Surgical Termination

Most pregnancy terminations in Australia are performed surgically. In Victoria they must be performed within Day Surgeries approved by the Department of Health, called ‘Registered Day Surgeries’ or by the major Public and Private Hospitals. Most Registered Day Surgeries also undergo vigorous steps to ensure that the correct processes are in place by becoming “accredited.” Accreditation is performed by official agencies and reviewed every three years. Our Centre is both Registered and Accredited. We have our own “infection control “consultant who continually reviews and evaluates practices within our facility.

Once making your decision to undergo a surgical termination you can book your procedure with us. Please notify us of any medications you are taking and any serious medical conditions such as insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Not every one is a candidate for a surgical termination within a Day Surgery Facility, so please check on the section: PATIENT INFO: Forms/Downloads -> “Am I safe to undergo a surgical abortion?" This is a downloadable form that specifies which medical conditions are more safely performed with in a major public hospital setting.

On the day of the surgery you will need to fast for 6 hours before the operation. We ask that you bring only one person with you who will drive you home. This is because our waiting room is not designed to cater for large numbers of people and we like to keep the appointment as private as possible.

For a complete list of what to know and remember before the appointment please also visit: PATIENT INFO: Forms/Downloads -> “What will I need to remember?”

When you arrive you will be seen by our admission nurse who will go through your medical history and perform a preliminary abdominal ultrasound to confirm that surgery is suitable e.g. that your dates are right and that the pregnancy is located within the uterus. She will discuss with you your decision to confirm that you are confident in your decision. Then she will explain the operation to you, going through the possible complications and aftercare information. This information is downloadable and we encourage you to read through this and write down any questions that you might have: see PATIENT INFO: Forms / Downloads -> “Complications" You will be given the chance to ask questions to help increase your understanding.

Following this you will be seen by the operating doctor to again answer any questions and double check that you remain confident in your decision. She/he will discuss with you your reproductive medical history, contraceptive history and together work out with you which contraceptive might be suitable for you after the surgery. For information on the various contraceptive options available you can also visit: PATIENT INFO: Forms/Downloads -> “Contraception options”

We encourage you to visit this section so that you are more informed and familiar with the various contraceptive options available and their side effects.

You will then be seen by the anaesthetist who will escort you into theatre. For more information regarding the anaesthetic please visit Patient info: Forms/Downloads -> “ What Do I need to know about the Anaesthetic?”

Once asleep the operating doctor will examine you to identify the size and position of your uterus then perform an internal ultrasound. This ultrasound will confirm the size of your pregnancy and allow a comparison to be made with the ultrasound performed immediately after the surgery.

A speculum is inserted into the vagina so that the doctor can see your cervix. Swabs will be taken to check for chlamydia and other bacteria that could possibly increase your risk of developing an infection after the operation. For more information you can visit PATIENT INFO: Forms/Downloads -> “Chlamydia” and “Bacterial Vaginosis.” A pap smear can also be performed on request either by yourself or your doctor. These routine swabs take a few days to be processed and will allow the doctor to treat any infection discovered.

The doctor will then disinfect the area with an antiseptic before numbing your cervix with a local anaesthetic (don’t forget that you are already asleep by now.) The cervix is then gently stretched in a process called ‘dilation.’ Once the doctor has stretched or dilated the cervix to an adequate width then a sterile plastic instrument is slid into the uterus through the opening in the cervix. This instrument is called a ‘suction curette’ and resembles a curved plastic straw. Suction is created which then gently suctions the pregnancy and related tissues. Once the doctor feels the uterus is empty then she /he will take out all the instruments and finish by performing another pelvic ultrasound to confirm that your uterus appears empty and that the surgery has been successful. Most patients will have less than 50 mls blood loss during the surgery. The surgery will take about 10 to 20 minutes.

You will be monitored through out and then transferred to your recovery bed to be monitored. All patients must stay in recovery for a minimum of one hour after the operation. You must be driven home by your partner or friend, who should then watch over you. You will not be allowed to drive yourself home as you will be still drowsy from the anaesthetic and could have an accident. We recommend that you do not drive for 24 hours after the surgery. Once home, we recommend that you have a light meal then go directly to bed for a few hours. For further aftercare information please visit: PATIENT INFO: Forms/Downloads -> “After Termination of Pregnancy.” For further information regarding the law regarding pregnancy termination visit: PATIENT INFO: Forms/Downloads -> "The Operation and the Law in Victoria" It is important to remember that the procedure is an operation. When deciding to have any operation it is important to understand what will occur in the operation and what the possible risks are. It is also important to understand the information provided to you about after the operation, detailing what you should know. As mentioned refer to the ‘PATIENT INFO : Forms/Downloads’ section for the downloadable forms regarding these topics.