Medical or Surgical Termination: Understanding Your Options
If you are considering a termination, you may hear the terms medical termination and surgical termination. Understanding what each option involves, what you may experience physically, and what questions you may want to ask can help you make an informed decision.
At Zoe’s Place, we believe you deserve clear information, time to consider your circumstances and a safe space to explore how each option sits with your individual values, beliefs and situation.
Which options are available will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are, your medical history, where you live and your individual circumstances.
Medical Abortion:
A medical termination uses medication rather than surgery to end an early pregnancy. In Australia, medical termination is currently available up to 9 weeks (63 days) gestation, calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period.
The medicines commonly used are mifepristone and misoprostol.
Mifepristone blocks the action of progesterone, a hormone needed for the pregnancy to continue. Misoprostol is taken afterwards and causes the uterus to contract and the cervix to open, allowing the pregnancy tissue to pass.
Although it is sometimes referred to as the “abortion pill”, it is important to understand that medical termination involves a process rather than simply taking one tablet.
Although it is sometimes referred to as the “abortion pill”, it is important to understand that medical termination involves a process rather than simply taking one tablet.
What might I experience?
Experiences vary from person to person. Cramping and vaginal bleeding are expected as the pregnancy passes. Bleeding is generally heavier than a normal period initially and may continue more lightly afterwards.
Other possible effects include:
abdominal pain and cramping
nausea or vomiting
diarrhoea
dizziness or tiredness
fever or chills
passing blood clots and pregnancy tissue.
Your healthcare provider should explain what you are likely to experience, how to manage pain and what symptoms require medical attention.
Medical termination is highly effective, but occasionally the pregnancy may continue or some pregnancy tissue may remain. In these circumstances, additional medication or a surgical procedure may be required.
Follow-up after a medical termination is important to confirm that the pregnancy has ended completely. Your healthcare provider will explain the appropriate follow-up for you.
A follow-up appointment with your doctor is necessary within about two weeks after the abortion to examine whether the entire pregnancy has been expelled. Sometimes complications arise and parts are left behind which means a second procedure, (suction curettage) must be performed.
Surgical Abortion:
A surgical termination is a procedure performed by a trained medical practitioner to remove pregnancy tissue from the uterus.
In early pregnancy, the most common procedure is suction or vacuum aspiration. A small tube is passed through the cervix and gentle suction is used to empty the uterus. The procedure itself is usually relatively short.
For pregnancies further along, a procedure known as dilation and evacuation (D&E) may be used. The method available and how the procedure is performed will depend on the stage of pregnancy and your individual circumstances.
Pain relief, sedation or anaesthetic options will be discussed with you by the healthcare provider performing the procedure.
What might I experience afterwards?
Some bleeding and cramping following a surgical termination is common. Some people experience very little bleeding, while others may bleed intermittently for a period afterwards.
As with any medical procedure, complications are possible, although serious complications are uncommon. These can include:
heavy bleeding
infection
retained pregnancy tissue requiring further treatment
injury to the cervix or uterus
complications associated with medication, sedation or anaesthetic.
Your healthcare provider should explain the potential benefits and risks relevant to your individual circumstances before you consent to treatment.
What about emotional wellbeing?
Just as physical experiences differ, emotional experiences following a termination can also vary considerably.
Some women experience relief, some experience sadness, grief, guilt or regret, and others experience several emotions at once. Feelings can also change over time.
Your emotional response may be influenced by many things, including the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, relationships, whether you felt supported or pressured, previous experiences, your personal or spiritual values and how you felt about the decision.
There is no particular way you are supposed to feel.
If you are struggling before or after a termination, having somewhere safe to talk about your experience can be helpful.
Questions are important
Before making a decision, you have the right to ask questions and understand the care being offered to you.
You might want to ask:
What options are available at my stage of pregnancy?
What will I experience during and after the procedure?
What level of pain and bleeding should I expect?
What are the risks and possible complications?
What pain relief is available?
What follow-up care will I receive?
What symptoms mean I should seek urgent medical attention?
Who can I contact if I am worried afterwards?
Medical questions should always be discussed with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
You can also take time to talk
Sometimes knowing the medical facts is only one part of making a pregnancy decision.
You may also be thinking about your relationships, existing children, finances, safety, future plans, beliefs or personal values. You might feel certain about your decision, completely unsure, or somewhere in between.
Zoe’s Place provides free, confidential, trauma-informed and non-directive pregnancy options support.
Our role is not to tell you what decision to make. We provide a safe space to explore your options, ask questions and consider what each choice may mean for you within your own circumstances and value system.
We also provide support following a termination. Whether your experience was recent or many years ago, you are welcome to talk with us.
No pressure. No judgement. Your story matters.
Medical information reviewed October 2026
If you would like to make an appointment to speak to one of our client support staff, please send us a message. They will help you navigate the situation and make a good decision.
