FAQs

How long an abortion takes depends on what type of abortion it is. With the abortion pill, you take two different medications. The first medication stops the pregnancy from continuing to develop, and the second medication starts the abortion process. You take the second one someplace safe and comfortable with easy access to a bathroom up to three days after taking the first medication. Once you take the second medication, the abortion usually starts within an hour and can take up to several hours to be complete. With the abortion procedure, the actual abortion typically only takes five to ten minutes.

Before you can get an abortion, you’ll have a counseling appointment with a health care provider, who will talk you through your options and next steps, including choosing how you’d like to manage pain. You may also have an ultrasound to figure out how far along the pregnancy is.

Depending on the laws in your state, you may be able to have the abortion the same day as your counseling appointment. In states that have “waiting periods,” you may need to come back another day for the actual procedure. For example, some states have a 24-hour waiting period. That means that once you have the counseling appointment, you have to wait 24 hours to get the abortion.

Keep in mind that some states have laws that allow you to do your counseling appointment virtually, and then do your ultrasound (if it’s required) and abortion at the same appointment, if you have to travel a long distance to get an abortion. These laws prevent you from having to travel a long distance twice or having to stay far from home during the waiting period. If you are going to have to travel a long way for your abortion, ask if virtual counseling is an option when you call to make your appointment.

The further along in pregnancy you are when you get an abortion, the more complicated and more expensive it can be and the harder it can be to find an abortion provider. How far along you are can also affect what type(s) of abortion are available to you, since the abortion pill (medication abortion) is only available up to 11 weeks of pregnancy (and at some clinics, it isn’t even available up to 11 weeks of pregnancy). Also some states don’t allow abortion past a certain point in pregnancy. It’s important to take the time you need to make a decision about whether you want to get an abortion. Just keep in mind that the sooner you seek abortion services, the less expensive and easier it will be, and the more options you might have.

There are two main ways abortion can be done: the abortion pill (also called medication abortion) and an abortion procedure (also called in-clinic abortion).

Everyone is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to what type of abortion is better. Both types of abortion have a very low risk of serious complications. Which one is right for you will depend on a lot of factors, including how far along in pregnancy you are, since the abortion pill is generally only available up to 11 weeks of pregnancy (and each clinic has its own rules about how far into pregnancy they offer it, so some clinics will not offer it up to 11 weeks).

For some people, being able to do the abortion at home at a time that works for them is the most important thing — with the abortion pill, the abortion itself happens in your own home (or other safe place of your choosing) instead of at a health center, doctor’s office, or hospital. For some, an abortion with the abortion pill feels more like a “natural” process because it’s similar to an early miscarriage.

For those who want it to be over as quickly as possible, it’s important to know that the abortion may take several hours when you take the abortion pill, but it usually takes just 5 to 10 minutes when you have an abortion procedure. Others may want to get an abortion procedure because they’re able to get IV sedation that makes them very relaxed or puts them to sleep so that they don’t have to experience the abortion itself. And still others choose an abortion procedure because it is more likely to be effective than the abortion pill, especially as you get closer to 11 weeks pregnant, which is when the pill stops being an option.

For more help deciding what type of abortion makes the most sense for you, check our list of pros and cons for each abortion type.

Some states have laws that allow you to do your counseling appointment via telehealth, and then do your ultrasound and abortion at the same appointment, if you have to travel a long distance to get an abortion. These laws prevent you from having to travel a long distance twice or having to stay far from home during the waiting period. If you’re going to have to travel a long way for your abortion, ask if virtual counseling is an option when you call to make your appointment.

Legal abortion performed by a certified health care provider is very safe, just like many other common outpatient procedures. The rate of major complications is low, at 0.23%, which is similar to the rate of major complications caused by colonoscopies. And it actually has a lower rate of complications than wisdom tooth removal. The earlier in pregnancy you get an abortion, the lower the chances are of complications. Abortion doesn’t cause long-term health risks or affect your chances of getting pregnant in the future.

If you’re pregnant and still deciding what you want to do, you have options. Abortion is one, and adoption and parenting are others. We have more information about abortion, adoption, and parenting to help you make the decision that is right for you. You can also check out All-Options for more information and to talk with impartial, non-judgmental counselors. It’s important to take the time you need to make this decision. Just keep in mind that the further along you are in pregnancy, the more complicated and expensive it may become to get an abortion and the fewer options of abortion providers you may have.

If you’re taking the abortion pill, you’ll actually be taking two different medications at different times. You’ll take the first medication (mifepristone) at the health center and the second medication (misoprostol) 24 to 48 hours later at home (or somewhere else safe and comfortable). The health center you’re going to should give you specific instructions about what to bring and do to prepare for the appointment where you will take the first medication, but make sure you bring: 




• Your insurance card if you have insurance and want to use it. 

• A photo ID (you may not need this if you don’t plan to use insurance). 

• A form of payment the clinic accepts. 

• A list of all of the medications you take regularly, including vitamins and supplements. A list of any medical conditions you have. 

• Money for public transportation if that’s how you’ll be getting home. 


Before your appointment, make sure you: 




• Ask if there is anything you should avoid eating, drinking, or doing leading up to your appointment. Some providers may suggest you eat lightly beforehand since the first medication may cause nausea, diarrhea, or an upset stomach. 

