When a woman knows about her pregnancy, she might feel many different emotions: happiness, sadness, anger. The options offered to her are the pursuit of her pregnancy, the interruption or the adoption the decision of getting an abortion may be very difficult to make. Some women will be confused and ambivalent. It is important to take the needed time to make a bright choice.
How do I know if I am pregnant?
As soon as you realise that your period is late, you can get a home pregnancy test. The length of the pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last period, not the date on which you think you became pregnant.
Is abortion legal?
Yes. In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada removed the sections of the Criminal Code with respect to abortion, recognising the right of women to end a pregnancy under conditions that are safe for their health and future fertility.
This means that all women have the right to undergo this procedure if they choose to. This also means that voluntary termination of pregnancy (VTP) is performed by competent staff using modern medical techniques.
When can I undergo an abortion?
At the Rimouski Birth Control Clinic, we perform abortions from the beginning of the 7th week until the end of the 14th week. However, it is possible to get a VTP up to approximately 23 weeks in other clinics and hospitals in Quebec. Drug abortions are not performed in our clinic or any other in the Bas-Saint-Laurent area. This method is actually not much done in Québec. However, some Hospital centers perform this technique. We can provide you with information on this subject.
How do I make an appointment?
Whether you are unsure about continuing with the pregnancy or positive that you want an abortion, it is best to call the birth control clinic as soon as possible; a nurse or a caseworker will answer your questions and set up an appointment for you within a few days. You will be asked for the date of your last period so that the length of your pregnancy can be calculated. If you do not know exactly when your last period was, say so.
If you want to talk about your situation, the staff at our clinic will be able to listen and support you in a respectful, non-judgmental way.
What happens next?
First of all, you will meet caseworker, a nurse and a doctor who will help you through the decision-making process. This person will ask you questions about your personal support system. The length of counselling varies and will be adapted to your needs. Then you will meet with a nurse who will determine how long you have been pregnant. She will take blood and urine samples and explains the abortion procedure. Than, you will see a general practitioner who will assess your health, perform a medical exam and a gynaecological exam, and discuss contraception. The doctor will make STIs tests and, if needed, a scan to confirm the age of the pregnancy. You will see the nurse, who will provide you with advice on taking care yourself in the days following the abortion and will explain what happens on the day.
Once you have made your decision and all of these steps have been completed, we will confirm the date of your abortion.
The day of the intervention
That day, in the morning, the nurse will confirm the time of your procedure and will accompany you in the whole processes.
In the afternoon, you will enter the procedure room. It will begin with the installation of a solute to receive pain medication and a soothing drug. These drugs are harmless and produce a short term effect. You will feel relaxed. You will not be tired. The intervention lasts around 6 to 10 minutes. The technique used is simple: it involves dilation, aspiration, and curettage under local anaesthetics. The first step in the abortion is anesthetising your cervix.
Then the cervix is dilated, i.e., gradually opened using rods of various thicknesses so that a thin tube can be inserted for aspiration.
The procedure ends with curettage, which cleans the lining of the uterus. It is a common and very safe technique.
Later, the tissue removed from the uterus will be sent to the pathology lab for analysis. During the procedure, you may feel pain of varying intensity similar to menstrual cramps.
It is followed by a one-hour rest period during which you must be accompanied by a person of your choice. At that time, you may rest in a comfortable chair. The nurse will verify your bleedings, vital signs and will give you advices and needful information to go back home. You may then leave the hospital. We recommend that you do not drive until the next morning, due to the effect of the medications.
After the abortion
Since it is a minor intervention, most of women can go back to work the day after. You should be seen again by a doctor 3 to 4 weeks after your abortion. This appointment is very important. The doctor will ensure that the procedure went well and that there are no complications. Even if the majority of women live abortion positively, it is possible that you feel some negative emotions, such as sadness, anger, mourning or guilt. They should reverse in the next weeks. If ever they remain in your life, the caseworker may help you.
If, in the meantime, you have any questions or have symptoms that you are concerned about, call one of these numbers:
418 724-8578 (birth control clinic)
310-2572 (Info-santé)
Your doctor
How much does it cost?
Abortion is a medical act that is covered by the Régie de l’assurance-maladie. Your card must therefore be valid. If you have to be referred to a private clinic, you will have costs to pay. We can provide you with information on this subject.
Last update : July 2014