FAQs

There is no one-size-fits-all answer for how painful a medication abortion is. 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.

If you’re having a medication abortion, you can take over-the-counter pain medication, like ibuprofen, or you can ask your provider to prescribe pain medication for you to take at home. In addition to pain medicine, you may find that using a heating pad, taking a hot shower, or other techniques like breathing exercises and meditation can also help with pain.

While the pain with a medication abortion can last longer than with an abortion procedure, many people find that the pain improves after they pass the pregnancy. If your pain isn’t getting better or is getting worse after you pass the pregnancy, contact the clinic where you had your abortion.

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.

If you’re having an abortion procedure, you may have the option to have sedation during your procedure. One way to do this is for your abortion provider to give you anti-anxiety medication that you take by mouth before the procedure to relax you. You will be awake but should be more relaxed than usual. If you have what’s called “conscious sedation”, you’ll be awake but extremely 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 and it will be over. Sedation generally costs extra.

If you’re living in a state with an abortion ban, you’re probably wondering what viability means. Fetal viability is the point at which the fetus is likely to be able to live outside the uterus (with medical support). It usually occurs between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

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.

During the abortion, you’ll be undressed from the waist down with a sheet over your lap. If you prefer, you can wear a long, flowy skirt or dress, and then you can just remove your underwear and pull the skirt up. (Just keep in mind that if you wear a jumpsuit or romper, you will have to take the whole thing off.) You’ll lie back on an exam table with your feet in stirrups—just like when you go to a gynecologist or other provider to get a Pap smear or a swab for a yeast infection. The health care provider will use a speculum to separate the walls of your vagina in order to get a good view of the cervix, and they will then inject numbing medication into your cervix. For abortions early in pregnancy, the provider will then dilate (open) your cervix. Soon after, the abortion provider will use a gentle suction to empty your uterus. The procedure itself typically takes only a few minutes to complete.

If your pregnancy is more than 16 weeks along, you may need an extra step to dilate your cervix more before the procedure to make it easier to complete the abortion. You’ll either take a medication to dilate your cervix, or a health care provider will insert a special dilator called laminaria into your cervix. The laminaria will slowly expand and open your cervix gradually. This kind of abortion is called a D&E—dilation and evacuation. The dilators—whether it’s medication or laminaria—may take a few hours or overnight to work. After your cervix is properly dilated, the abortion provider will use suction and some tools to gently empty your uterus.