Questions
about Abortion
How
long will I be at the clinic on the day of the operation?
Each patient is different,
and therefore the time spent at the clinic varies depending on
each individual's needs. However the majority of our patients
are daycare - this means that you should expect to leave the whole
day clear, so that if there are delays for extra requirements
(eg. test results or additional discussions with our doctor),
you will not be anxious. Normally you will be required to arrive
promptly at your appointed time in the morning and will be discharged
at some time in the afternoon depending on your gestation and
circumstances.
What
do I need to bring?
Dressing gown, slippers,
a sanitary belt and pads and the fee (if required): you can buy
a sanitary belt and pad here if you do not bring them with you.
Is
the consultation necessary if I already know what I want to do?
Yes, there is a legal
requirement that you see a patient advisor and a doctor, and two doctors’
signatures are necessary on the relevant forms.
Do
I have to be examined internally?
Not usually: however
if a scan is unclear or is unavailable an internal examination
would then be necessary.
Will
the patient advisor try to talk me out of it?
No: the patient advisors are trained to listen to you, provide information and support
and never judge you or ask you to justify your reasons
for wanting an abortion.
Can everything be done on the same day?
Yes, it is possible,
however patients are required by law to have an opportunity to
reflect on their decision, so there must be some time between
the first consultation and the operation.
In special circumstances
we can arrange a consultation in the morning and operation in
the afternoon e.g. for any patient from overseas or Ireland who
has had a consultation with an advisory service, such as the family
planning clinic or Well Woman Clinic first. This enables
them to discuss their decision before making travel and booking
arrangements. For UK patients normal best practice is for a patient
to have a medical assessment first at:
- one of our Pregnancy
Advisory Services
- a registered Family
Planning Clinic
- their own GP
What
is the time limit for abortion?
The legal limit for
an abortion is 24 weeks: at our clinic we can terminate a pregnancy
up to 20 weeks.
How
soon can I have the operation done?
You can have a medical
termination from 5 weeks (after the 1st day missed after your
last period) and up to 9 weeks, also from 16 - 19 weeks. For
surgical termination It is best if the
pregnancy is of at least eight weeks duration: if you are earlier
we will ask you to sign a form confirming that you are aware of
the risks in terminating a very early pregnancy surgically.
Do
I have to see a patient advisor ?
Yes. The advice offered
at consultation and assessment is as much or as little as required
by each individual. It will provide you with an opportunity to
ask any questions about your treatment and to discuss the alternative
procedures which are available.
Am
I going to a proper place?
Yes. Both of our Clinics
are approved by the Department of Health and are licensed to perform
termination of pregnancies under the 1967 Abortion Act. The Calthorpe
Clinic was opened in Birmingham in 1969 and The South Manchester
Private Clinic has been on its present site since 1977.
Is
everything confidential?
Yes. Your identity
and everything you tell us, is regarded as totally confidential.
I
am under 16, do I have to tell my parents?
No, this is not necessary,
but you may find it helpful if you can.
Are
the surgeons qualified?
Yes, they are all fully
qualified and most have consultant status: all are registered
with the General Medical Council (GMC).
How
long will I have to wait for my consultation?
We do not have a long
waiting list and we can normally arrange an initial appointment
within or week of you phoning for an appointment.
How
long is this first consultation?
This will normally
take about 2 hours.
Can
I bring someone with me?
Yes: however, we do
need to see you alone for the consultation with the doctor. Relatives
can request a consultation with the patient advisor or doctor separately
if they so wish. We have a waiting room with refreshments for
relatives and friends.
Does
my own doctor have to know that I have come to the clinic?
Not if you don’t
want him/her to. However,we do require that you have someone to
accompany you on your journey home from the clinic. We also ask
you for a next of kin, but they would only be contacted in an
emergency.
What
will the doctor do at the clinic?
Explain the procedure
and ask you questions about your medical history. He/she will
listen to your chest and answer any questions that you may have.
He/she will arrange for you to have a scan and take a small amount
of blood from you.
Are
they any risks in having an abortion?
There are always slight
risks associated with any anaesthetic and surgical procedures,
but these are very small. The staff will explain every procedure,
in detail, at the time. After treatment, there is a small risk
of infection and for this reason we ask you not to resume intercourse
for at least 3 weeks. It is advisable that you initially use a
method of contraception, preferably a condom, because this will
reduce the chances of an infection and prevent a further unwanted
pregnancy
Will
I be in much pain?
People perceive pain
differently, but in general the pain you experience after the
operation will be no worse than a bad period pain. You will be
offered pain killers at the clinic, if necessary. Once you return
home you make take paracetamol, but nothing that contains aspirin.
If
I am worried is there someone I can contact after my operation?
Yes. consultation and assessment and
medical advice and support is provided 24 hours a day, every day,
by the medical and nursing staff.
Do
I have to have a general anaesthetic?
No, in fact we encourage
patients to have a local anaesthetic for pregnancies under 12
weeks because they can be discharged from the clinic sooner. Or
you can choose to have a 'medical termination' which uses
tablets and then normally no anaesthetic is required.
Will
I wake up during the operation?
No.
What
actually happens? I don’t know anything about abortion.
There are several ways
of terminating a pregnancy, ‘medical’
which uses tablets and ‘surgical’,
with either a general or local
anaesthetic. These different procedures will be explained
to you in detail at the clinic.
Can
I take tablets instead of having an operation?
Yes, a
medical termination can be performed between 5-9 weeks and
13 -19 weeks.
Can
I go home as soon as I have had it done?
No, though the time
varies depending on the procedure that you have had. If you have
a medical termination you will be with us for about 1 hour on
your first visit and six hours on your second visit. If you have
a surgical termination of pregnancy you will need time to rest
after the operation, this is normally about 2-3 hours. The actual
time spent at the clinic after the operation will also depend
upon the size of the pregnancy and may be a little longer with
a more advanced pregnancy.
Can
I drive myself home afterwards?
No: even if you are
accompanied this is dangerous to yourself and other road users
and it is a traffic offence to drive within 24 hours of having
an anaesthetic and some surgical procedures.
What
happens if I change my mind?
You can change your
mind at any time. Staff are there to help you with any indecision
on your part: further consultation and assessment is also available should you
want it.
Do
I have to stay overnight?
No. You will be checked
by a doctor or nurse and if you are fit you will be discharged
the same day, usually 2-3 hours after your operation.
Is
there a charge for an abortion?
Many patients are funded
by their local Primary Care Trusts, however, some have to pay
depending upon where they live. Some choose to pay if they don’t
want to consult their GP or Family Planning Clinic.
If
I choose to pay, can I do this in monthly instalments?
No.
If
I change my mind do I get my money back?
Yes, we will return
your fee for the operation, but not for the consultation and assessment.
Will
I have to pay if I am on income support?
Not usually.
Will
I have to pay all the money at once?
Yes. Our clinics accept
cash, debit cards, Banker’s draft or building society cheque
and all major credit cards (e.g. Visa and Mastercard) except American
Express.
How
long will I need to take off work?
This will depend upon
the type of occupation you have and how you feel the next day.
Usually a break of 1 or 2 days is sufficient to get back to normal.
You can ask about this at your consultation.
Will
anyone be able to tell that I have had an abortion?
Absolutely not. There
are no visible signs that you have had your pregnancy terminated.
Will
I still be able to have children in the future?
Yes of course, there
is no evidence to suggest that abortion can affect your chances
of getting pregnant in the future.