• Ask which of your medications you should continue to take leading up to your appointment and which (if any) you shouldn’t take. 

• Don’t take any additional over-the-counter medications, like Tylenol or Advil, before your appointment, unless your health care provider tells you to. 

• Ask what over-the-counter pain medication you can take during your abortion if your provider doesn’t offer you prescription pain medication. 


To prepare for taking the second medication at home, you may want to gather the following supplies in advance: 




• A heating pad

• Comfortable clothes, including comfy underwear 

• Super absorbent maxi pads 

• A blanket in case you have chills 

• Ice chips and/or popsicles to suck on in case you have nausea or vomiting 

• Easily digestible food like plain crackers, white rice, bananas, broth, and plain white bread 

• Something to distract you, like movies, tv, magazines, coloring books, or video games 

• A friend or other support person to keep you company and help you with anything you need help with


If you’re having an abortion procedure, the abortion provider you’re going to should give you specific instructions about what to bring and what to do to prepare for your appointment, but in most cases:



• Prepare (and bring) a list of all of the medications that you take regularly, including vitamins and supplements, to your counseling appointment and your abortion procedure appointment. 

• Prepare (and bring) a list of any medical conditions you have. 

• Discuss which of your medications you should continue to take leading up to your abortion and which (if any) you shouldn’t take. 

• Don’t take any additional over-the-counter medications, like over-the-counter pain medication, before your appointment, unless your health care provider tells you to. Wear comfortable clothes to your appointment. 

• If you’ll be getting IV sedation for your abortion procedure, you will need to fast for several hours (your provider will tell you how long) before the procedure. That means no food at all, but clear liquids may be allowed. Talk to someone at the clinic about what you can and can’t eat and drink before your abortion. 

• Arrange for a support person to pick you up afterwards. If you’re having sedation with your procedure, you won’t be able to drive, take public transportation, or take a cab or other ride service by yourself afterwards and will be required to have someone pick you up.

If you’re having an abortion procedure, the abortion provider you’re going to should give you specific instructions about what to bring and do to prepare for your appointment, but make sure you bring:



• Your insurance card if you have insurance and want to use it. 

• A photo ID (you may not need this if you don’t plan to use insurance). 

• A form of payment the clinic accepts. 

• A list of all of the medications that you take regularly, including vitamins and supplements. 

• A list of any medical conditions you have. 

• An extra pair of comfortable underwear (think: granny panties) that you can use a maxi pad with. 

• Something to read or do (like knitting, a crossword puzzle, or coloring) while you wait.
• Comfy clothes to leave in. You can wear comfortable clothes to your appointment (we’d recommend something without a tight waistband) and then wear the same clothes home, or you can change into comfortable clothes after the procedure. 

• If your provider says you’re allowed to drink clear liquids leading up to your procedure, bring the clear liquid of your choice — this could include water, apple juice, tea without milk, or sports drinks. If you’re not sure if something counts as a clear liquid, ask someone at the health center. 

• Money for public transportation if that’s how you’ll be getting home. If you are choosing to have sedation during your procedure, you’ll need a support person to go with you on public transportation, ride with you in a cab or other ride service, or drive you home. 

• A support person, if you have one. This person may be able to wait for you in the waiting room, or they may need to wait outside due to COVID-19 restrictions. They can also just come pick you up after the procedure. This will be required if you have sedation during your procedure.

Avoid any substances that will alter your mental state, like alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs, on the day of your abortion. If you’ve used these substances, the health care provider may not be able to offer you pain medication or may not be able to perform your abortion at all. If you’re concerned about pain or you’re feeling anxious, many abortion providers offer pain medication and medication for anxiety. Talk to your provider in advance about what they can do for you.

We would love to be able to tell you exactly what you can expect to feel during your abortion, but unfortunately there is no one answer to this question that will be true for everyone. Some people experience very little pain, like mild period cramps, and some people experience very intense pain, which feels more like the pain of the contractions you’d have when giving birth.

The type of abortion you have will affect how long you’re in pain for and whether or not you can be sedated during the abortion. If you’re 11 weeks (77 days) pregnant or less, you should have a choice between the abortion pill (also called medication abortion) and the abortion procedure (also called in-clinic abortion).

The other thing that may affect your decision if you’re concerned about pain is that the abortion procedure itself only takes 5 to 10 minutes, while the abortion can take several hours if you choose the abortion pill.

If you have the abortion procedure, you may have the option to be sedated with IV medication. If you have “conscious sedation” administered this way you’ll be awake but very relaxed, and the procedure should be virtually pain-free. If you have general anesthesia, which is a type of IV sedation that puts you to sleep completely, you won’t feel or experience anything during the procedure—you’ll simply wake up when it’s over. If you’re not sedated, the painful part of the abortion will typically only last five to ten minutes. You should be offered pain medication that you can take by mouth if you’re not choosing sedation, and you may also be offered anti-anxiety medication that you can take by mouth. You will also have a numbing medication injected into your cervix.

Many people find that any cramping is gone by the time they leave the clinic, but you may experience some cramping or pain after the procedure. A heating pad should help reduce pain after the procedure.

If you choose the abortion pill, you can take over-the-counter pain medications or your provider may prescribe you pain medication for you to take at home. In addition to pain medicine, you may find that using a heating pad reduces pain. Other techniques like breathing exercises and meditation can also help with pain.