Therapeutic abortions are generally performed in public hospitals or private clinics which specialise in such operations. The safest time for a therapeutic abortion is between six and twelve weeks after the menstrual period. At this stage of pregnancy, it is more likely that the abortion will be completed within a few hours, and that it will not require major medical procedures. Whether or not to have a pregnancy terminated is a difficult decision. Counselling and medical advice should be sought as early as possible.
Counsellors are available at many clinics, Family Planning Associations and women s health centres.
They can provide the woman with the chance to talk out her feelings, examine the options open to her, and come to decision about her pregnancy. In addition, counsellors can provide information about what procedures are appropriate for the abortion, choice of clinics, choice of local or general anaesthetic, the cost of the procedure, length of clinic stay, recovery time, legality of the abortion, safety of the support available and what to expect on the day of the abortion. The commonest, safest and simplest method of abortion is vacuum aspiration. The neck of the uterus is widened and a narrow tube passed into it to gently suck out the contents. Dilation and curettage involves gently scraping the contents of the uterus with a narrow spoonlike instrument.