Compare early abortion procedures

• First trimester medical abortion.
• Early medical abortion (EMA).
• The abortion pill.
• Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTOP).

• First trimester surgical abortion.
• Vacuum aspiration.
• Suction termination.
• Surgical Termination of Pregnancy (STOP).

• Up to nine to 10 weeks of pregnancy (depends on the provider). 

• Up to 13 to 15 weeks of pregnancy (depends on the provider).

• You may see a nurse, doctor or midwife in a clinic and receive two medicines (tablets) to take at home.
• With EMA by phone (telemedicine) you may talk to a nurse, doctor or midwife on the phone and then collect the medicines from a pharmacy, clinic or get them sent to you by courier.
• The abortion happens at home.

• With a doctor in a hospital or community clinic.
• The abortion happens in the clinic.

Process can vary between clinics.  

• Usually 2-3 consultations with the abortion provider.
• Most people take maximum of three days for the treatment.
• Stage 1 - Blood test followed by first medicine (day one).
• Stage 2 - Second medicine (24 to 48 hours after first medicine).
• Stage 3 – Pregnancy tissue passes and recovery at home (several hours or days).
• Stage 4 - Blood test one week after second medicine taken, to confirm pregnancy has ended.

Process can vary between clinics.

• Usually two 3-4 hour visits to the abortion provider.
• The abortion itself takes 5-10 minutes but you will spend 1-3 hours at the clinic.
• Follow-up appointment two weeks later, if needed.

• Usually return to work or other usual activities the next day after the abortion.

• Mild to strong cramping off and on throughout the abortion (commonly 1-4 hours but might be longer).
• You'll be given medicine to help with the pain.

• Mild to strong cramping during the abortion (commonly a 5 to 10-minute period).
• You'll be given medicine to help with the pain during and afterwards.

• Heavy bleeding and clots to pass the pregnancy.
• Usually light to moderate bleeding after the abortion, which might last up to two weeks.

• Usually light to moderate bleeding, which usually settles within a few days. Might last up to two weeks.

• You can drive as soon as you feel comfortable to.

• You can't drive for 24 hours after the abortion.

• Very safe. Serious complications are very rare. It's extremely rare you won't be able to get pregnant again.

• Between 90 to 99% of medical abortions are successful.
• If it fails, further abortion medication or a surgical abortion will be necessary.

• Usually successful (99%) but if it fails it will need to be repeated.

• Free to most New Zealand citizens and residents. Non-NZ residents have to pay for abortion and prices vary depending on the abortion provider.

• It can be carried out very early in pregnancy. 
• It may feel more natural, like a miscarriage.
• People can self-manage their abortion, giving a feeling of autonomy and mana motuhake.
• It can happen in the comfort, privacy and familiarity of home with support people.
• No anaesthesia is required.
• It reduces the time and costs of travel.
• There's no surgical procedure (unless it fails).

• It can be done after 10 weeks' pregnancy.
• The actual procedure is quick, over in a few minutes.
• It's highly successful.
• For most people, there's less cramping and bleeding than with an EMA (both during and after surgical abortion).
• Medical staff are present.
• There's less bleeding than with an EMA. The person does not have to see pregnancy remains, unless they want to. 

• It takes several days to complete the process.
• How long it takes can’t be predicted.
• Cramping and bleeding can be severe and last for longer than with a surgical abortion.
• It fails slightly more often than surgical abortion (depending on how many weeks pregnant you are).

• There's a medical procedure. A clinician must insert instruments inside the uterus. The vacuum aspirator may seem noisy.
• Anaesthetics and drugs to manage pain during the procedure may cause side effects.
• They have less control over the process and who is with them during the procedure.