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Abortion

Considering an abortion?

We offer immediate, safe and compassionate pregnancy termination services at all of our centres around Australia. Depending on how far pregnant you are, you can choose between either a surgical abortion or a medical abortion.

Less than 9 weeks pregnant?
You can choose between a surgical or a medical abortion.

Over 9 weeks pregnant?
You can have a surgical abortion only.

Unsure how far pregnant you are? click here.

Same day service available
Medicare rebates and healthcare card discounts available
Private health insurance cover at selected centres
Accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards*
Counselling services & facilitation
Female doctors (depending on centre)

*Westmead, Fairfield, Homebush, Midland, Caboolture, Salisbury, Canberra

Online WebChat Service available:
Mon-Fri 7am-8pm
Sat 8am-5pm
Sun 9am-6pm

Click on the link above to chat.

"I think the online abortion chat service is great. It made me very comfortable."

Surgical and medical options are outlined below. Our team at Marie Stopes International is here for any questions you have and is happy to discuss these options with you.

Your choice may depend on the gestation of your pregnancy, your general health, the support you may have from family and friends and, naturally, your personal preferences. The different options will be discussed in full during your consultation so you can make an informed choice. Please call our 24 hour freecall number 1800 003 707 or use our live webchat if you would like more information.

Unsure about an abortion?

Counselling Services

If you are unsure of what to do and would like to talk to someone to discuss your feelings and your options we can provide unbiased and confidential counselling . Many women are comfortable making the decision by themselves and don’t want counselling. However, don't feel that you have to make this important decision on your own if you don’t want to. For more information on our counselling services, please click here or call us on Freecall 1800 003 707.

Surgical abortion

Surgical abortion is a safe and simple surgical procedure with a low risk of complication which only requires a short visit to the centre. The procedure uses gentle suction to remove the pregnancy from the uterus and is usually performed under IV sedation or under local or general anaesthetic if required.

Before your procedure, you will have a consultation with a nurse and a doctor who will explain the process to you and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

After the procedure, you will spend a short time in our comfortable recovery rooms where you will be able to rest in a recliner before being discharged. As you will have IV sedation (anaesthetic) you will be required to fast before your appointment and you will need someone to drive you home.

Download the 'Abortion: Your Questions Answered' brochure.
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View frequently asked questions or further abortion information visit our abortion information website where you can chat online with one of our abortion experts.

Medical abortion

We now also offer the option of medical abortion for pregnancies under 9 weeks.

Medical abortion is a method of terminating a pregnancy using medication instead of a surgical procedure and has been recommended by experts as the most effective and safest method of terminating early stage pregnancies.* Success rates are up to 98% in the first 9 weeks of pregnancy.

Medical methods of abortion have a number of advantages. There is no surgery involved and no anaesthetic is required (except in rare circumstances when a surgical termination is required to complete the process – about 2% of cases). In addition there is no need for injections or needles and you are not required to fast before your appointment. Feedback from clients shows that the benefits of a medical abortion are that it is non-invasive, convenient and more private. Your initial appointment at the centre will only take up to an hour and once you go home, you will have access to 24 hour on-call medical advice and assistance via our helpline.

As with surgical abortion, you will have consultations with a nurse and a doctor who will explain the process to you in full along with any side-effects you can expect from the medications and give you the opportunity to ask any questions. You can still change your mind at this stage and decide not to proceed or to have a surgical termination instead.

To see a full comparison of surgical and medical abortion click here.

Click here to view frequently asked questions.

For further abortion information click here to visit our abortion information website where you can chat online with one of our abortion experts.

*Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists UK “Guidelines for the Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion” (2004)

Please see the table below for the comparisons between surgical abortion and medical abortion:

Medical Abortion	Surgical Abortion
High success rate (up to 98% - World Health Organisation, 2003)	High success rate (over 99%)
Surgical instruments not required (except in about 2% of cases where a surgical abortion becomes necessary)	Instruments inserted into uterus
No anaesthetic required (except in about 2% of cases where a surgical abortion becomes necessary)	Anaesthetic required
No needles or injections required	A needle or injection is required for the anaesthetic
Medications cause a process similar to a miscarriage	A clinician performs the procedure
Abortion usually occurs within 24 hours of second medication	The procedure is completed in 5-10 minutes although recovery time following anaesthetic also required
Less time in the clinic over two visits (very occasionally additional visits are needed if further tablets are required)	Can be completed in one visit but time in the clinic is longer
May be used in early pregnancy under 9 weeks from last menstrual period	May be used in early pregnancy up to 12 weeks and at later gestations according to the legislation in each State
Oral pain medication can be used such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen	Local, intravenous sedation or general anaesthetic may be used
The process will occur in the privacy of your own home	Procedure is performed at a Marie Stopes International centre

Click here for information about our privacy policy.

Not sure how far pregnant you are?

Your pregnancy will be calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period. Click here to use our interactive gestation wheel to work out how far pregnant you are.

Alternatively please call our 24 hour helpline on 1800 003 707 for assistance.

All our clients have an ultrasound to determine how many weeks pregnant they are before any procedure.