy hormone test will be done.
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You will be screened for Chlamydia.
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Contraception advice.
Some women may start bleeding and miscarry with the abortion pill alone (30%) but prostoglandin like medicine is usually needed to complete the process.
At home
The second drug, prostoglandin like medicine (4 tablets x 200mcg), is given to you at your first visit. The tablets should be taken 24 — 48 hours after the the abortion pill by placing 2 tablets on either side of your mouth between your cheek and gum and allowing them to dissolve. Any remnants may be swallowed after 30 minutes. Alternatively, the tablets may be inserted high in the vagina. There are less stomach side effects and the tablets are more effective if inserted this way. After taking the prostoglandin like medicine, you will have bleeding and cramps and may pass some pregnancy tissue. Most women will abort the pregnancy within four hours of taking the prostoglandin like medicine, some will take 24 hours, and 95% will have a complete abortion within 1 week. The pain is like bad period cramps and will hurt the most during the miscarriage. After the tissue is expelled the pain subsides. You can take painkillers like Nurofen, Naprogesic, Panadol or Panadiene before, during or after the process.
Most women bleed for 9 —15 days but some have bled for up to 70 days.
However, if you haven’t started to bleed within 24 hours, you should take another 4 tablets of prostoglandin like medicine. These will be given to you at your first visit.
Occasionally, some women will need to return to the clinic for a third dose of prostoglandin like medicine. A surgical termination (TOP) may be required if the third dose doesn’t work.
You must return your unused tablets to the clinic when you attend for you checkup visit. These drugs must not be left in your home or given to anyone else as they can cause miscarriage and foetal abnormalities.
The second visit
You must return to the clinic two weeks after the first visit to ensure that the MTOP has been successful. This is confirmed by vaginal ultrasound.
If there is a continuing pregnancy, a surgical termiantion will be organised free of charge.
The abortion pill is not known to increase the risk of foetal malformations but prostoglandin like medicine may do so. Therefore it is essential that the termination is completed surgically if the MTOP fails.
Will I be able to have children after an abortion?
Termination of pregnancy is one of the safest surgical procedures and, up to twenty weeks gestation, is safer than giving birth. It is very rare for a termination to affect your fertility.The biggest risk is infection which is mostly caused by chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease. You will be checked for chlamydia and notified if your result is positive. Chlamydia is easy to treat and cure with anibiotics. 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 five 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.
Do I need a doctor's referral?
A doctor's 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. You will be quoted the amount that you need to pay when you make your appointment. Dr Brumby can discuss the options with you.
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
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The cost of a termination of pregnancy varies depending on how many weeks pregnant you are.
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If you are a concession card holder or a student, we can offer a reduction
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On Saturday there is an extra surcharge
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Please phone our clinic for these costs
Appointments
Pregnancy terminations are performed on Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Please telephone the clinic for an appointment and allow 10 ~ 15 minutes.
The number to call is (02) 9605-2247.
We take appointments from 9am – 5pm Monday’s to Friday’s 9am - 12pm Saturday. We are able to take calls outside of business hours.
macquarie field's womens clinic ©
11 may 2010