Beginning July 2025, Everywoman’s Health Centre will only offer procedural abortion. If you are seeking medication abortion please contact Willow Clinic . Below is the comparison between methods for informational purposes only.
Everywoman’s Health Centre offers procedural (aspiration) abortion. This chart explains in more detail the differences between the two types. Both are very safe and neither one affects your ability to get pregnant again. Everyone’s experience can be different, but the following is some general information to consider in your decision as to what type of abortion is best for you.
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What does it cost? Procedural AbortionNo cost with BC medical coverage (MSP), $700 without MSP. Medication AbortionNo cost with BC medical coverage (MSP), $985 without MSP. |
How does it work? Procedural AbortionA doctor uses gentle suction to remove the pregnancy from inside the uterus. Medication AbortionThe first pill – mifepristone – disrupts the pregnancy. The second medicine – misoprostol – is used 24-48 hours later to make the uterus contract and push out the pregnancy. |
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How effective is it? Procedural AbortionOver 99% success rate. Medication AbortionA 95 percent success rate at one week follow-up, 97 percent under seven weeks of pregnancy. |
When can it be done? Procedural AbortionA procedural abortion can be done as soon as there is a positive pregnancy test. Everywoman’s provides abortions up to 13 weeks 6 days and referrals for those over 14 weeks. Medication AbortionA medication abortion can be done as soon as there is a positive pregnancy test and up to 9 weeks 6 days from the first day of the last period. |
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How many appointments are required? Procedural AbortionMost need one appointment that takes 2-3 hours. This includes counselling, the procedure, and recovery time. Medication AbortionUsually requires at least one follow-up. For more information, please contact Willow Clinic. |
How long does it take? Procedural AbortionThe procedure itself usually takes about seven to eight minutes. Medication Abortion95 percent will be complete by one-week follow-up. Most will pass the pregnancy tissue within four hours of using misoprostol. |
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How painful is it? Procedural AbortionThere may be strong cramping for a few minutes during the procedure and for a short time after. Medications including local anaesthetic, painkillers and/or intravenous sedation help manage pain. Milder cramps may continue for several days to several weeks. Medication AbortionIt varies from mild to very strong cramping, with the strongest when passing the pregnancy tissue. There are medications to take at home to help manage pain. Milder cramps may or may not continue for several days to several weeks. |
Will I be able to get pregnant again? Procedural AbortionThe chance of an early procedural abortion affecting future fertility is extremely rare: one in 10,000 or more rare than that. In fact, fertility returns very quickly and it is possible to be pregnant again right away. An IUD can be inserted at the end of the procedure or another birth control method can be started right away. Medication AbortionA medication abortion has no effect on future fertility unless there is an extremely rare complication. In fact, fertility returns immediately; birth control methods like the pill should be started the day after using the misoprostol. An IUD can be inserted after a MA. |
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How much will I bleed? Procedural AbortionBleeding afterward varies, but may be less than a period. Bleeding may start a few days after and can continue for up to several weeks. Some won’t bleed at all afterward. Medication AbortionHeavy bleeding and clots are common during the abortion process. Afterwards, there may be some spotting and/or bleeding up to the first period, which comes about about 4-6 weeks afterward. |
Can the abortion fail? Procedural AbortionThere is about a one in 300 chance of needing the procedure repeated because of blood clots forming or tissue remaining in the uterus. A pregnancy continuing is very rare. Medication AbortionThere is about a one in 200 chance that the pregnancy will continue and a procedure may be necessary. About 4 in 100 will require the misoprostol a second time, or will choose to have a procedure to complete the process. |
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What are the possible complications? Procedural AbortionThere is about a one in 300 chance of needing the procedure repeated because of blood clots forming or tissue remaining in the uterus. A continuing pregnancy is very rare. Medication AbortionThere is about a one in 200 chance that the pregnancy will continue and a procedure may be necessary. About 4 in 100 will require the misoprostol a second time, or will choose to have a procedure to complete the process. |
What are common side effects? Procedural AbortionOften there are no side effects. Some have dizziness, nausea or vomiting for a short time after the procedure. Medication AbortionSome have few or no side effects, but it’s normal to have some flu-like symptoms when using the misoprostol, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever or chills. |
