248 Abor tion
What to
Expect
during
a Safe
Abortion
➤ Drink plenty of
liquids the day before
you have an abortion.
This will help you
recover more quickly.
Safe abortions, especially abortions by suction (MVA), are done
in both health centers and hospitals. An abortion by scraping
(D and C) is usually done in a hospital. An abortion by medicine
should be done at a health center or hospital that also has
equipment to do MVAs and D and Cs, and health workers trained
to do them. For more information about how these abortions are
done, see page 244.
When you go to a health
center or hospital for an
abortion, you should be
welcomed and treated with
respect. A counselor should
talk with you about your
decision and explain how the
abortion will be done and
what the risks are.
The information below
tells what to expect from a safe
abortion. An abortion that is very
different from this could be dangerous.
• You should be asked about the time of
your last monthly bleeding and whether
you might have an STI (see page 263).
• A health worker should do a medical
exam. This includes feeling carefully in your
vagina and on your belly for the size of
your womb.
• During both abortion by suction and by
scraping you will feel strong pains in the
lower belly. But soon after the abortion is
over, the pains will become less strong.
• After the abortion, your genitals should be
cleaned, and then you should be taken to
rest. A health worker should be there to
check you for about an hour.
• Someone should tell you what to do after the abortion, the
danger signs to watch for, and who to contact if you have a
complication.
In addition, someone should discuss family planning methods
with you. You can start using a method the day of the abortion.
You should be given an appointment to come back for a check-up
in 1 or 2 weeks.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012