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Two different types of abortion are used in Aotearoa New Zealand: medical and surgical abortion. The type(s) of abortion available to you will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are, your medical history and what is offered in your region.
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Early medical abortion (EMA)
- An option in the first nine to 10 weeks of pregnancy (depends on the provider).
- It uses two medicines (tablets), taken at different times.
- You'd have an appointment(s) at a hospital, community clinic or Family Planning clinic. Some providers do the appointment(s) on the phone (telemedicine) and they send you the medicines or you pick them up.
- In most cases, the abortion happens at home.
- It's also called 'the abortion pill' or 'first trimester medical abortion'.
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Early surgical abortion
- An option in the first 13 to 15 weeks of pregnancy (depends on the provider).
- Pregnancy is removed by suction.
- You'd have either a local anaesthetic or conscious sedation (you're aware but not alert).
- You'd have this procedure in a hospital or community clinic.
- It's also called 'vacuum aspiration', 'suction termination' or 'first trimester surgical abortion'.
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Later medical abortion
- An option after about 10 weeks of pregnancy (depends on the provider).
- It uses medicines (tablets) that are stronger than those for early medical abortion (EMA). It can take longer to work than for EMA.
- You'd have this procedure in a hospital or specialist clinic.
- It's also called 'medical abortion', 'second trimester medical abortion' or 'labour induced abortion'.
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Later surgical abortion
- An option after about 14 weeks of pregnancy (depends on the provider).
- It takes longer than a first trimester surgical abortion.
- Pregnancy is removed by suction and medical instruments.
- You'd have a general anaesthetic.
- You'd have this procedure in a hospital or specialist clinic.
- It's also called 'surgical dilation and evacuation (D&E)' or 'second trimester surgical abortion'.
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Compare early abortion procedures
Find out about the main differences between early medical and surgical abortion.
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Pregnancy calculator
To estimate how many weeks pregnant you could be, select the first day of your last period in the Calendar, then click Calculate. Even if you know the date that you had sex, what's important is the date of your last period.
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Information you enter will be private and anonymous. Use of the pregnancy calculator is for information purposes only. It's an estimate and isn't a substitute for a pregnancy test or medical advice from a nurse, doctor or midwife.