OUR SERVICES & PRODUCTS
The medical abortion (or abortion pill) is also known as early abortion and involves taking pills to end a pregnancy. It's an alternative to surgical abortion and available before nine weeks of pregnancy.
Is medical abortion the same as the morning after pill?
No - the medical abortion/abortion pill is not the same as the morning after pill/emergency contraception.
How is medical abortion carried out?
There are two different types of medication used for a medical abortion at Blue Ladies Clinic - Mifepristone and Misoprostol. You'll take the two sets of tablets over two visits which causes the passing of the pregnancy.
The Mifepristone medication stops the hormone progesterone working. Without this hormone, the pregnancy is unable to continue as it detaches from the uterus (womb). After taking the first tablets, most women can carry on with everyday life. However you might experience some cramping and bleeding. It's fine to take painkillers such as Ibuprofen.
The second Misoprostol tablets will then be given 6 hours, 24 hours or 48 hours after the Mifepristone. This will cause the uterus (womb) to contract and will result in cramping, bleeding and the pregnancy being expelled.
Once the first tablets have been taken, if you change your mind and decide to continue with the pregnancy we cannot guarantee that the foetus will not be damaged.
What is the medical abortion failure rate?
The failure rate for medical abortion is very low - 2-3 women in every 100.
WHAT IS MEDICAL ABORTION
Here are some things you should think about before you come for your abortion appointment.
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Can I drink anything beforehand? Do not drink alcohol for 24 hrs before the first tablet and until 24 hrs after the second tablet. When booking your appointment, please listen carefully to the specific instructions you will be given regarding your appointment.
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I've got a cough, cold or sore throat. It's advisable to rebook your appointment for when you're feeling better. Treatment at Blue Ladies Clinic is always subject to assessment by a doctor on the day, so you may be refused treatment if you're assessed as not well enough.
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I'm bleeding. Light spotting or bleeding in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy can be normal as the pregnancy starts to embed into the womb lining. If you have light bleeding, we recommend you still attend your appointment. We'll perform an ultrasound scan before you have treatment to ensure your pregnancy is inside the womb and to confirm the number of weeks pregnant you are. If the bleeding is heavier than your normal periods
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I'm in pain. Mild, crampy abdominal pain can be normal in early pregnancy as the uterus (womb) starts to grow within the pelvis. If you have mild cramping pain you should still attend your appointment. However, if the pain is persistent and you need to take painkillers, you should see a doctor for a medical assessment.
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I'm concerned I might have an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is difficult to diagnose and often the symptoms can be confusing. If you're experiencing significant abdominal pain and/or bleeding you should see a doctor. Minor abdominal cramps and light bleeding can be normal in early pregnancy. We perform an ultrasound scan on the day of your appointment to confirm your pregnancy is inside the uterus.
Recovery times after an uncomplicated abortion will be different for every woman, and will depend on how many weeks pregnant (gestation) at which the abortion occurs. Most women will recover quickly, within a few weeks. Most women can return to work after a few days.
We would recommend you delay returning to work until after the medical abortion is complete as you will have cramping and bleeding. This is usually within 1-2 days after taking the second tablet, but occasionally takes up to two weeks.
Bleeding
After a medical abortion, you'll experience bleeding and cramping and you may pass clots. The abortion may take place within four to five hours and is usually completed within one to two days. Very occasionally, it can take up to two weeks to pass the pregnancy. Once the pregnancy has been passed, your bleeding will usually lessen and become like a slightly heavier period. It may continue to be quite heavy for a day or two as the uterus needs to contract and return to its normal size. If heavy bleeding occurs for more than two days, or you are soaking more than two pads per hour for two hours or more
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR MY ABORTION
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO RECOVER FROM A MEDICAL ABORTION
PRE-OPERATIVE ADVISE
You can have a light meal before the appointment. Coffee or tea is provided after the procedure.Wear comfortable clothing, preferably two-piece, loose fitting outfit, socks, full panties and a sweater.We provide a sanitary pad.Full payment is required on the day of the procedure. Cash, credit or debit cards are accepted.Please check with your medical aid if the procedure is covered We will provide a specified amount which you can then submit to the medical aid claimdepartment.Counselling services are also offered to the partners or parents. Post-abortion counselling is available to all our clients .
PAIN
Most women experience intermittent cramping pain after an abortion. This usually lasts for about a week and can be managed with hot packs, Ibuprofen and Paracetamol. We advise you do not use Aspirin following either medical or surgical abortion as it can increase your bleeding. If painkillers are not helping, then you must contact staff on our aftercare line +27608366772
Our travel guidelines
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We recommend that all clients bring a friend or family member with them. However - if this isn't possible and your pregnancy is under 18 weeks - it's fine for you to attend and leave the centre by yourself. However, you must not drive yourself home.
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For overseas clients, we advise stay overnight locally with friends or family if possible. This is so you're not alone and don't experience bleeding and side effects during a flight.
Feelings
Following an abortion, it's completely normal to experience a range of feelings such as relief, guilt, regret and sadness. For most women, these feelings fade after a few weeks or months. We recommend that you have someone with you after your abortion to talk to. We offer free, confidential counselling for all women who've had abortion treatment at Blue Lades clinic for as many sessions as needed.
Symptoms to watch out for after a medical abortion
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Lasting pain and/or abdominal tenderness not controlled by painkillers
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Smelly or discoloured vaginal discharge
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Fever
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Generally feeling unwell
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Continuous heavy bleeding that soaks 2 or more pads in an hour for 2 hours in a row
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A positive pregnancy test taken more than 4 weeks after the abortion.
THE PROCEDURE
Our doctors have appropriate training and experience. Sedation as well as local anaesthesia is administered and we advise patients not to eat a big meal 3-4 hours prior to the time of the procedure. The client can bring her partner/friend/family member to accompany her.To ensure quality care, prepare yourself to spend about 1-2 hours at the clinic. The procedure itself will only take about 15 minutes, but we need enough time to take an accurate medical history, do some tests, e.g. sonar.We use the latest vacuum aspiration method, which has been used in Europe for many years. This is considered to be a very safe and low risk.
IN CASE OF DELIVERY
For the case of delivery, pills are given with instructions of how to use them.
The tablets we give you are for oral use. These tablets block the action of the hormone progesterone on the uterus. This stops the growth of the pregnancy and causes the lining of the uterus to shed. Some side effects such as light
bleeding, nausea or vomiting may be experienced.
WHEN CAN A WOMAN NOT DO MEDICAL ABORTION
A women cannot have a medical abortion if one of the following is present:
An entopic pregnancy is suspected (a pregnancy outside the womb)
Her adrenal glands does not function normally
If she is taking long term corticosteroid medication. i.e. for asthma or blood thinning medication
She has a history of a bleeding disorder
She has severe and uncontrolled asthma
She has porphyria
She has an intra-uterine device in her womb
She has severe cardiovascular problems