abortion

First trimester abortion facts:

Common Question	In-Clinic Abortion	Medication Abortion
How does it work?	A doctor or nurse uses medical instruments and gentle suction to remove the pregnancy from your uterus.	You take pills that end your pregnancy and make your uterus expel the pregnancy tissue (like an early miscarriage).
How well does it work?	It works more than 99% of the time.	8 weeks of pregnancy or less: it works about 94-98% of the time. 8-9 weeks: it works about 94-96% of the time. 9-10 weeks: it works about 91-93% of the time. If you're given an extra dose of medicine, it works about 99% of the time. 10-11 weeks: it works about 87% of the time. If you're given an extra dose of medicine, it works about 98% of the time.
How long does the abortion take?	The procedure usually takes about 10 minutes, but the full visit usually takes a few hours. In some cases, state law requires you to come to the health center for a separate visit before the abortion. Abortions later in pregnancy may take longer and require more visits to the health center.	Your appointment at the health center will take a few hours, and then they’ll give you the pills. You take 2 different medicines, up to 2 days apart. You may take both of the medicines at home. Or you may take one or both of them at the health center. Most of the time the abortion is over within 24 hours after you take the second set of pills. You’ll have a follow up visit or phone call to make sure the pills worked. In some cases, state law requires you to come to the health center for a separate visit before the abortion.

If you need an abortion and have passed your first trimester, you can learn about your in-clinic abortion options.