An abortion is a medical procedure done by a specially trained doctor to end a pregnancy. There are 2 types:
- Medication abortion (up to 8-10 weeks). Medicine stops the development of the fetus and causes cramping and bleeding that empties the uterus. The pregnancy tissue will come out through the vagina over the next day or so at home. The process is very similar to an early miscarriage.
- Surgical abortion (up to 20 weeks). In a clinic, the person gets medicine to lessen discomfort and the doctor uses instruments to remove the pregnancy tissue.
People can call the clinic themselves for an abortion. They don’t need to get someone else’s permission, they don’t need to be a certain age, and the cost is covered by Alberta Health Care.