How long after an abortion can you have cosmetic surgery

FAQ043

Last updated: August 2022

Last reviewed: July 2022

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Learn about the different types of abortion here. Medical abortions, where medicine induces abortion, are performed in the first trimester. Surgical abortions -- a more involved procedure -- occur in the first, second, or third trimester.  We have information about all types, including informative videos explaining each procedure.

Abortion Pill and Mifepristone
Approximately 4 to 7 weeks after the start of the LMP (Last Menstrual Period)

This drug is only approved for women up to the 49th day after the start of their last menstrual period. The procedure usually requires three office visits. On the first visit, the woman is given pills that cause the death of the embryo. Two days later, if the abortion has not occurred, she is given a second drug which induces something similar to contractions, causing the body to expel the embryo. The last visit is to determine if the procedure has been completed. The abortion pill will not work in the case of an ectopic pregnancy.

An ectopic pregnancy is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the embryo lodges outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. If not diagnosed early, the tube may burst, causing internal bleeding and in some cases, the death of the woman. Unfortunately, many women are being instructed to use the abortion pill in a manner not approved by the FDA. This includes using it beyond 49 days of pregnancy and using it vaginally. A number of women who have used the abortion pill have died due to sepsis (full body infection).

How safe is an abortion?

According to the best medical evidence available, abortion is safer than getting a dental procedure or cosmetic surgery [6], and much safer than childbirth. According to that evidence, in the United States, a woman is about 15 to 25 times more likely to die in childbirth than she is during an abortion [7-10].

What exactly is an abortion?

Most people seeking an abortion are early in the pregnancy. 2/3 of women are 8 weeks pregnant or less [3]. Under 10 to 11 weeks, a person has choice of either a medication abortion at home or a short, in-clinic procedure called a uterine aspiration. They are different, but both are very effective, and which one you choose is really a very personal choice.

What is a medication abortion?

In a medication abortion, a person takes two sets of pills. The first pill is called mifepristone. This pill blocks the hormones that allow the pregnancy to develop. Either a few hours or 1-2 days later, they take a second set of pills called misoprostol. These pills cause the uterus to contract to expel the pregnancy. The experience most people have is like having a miscarriage or a very heavy period.

Some people prefer medication abortion because it is private, they can be at home, and they don’t have to have a procedure. The abortion pills work to end the pregnancy over 98% of the time. Around 2% of people will still need a uterine aspiration after using the pills if their pregnancy doesn’t end or if they have heavy bleeding.

What is a uterine aspiration?

A uterine aspiration is done in a clinic or office. In a uterine aspiration, the patient gets undressed from the waist down. The provider places a speculum, like when you get a pap smear done, and then gives some numbing medicine around the cervix. The cervix is opened gently to allow a small plastic straw, or cannula, to pass into the uterus. Suction, either a handheld one like the one in the picture or an electric suction, is used to remove the pregnancy. The entire procedure lasts about 5 to 10 minutes. There are no cuts or incisions – it’s not a big surgery. 

What type of anesthesia do you get for the uterine aspiration, or in-clinic procedure?

Anesthesia depends on where a person has a procedure and their own preference. Some patients have moderate sedation through an intravenous line. In moderate sedation, the person is responsive but sleepy and has good pain control. However, many patients take just an ibuprofen by mouth before the procedure and have numbing medicine in the cervix and they do just fine. Some patients prefer oral medication only because they may need to drive home or are more worried about sedation than the procedure. The choice of sedation is made between you and the clinic staff.

A few patients have deep sedation or general anesthesia where they are completely asleep. Deep sedation or general anesthesia are not needed in most abortion cases but may be offered for patient comfort or if a person has medical reasons where they need to be asleep. 

What do you feel during the uterine aspiration, or in-clinic procedure? Is it painful?

Most people who get moderate sedation or sedation by mouth will feel some cramping or strong contractions as the cervix is dilated and the aspiration happens. However, the procedure is very fast, lasting about five to ten minutes, and the medications help to ease discomfort. By the time people leave the clinic, they should be feeling much better. Most people can go back to their regular activities the next day. 

What’s better, medication abortion or uterine aspiration?

