Is the procedure safe?
All surgical procedures carry risks, however under modern conditions and in the hands of an experienced doctor, the risk of a serious complication associated with a termination of pregnancy is very low. For pregnancies over 12 weeks, the risks gradually increase as the pregnancy advances in to the mid-second trimester, however even at this stage, the risks are still much lower than a delivery at full term.
Will my future fertility be affected?
Provided that there are no major complications, (which are rare), and the procedure is performed in a clinical setting by an experienced doctor, future fertility is not effected by one, or even several abortions. In fact, following a surgical termination of pregnancy, many women find that it is very easy to conceive in the months after the procedure.
What is the law in NSW ?
In NSW, abortions are legal when performed by a qualified doctor with the patient's consent. The doctor performing the procedure must hold a belief based on reasonable grounds, that the termination is necessary to protect the woman's mental or physical health, or to preserve the woman from serious danger to her life. Social and economic factors may be considered.
Do I have to tell my parents?
If you are aged 14 years or over, you do not require your parent's consent to have an abortion.
If you are under 14 years, you will require the consent of a parent or guardian. Many patient's who were, at first, worried about their parent's reaction, find that their parent's are very understanding and supportive during this time.
Is the abortion pill (RU-486) available?
The medical name for this pill is mifepristone. At the current point in time, even though the Australian parliment has cleared the way for it's use, no pharmaceutical company has yet applied to the TGA to register it for use in Australia.
Who is the typical patient?
The average age of a woman attending the Private Clinic for a pregnancy termination is 28 years old. Despite many people assuming that it is mostly teenagers having terminations, only 7.2% of our patients are under 20 years old.
The vast majority of all women were practising some form of birth control at the time.
Where can I find more information about abortion?
A large proportion of information available on the internet, located by performing a Google search, contains incorrect or misleading information written by anti-choice groups. Here are a few web sites that provide accurate information.
