The Ottawa Abortion Clinic performs medical abortions from early pregnancy (around 5 weeks) to late-first trimester (10 weeks).
Medical abortion is a non-invasive way to terminate an early pregnancy. Your recovery is generally faster, and because no anesthesia is needed, you can drive to and from the clinic and you do not need to fast.
The procedure requires two medications, working together to end a pregnancy, to be prescribed: Mifepristone and Misoprostol. They are considered the “gold standard” for medical abortion according to the World Health Organization.
Mifepristone blocks the action of the natural hormone progesterone on the uterus. This causes the lining of the uterus to shed, as it does during any normal period, stopping the growth of the pregnancy.
The second medication, Misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract, this initiates bleeding and cramping, which may be heavier and more painful than a typical period, to help push out the contents of the uterus.
In Canada, the Mifepristone and Misoprostol drug regimen is sold under the name Mifegymiso: it comes with one mifepristone tablet, packaged in green, and four misoprostol tablets, packaged in orange, that are taken in sequence for the medical termination of a pregnancy.
This combination of drugs is what is commonly referred to as "the Abortion Pill."
In Canada, you may not be qualified to take the abortion pill if any of the following apply to you.
If any of these apply, don't worry because there are options available for every pregnancy, and our doctors will be happy to walk you through those options.
The Ottawa Abortion Clinic performs surgical abortions from early pregnancy (roughly 5 weeks) to the mid-second trimester (19.6 weeks or 139 days). There are a couple of kinds of in-clinic abortion procedures, depending on far along you are into the pregnancy, and your doctor will be able to walk you through which option is best for you.
In general, in-clinic abortions work by using gentle suction to remove a pregnancy from the uterus. In the first trimester, this is usually done by a procedure called Dilation & Curettage (D&C), or Suction Aspiration, and in the second trimester by a very similar procedure called Dilation & Evacuation (D&E).
Surgical abortions within the first trimester are one of the most common and safe surgical procedures performed in Canada, with the risk of serious complications falling under 0.2% of patients. Surgical abortions in the second trimester are also tremendously safe when performed by trained clinicians, but they do have a slightly increased association with complications due to the advanced age of the pregnancy. But don't worry, our doctors will walk you through these risks, to ensure that you are comfortable with the procedure.
Counselling for Patients having an Abortion
Before all medical or surgical abortion procedures, patients meet with a counsellor to help improve their understanding about the procedure, to ensure that it is something that they want, and if desired, to discuss post-abortive contraception options.
IUD Insertions for Patients having an Abortion
Patients having an abortion may opt for birth control, such as an intrauterine device (IUD), to implanted after the procedure. If this is something that you are looking for, we encourage you to check when scheduling your appointment and again during your visit - our doctors will be happy to discuss post-abortion birth control options with you.
STI Testing/Management for Patients having an Abortion
Our clinic tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) routinely for patients having an abortion, particularly for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. For more exhaustive testing we encourage you to visit your local sexual health clinic, walk-in clinic, or your family doctor.
At the Ottawa Abortion Clinic, we understand that the decision to terminate a pregnancy is very difficult and intensely private; and we respect your right to discreet abortion care services.
We are committed to ensuring that your visit to our clinic is completely private and confidential. We are bound by, and strictly follow, health care privacy laws and all regulations governing patient confidentiality. We do not disclose any information about your visit to anyone without your written consent.
If you are worried about your family physician seeing the results or medications related to an abortion, notify our admin staff on arrival, and they will have forms for you to fill out that will restrict their access to these records.
Our team will support you during your aftercare. You will be provided with a 24 hour hotline number to call for any concerns you may have. The line is answered by our medical professionals.
In the event of an emergency please visit your nearest hospital emergency room.
Ottawa Abortion Clinic
65 Bank Street, 3rd Floor, Ottawa, ON, K1P 5N2
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