It’s really up to each person. Some prefer a medication abortion because they can take the pills in the privacy of their own home, with their own support people around them. They don’t have to get undressed in the doctor’s office or have the aspiration done. To some people, medication abortion feels more natural, like a miscarriage. They are OK with having bleeding and cramping and are able to follow-up if there is a concern. Other people  would rather have the uterine aspiration because it’s quick and once it’s over, they know they are done and not pregnant – it’s a big relief to walk out of the clinic with the abortion complete. Every person is different, and the choice is theirs to make!

What about abortion later in pregnancy?

Less than 10% of abortion care is provided after 14 weeks in the U.S. and in Canada [11]. This abortion procedure is done slightly differently. Peole may take medications or have overnight dilators placed to open the cervix. The procedure is completed using either suction or suction combined with instruments. Although the entire process takes a bit longer, still the abortion procedure itself is short, takes about 10 minutes, and there is no incision or cutting. Later procedures can take place safely in a clinic or office – they do not need to be in a hospital or operating room [12]. Some of these later abortions are done using medications only, although this is rare in the US and Canada.

If I need an abortion, how can I make it the best experience for me?

Tell the clinic staff about yourself. Tell them the name you want to be called, what pronouns you use, and important things to know about you. Tell them if you have had a previous experience with abortion – good or bad! Tell them if you want a friend, family member, or partner with you. Tell them if you want to be told everything that they are doing, or if you would rather listen to music or chat about movies. Tell them how you want to be treated.

Let go of shame, guilt, or fear. Know that you are making the best decision for you and your life. You are not alone – many people just like you have walked this path. Sometimes reading or hearing about other people’s experience with abortion can be helpful. A great website for abortion stories is wetestify.org.

Do people regret having an abortion?

People decide to have an abortion after concluding that it is the right choice for themselves and their lives. According to the best evidence, if you ask people who had an abortion five years later whether abortion was the right choice, over 99% of them will say that it was [13]. The story that women regret their abortions is one that is mostly made up by people who are against abortion. 

Can a person get pregnant again after an abortion?

According to the best medical evidence, abortion is extremely safe in terms of a person’s ability to get pregnant again in the future. In fact, fertility often returns quickly after an abortion. If a person wants to delay pregnancy, they should use a reliable method of birth control starting immediately after an abortion.

Is it safe to have more than one abortion?

Abortion is safer than having a child, so having more than one abortion is definitely safer than having more than one child. There is no “maximum” number of times that a person can have an abortion in her lifetime.

Who obtains abortion care?

In 2014, the last year where data is available, about a million abortions were obtained in the United States and 100,000 in Canada [1, 2]. In the US and in Canada, this number is a historic low with abortion dropping 20% since 2005 in the US [3]. The reason for this drop is most likely better access to affordable, effective birth control [4].

The majority of people who have abortions in the US are in their 20s, have had a child before, are unmarried, and are white [3]. Although this is the MAJORITY, people from all walks of life seek abortion care. People from communities with higher levels of unintended pregnancy, including adolescents, poor people, people of color, and those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, disproportionately seek abortion care [5].

Who provides abortion care?

In some states and provinces, advanced practice clinicians like midwives, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can provide medication abortion. With a few exceptions including Vermont, California, and Montana, uterine aspiration is limited to physicians only. However, in studies of abortion safety, abortion – either medication abortion or uterine aspiration - is as safe and effective when it is provided by a trained clinician as when it is provided by a doctor [14].

In many other countries around the world, especially where the health work force is limited, nurses, nurse midwives and other trained clinicians are the primary abortion providers. To find a provider in the United States, Mexico, Canada or Colombia, please visit the NAF website at prochoice.org.

Where can you get an abortion?

Most abortion care in the United States and Canada is provided in clinics and doctor’s offices. Because abortion is so safe, there is no need to provide abortion care at any stage in pregnancy in a hospital or surgical center unless, in the opinion of her doctor or clinician, the patient needs a higher level of care. There is no increase in complications when abortion care is provided in clinics compared to when it is provided in a surgical center [12]. Attempts to restrict abortion to surgical centers does not increase the safety of abortion and only serves to limit abortion access [12, 15].

How to I find an abortion provider?

Search and find a provider in your area here or call the NAF Hotline referral line 1-877-257-0012, which provides referrals to high-quality clinics in the U.S. and Canada (no funding assistance provided on this line).