Abortions in Canada

What is a medical abortion?

A medical abortion is the termination of pregnancy using medication (best at 7 weeks or earlier). In Canada, this is a safe and effective procedure. Mifegymiso is a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone ends the pregnancy, Misoprostol creates contractions (cramps) that expels the tissue of the pregnancy. If the medication does not work in ending your pregnancy, you will need to have an aspiration abortion (surgical).

Pros

  • Has been formally studied and used safely for years

  • You are at home during this process and you can choose the people and environment you would like to be in.

  • Avoid anesthesia and instruments, unless it fails

  • You do not need someone to come with you to the appointments (but do need someone for the day that you take the misoprostol)

  • Success rate 95-98% depending on how many weeks you are along in your pregnancy

Cons

  • Can be done up to 9 weeks

  • Bleeding and cramping is more intense and longer

  • There is a 1% chance that the medication could fail, in this case, you will be sent for a surgical abortion

  • About 2% of people request the surgical abortion because they do not want to wait for the bleeding to start

  • Risk of excessive bleeding or serious infection (very low)

  • Rarely people may be allergic to the medications

  • Cannot be predictable, more uncertainty about when you will bleed and pass the pregnancy

  • You will need follow up appointments

What is a surgical abortion

Termination of pregnancy through uterine aspiration.

Pros

  • Only take about 5-10 minutes

  • Can be done later in the pregnancy

  • You have supportive and educated medical staff present during the procedure

  • Procedures are successful 99% of the time

  • Surgical abortions are very common, about 100, 000 done in Canada every year

Cons

  • You must have someone to drive you home due to medication (anesthesia and sedatives)

  • Procedures are not done in the evenings or weekends, you will likely need to take time off work or school

  • You will have some bleeding and cramping after procedure