What is a Safe Medical Abortion
FAQs
Dr Musa is based in South Africa, where she treats a range of gynaecological conditions with care. As a mother, she understands how wonderful pregnancy and motherhood can be. Dr Musa is passionate about the wellbeing and overall health of her patients. Medical services that you can Trust
established to provide women with safe and effective termination services. We recognise how difficult and sensitive the issue of an unplanned pregnancy can be, and our goal is to make your experience one in which you feel calm, informed, dignified and safe.
Common Questions and Answers
How do the abortion pills (Medical Abortion) work?
Medical abortions utilizes abortion pills called Mifepristone and Misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks progesterone and sensitizes the uterus to Misoprostol which induces bleeding and expulsion of the pregnancy. It is a safe and accessible option supervised by a medical professional. Dr. Musa conducts an ultrasound examination to ensure proper dosage and reduce complications
Advantages of early Medical Abortion?
medical abortion achieves a success rate of 98-99%, providing a natural experience similar to a heavy period. It allows the convenience of being done at home for a private and discreet process..
What can I expect during a Medical Abortion?
During a medical abortion, women often compare the experience to an early miscarriage. Common symptoms include:
Mild to severe cramping
Bleeding, possibly with clots, exceeding a normal menstrual period.
Expelling the pregnancy within about 2 hours, followed by reduced bleeding and cramping.
Some women may have a slight fever or chills after taking Misoprostol tablets.
Mild to severe cramping
Bleeding, possibly with clots, exceeding a normal menstrual period.
Expelling the pregnancy within about 2 hours, followed by reduced bleeding and cramping.
Some women may have a slight fever or chills after taking Misoprostol tablets.
How will I feel after the abortion?
After a medical abortion, most women feel relieved and confident about their decision, without regrets. Through thorough pre-procedure counselling, women are empowered to make informed choices and have their concerns addressed. Under Dr. Musa expert guidance, procedures are performed professionally, minimizing complications. Consequently, patients can resume their regular activities soon after the abortion, facilitating a smooth transition to their normal lives.
How old must you be to get an abortion in South Africa?
All women have the right to access pregnancy termination services, regardless of their age. Denying this essential service based on age is unacceptable and a violation of reproductive rights. It is crucial to ensure equitable access to safe and legal abortion services for all women, irrespective of age.
Is it safe to do this at home?
Yes, it is very safe for eligible individuals. It is a medically proven method, and you remain under our care with full access to our medical team for support.
Will this affect my chances of having a baby later?
No. A straightforward medical abortion has no known impact on your future fertility.
Do I need a follow-up appointment?
Yes, a follow-up visit or consultation 2-3 weeks later is essential to confirm the abortion is complete and that you are healthy.
Are there safe abortion options out there?
When contemplating pregnancy termination, two safe options exist: the medical abortion pill and the surgical procedure. Both options are administered by medical professionals to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Why do women have abortions?
There are various circumstances in which a woman may consider abortion, including:
Concerns for her physical and mental health if the pregnancy continues.
Diagnosis of severe fetal abnormalities, prompting consideration for the well-being of both mother and child.
Socio-economic challenges that may affect the woman’s ability to care for a child.
Unplanned pregnancies and financial implications
Pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.
It is crucial to approach each situation with empathy and understanding, acknowledging the complexity of factors influencing a woman’s decision.
Concerns for her physical and mental health if the pregnancy continues.
Diagnosis of severe fetal abnormalities, prompting consideration for the well-being of both mother and child.
Socio-economic challenges that may affect the woman’s ability to care for a child.
Unplanned pregnancies and financial implications
Pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.
It is crucial to approach each situation with empathy and understanding, acknowledging the complexity of factors influencing a woman’s decision.
How do I select the right abortion clinic?
When choosing an abortion clinic consider legitimacy, accreditation, reputation and experience. Evaluate medical professionals’ qualifications, services offered, confidentiality, counseling, facilities, safety and accessibility. Recommendations from trusted healthcare professionals can also aid decision-making.
What is a medical abortion?
A medical abortion or abortion with pills uses medicines to cause the non-surgical termination of an early pregnancy. These medicines, called mifepristone and misoprostol, cause the expulsion of the pregnancy from the uterus.
The most effective type of medical abortion involves the combined use of both types of pills. Misoprostol alone is also commonly used to cause an abortion but is slightly less effective.
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, which is required to sustain a pregnancy. Without this hormone, the attachment of a fertilised egg to the uterine wall is disrupted, and the uterus contracts. Misoprostol enhances contractions and helps to expel the pregnancy from the uterus.
Medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprsotol alone are safe and effective. These medicines are listed on the Core Model List of Essential Medicines of the World Health Organization.
The most effective type of medical abortion involves the combined use of both types of pills. Misoprostol alone is also commonly used to cause an abortion but is slightly less effective.
Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone, which is required to sustain a pregnancy. Without this hormone, the attachment of a fertilised egg to the uterine wall is disrupted, and the uterus contracts. Misoprostol enhances contractions and helps to expel the pregnancy from the uterus.
Medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprsotol alone are safe and effective. These medicines are listed on the Core Model List of Essential Medicines of the World Health Organization.
Is it safe to do a medical abortion by yourself?
The World Health Organization recommends that individuals in the first trimester (up to 12 weeks pregnant) can self-administer mifepristone and misoprostol medication for an abortion without direct supervision of a health-care provider.
Abortions are safe if they are done with a World Health Organization-recommended method that is appropriate to the pregnancy duration, and if the person supporting the abortion is trained.
Abortions are safe if they are done with a World Health Organization-recommended method that is appropriate to the pregnancy duration, and if the person supporting the abortion is trained.
If you prefer an abortion at a clinic instead, how can you find a clinic?
If you prefer a surgical abortion, visiting a clinic or are more than 10 weeks, you can read more about clinics
What does South African law say about abortion?
According to the law, all pregnant people have the right to a free abortion at a government hospital or clinic during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
You can also have an abortion from week 13 up to week 20 of the pregnancy if your healthcare provider believes that:
the continued pregnancy would significantly affect your social or economic circumstances
the continued pregnancy poses a risk of injury to your physical or mental health
there is a substantial risk that the foetus would suffer from a severe physical or mental abnormality
the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest.
After week 20 of pregnancy, you can have an abortion if the pregnancy:
would endanger the your life
would result in a severe malformation of the foetus
would pose a risk of injury to the foetus.
People of all ages have the right to terminate a pregnancy and should never be denied the service because of their age. We suggest that if you are under 16 talk to trusted adult for support.
You can also have an abortion from week 13 up to week 20 of the pregnancy if your healthcare provider believes that:
the continued pregnancy would significantly affect your social or economic circumstances
the continued pregnancy poses a risk of injury to your physical or mental health
there is a substantial risk that the foetus would suffer from a severe physical or mental abnormality
the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest.
After week 20 of pregnancy, you can have an abortion if the pregnancy:
would endanger the your life
would result in a severe malformation of the foetus
would pose a risk of injury to the foetus.
People of all ages have the right to terminate a pregnancy and should never be denied the service because of their age. We suggest that if you are under 16 talk to trusted adult for support.
How can you tell if you are pregnant?
Ultrasound and pregnancy test are the only ways to be sure if you are pregnant. If you are sexually active and have missed a period, you may be pregnant. Common symptoms of early pregnancy are nausea, breast soreness, tiredness and frequent need to urinate.
A pee-on-a-stick pregnancy test can be bought from a pharmacy for R30. You can do a test from the first day of your missed period. Before that the level of hormones produced by the pregnancy is too low to show on the test and the test might give you a false negative.
An ultrasound will show a pregnancy from a week after you missed your expected period, before that the pregnancy is too small to detect.
A pee-on-a-stick pregnancy test can be bought from a pharmacy for R30. You can do a test from the first day of your missed period. Before that the level of hormones produced by the pregnancy is too low to show on the test and the test might give you a false negative.
An ultrasound will show a pregnancy from a week after you missed your expected period, before that the pregnancy is too small to detect.
How can you tell how far along your pregnancy is?
You can estimate how long you have been pregnant by calculating the number of days since the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). You can also use our pregnancy calculator here.
Calculating pregnancy length (from LMP) is less accurate if you had irregular menstruation in the 3 months prior to pregnancy, during breastfeeding, and while using hormonal contraceptives (e.g. oral contraceptive pill, patch, ring, injection, implant or hormonal IUD). In this case we advise that you have an ultrasound. An ultrasound can tell you how long you have been pregnant. In most cases, you do not need an ultrasound to have an abortion. You can get an ultrasound at a clinic or gynaecologist.
Calculating pregnancy length (from LMP) is less accurate if you had irregular menstruation in the 3 months prior to pregnancy, during breastfeeding, and while using hormonal contraceptives (e.g. oral contraceptive pill, patch, ring, injection, implant or hormonal IUD). In this case we advise that you have an ultrasound. An ultrasound can tell you how long you have been pregnant. In most cases, you do not need an ultrasound to have an abortion. You can get an ultrasound at a clinic or gynaecologist.
