Medstar Safe Abortion Clinic Bedfordview, is a physician owned clinic licensed by the Gauteng Province Department of Health as a Diagnostic and Treatment Center dedicated to providing quality reproductive health care. In addition to comprehensive gynecological services, We have been leading providers of high-quality abortion care since 2016. We are known to medical providers, both across the country and internationally, as being a leader in women’s reproductive healthcare, including abortion services.
Commonly called ‘the abortion pill’, medical abortion is a non-invasive procedure for termination of a pregnancy. We routinely provide medical abortions (Abortion Pill) to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
1. When done at our clinic
At your procedure visit, a technician will perform a transvaginal ultrasound. You will discuss your decision and options with a counselor and talk more about the medications, side effects, and risks outlined in the Medication Guide.
A nurse or assistant will take your vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature) and you will meet with a physician. The physician will ask you about your decision and answer any questions you may have. The physician will then give you one tablet (200 mg) that you will take orally. If your blood type is Rh negative, a nurse will administer an injection of Rhogam [PDF] in the recovery room. You will be given a prescription for pain medication and reminded about how to contact us in case of an emergency. The physician will also dispense a packet containing 800 mcg of pills to take home.
The abortion pills should be taken 12-24 hours after swallowing the tablet at AWC. Thirty minutes before you plan to take the tablets, take 800mg of ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, etc.). All four pills should be left in the mouth for approximately 30 minutes to dissolve. Anything left in the mouth after 30 minutes should be swallowed. Contractions and bleeding should begin between 20 minutes and 4 hours after taking pills.
“Self-managed abortion” (sometimes known as “at-home abortion”) refers to finding and using abortion pills to terminate a pregnancy without the assistance of a physician or nurse. According to research, using abortion pills to self-manage an abortion can be both safe and successful. This is particularly valid for those who: Typically, they have regular periods, know when their previous period started, and it will be less than 11 weeks before then. Obtain reliable information regarding the proper way to take the medication. do not have any health conditions that might prevent them from taking the pills, such as genetic blood problems, renal or heart disease, having an IUD in place, or believing they are pregnant ectopically.
You will discuss if abortion is the correct choice for you and your options with your nurse, doctor, or health center staff before taking the abortion pill. To determine how far along you are in your pregnancy, you might receive an ultrasound, lab work, and an examination if you visit the health facility in person. In certain states, you can visit virtually, and if lab tests are required, you can visit a nearby lab test provider.
Bleeding & Cramping. Most people can expect very heavy bleeding with this method and it is normal to pass some large clots. Bleeding may continue off and on for several days or weeks and can range from a light flow or spotting to heavier, like a period. However, if you do not begin bleeding within 24 hours or you are soaking through 2 or more pads per hour for 2 hours in a row, please call AWC immediately. Cramping is normal with this type of abortion and may be much worse than a period. Pain medication will be prescribed.
- Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Weakness, and a Fever.
Sometimes these symptoms can be a side effect of the tablets. Call our office immediately if, more than 24 hours after taking pills, you experience symptoms of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea and weakness with or without abdominal pain, or with or without fever. A temperature of 101° F or higher can be normal after taking pills. Your temperature should return to normal about one hour after the bleeding starts. Drink lots of fluids. If your fever does not return to normal in three hours call the clinic. If you get a fever above 100.4° F after day 4, please call our office immediately.
Follow-up Visit. Approximately 7-10 days after your first visit you will return to AWC for a repeat vaginal ultrasound. Approximately 1% of people using the abortion pill method will not end their pregnancies and 2-3% will have remaining pregnancy tissue in the uterus at the time of the follow-up appointment. If the abortion is complete, you will discuss options and future care. If you are still pregnant, you will most likely need surgery to complete the abortion.
After Your Medical Abortion
Post-abortion bleeding and cramping varies from person to person. You may bleed for two days to 4 weeks or have no bleeding at all. For many people, the bleeding stops and starts sporadically. There may be spotting until your next period. You may also find that you are passing large blood clots and have mild to moderate or even heavy cramping. All of this can be normal.
See our Abortion After-Care Instructions [PDF] for more details.