What is the earliest i can have an abortion

No, you do not. It is an option.

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

Abortion services in Victoria
Decision-making about abortion
The process of having an abortion
Medication abortion:
Surgical abortion:
Costs of abortion in Victoria
Abortion and contraception
Follow-up care and emotional support after an abortion
Abortion facts and myths
Where to get help

Most people do not need counselling or support from a professional to make a decision about abortion.

It is usually helpful to find someone supportive to talk to. Choose someone you trust. This may be your partner, a friend, a family member or a health professional.

For more information see: Abortion and Emotional Support

Abortion is a common and legal procedure in all Australian states and territories.

Early surgical abortion (up to 12 weeks) is available Australia wide and later abortion is available in most states and territories.

Medical abortion is available up to nine weeks of pregnancy in a range of health services.

In Victoria surgical abortion beyond 16 weeks is costly and service providers are limited. Speak to your doctor of nurse for more information.

If a doctor does not provide abortion information or services, they must refer you to a doctor who they know does.

All abortion services are protected by safe access zones (with a radius of 150 metres). This allows people entering or leaving premises providing abortions to do so safely and privately.

Abortion service providers are located across Victoria in a range of health services and private practices. The costs, procedures and time required can vary from service to service. Having an abortion earlier in a pregnancy can minimise procedure costs and maximise your options.

To find surgical or medical abortion services in Victoria contact 1800 My Options phone line 1800 696 784.

A new pregnancy can occur very soon after an abortion, so if you want to prevent pregnancy, you may want to discuss contraception options with your doctor or nurse.

Most contraception options can be initiated at the time of abortion or soon after, provided you do not have any medical conditions that make the option unsuitable.

If you choose a surgical abortion a contraceptive implant (Implanon NXT) or intrauterine device (IUD) can be inserted during the abortion while you are under light sedation.

If you choose medical abortion a contraceptive implant (Implanon NXT) can be inserted or a contraceptive injection can be given before you start your abortion tablets.

If you are using the internet for information, only use reliable and reputable websites, such as the ones provided above. Be aware of anti-abortion or pro-life websites containing inaccurate and harmful information and imagery.

Disclaimer

This website and any related materials are for general information purposes only and should not be relied on as (or in substitution for) medical or other professional advice. You should seek specific medical or professional advice for your individual circumstances.

The copyright for material on this website is owned by Sexual Health Victoria (or, in some cases, by third parties) and is subject to the Copyright Act 1968. We permit you to reproduce or communicate our copyright material if you are a not-for-profit educational organisation, for the purpose of providing the information to your students provided that you include any disclaimers associated with that material. Any other reproduction or communication of our material requires our prior consent, via our consent form which you can complete and submit.

Last updated: 2 September 2021

Abortion services in Victoria

Abortion service providers are located in both Melbourne and regional Victoria in a range of health services and private practices. The costs, procedures and time required can vary from service to service. Having an abortion earlier in a pregnancy can minimise procedure costs and maximise your options.

To find abortion services in Victoria:

contact your GP
contact your local community health service
call the 1800 My Options phone line (Tel. 1800 696 784) or visit the 1800 My Options website. 1800 My Options is Victoria’s sexual and reproductive health information phone line and website. It is a confidential, pro-choice and women-centred service, established to provide information to meet individuals' sexual and reproductive health needs.
1800 My Options provides:
- information on contraception, pregnancy options including abortion and sexual health
- pathways to sexual and reproductive health and abortion services across Victoria
- details of clinical, support and counselling services based on each woman’s needs and location.

Decision-making about abortion

You may feel you need more information or support to help make a decision. Professional, impartial counselling is available from qualified health professionals. Medicare-rebated pregnancy support and counselling services are provided by some doctors, social workers, mental health nurses and psychologists. 1800 My Options provides information about where to find counsellors.

The process of having an abortion

The health professionals at the service you attend will need to ensure you are fully informed about:

the procedure
the risks
pain relief for medication abortion
anaesthesia options for surgical abortion
pre- and post-abortion support.

The process of having an abortion depends on:

how many weeks pregnant you are (also known as your ‘gestation’ – this is counted from the first day of your last period)
whether you have a medication abortion or a surgical abortion
which service provider you attend. The abortion provider will give you more detailed information on what you can expect.

Medication abortion:

is provided up to 9 weeks of pregnancy
involves taking a combination of medications to end the pregnancy
is available at some private general practitioner clinics, community health services and private clinics.

Some health professionals use telecommunication technologies (‘telehealth’) to discuss the medication abortion and provide the necessary referrals for an ultrasound scan and the pharmacy script.

Surgical abortion:

is a surgical procedure which can be provided up to 24 weeks and in certain circumstances beyond that
is available in some hospitals and private clinics, mostly in metropolitan Melbourne but also in some regional areas.

Costs of abortion in Victoria

The cost of an abortion can vary, depending on:

whether it is provided by a public hospital, a community health service, a private clinic or private hospital or a GP
whether the provider charges fees or offers bulk billing
the gestation of your pregnancy
the type of abortion procedure you will be having
the type of health cover you have such as Medicare card, Health Care Card or private health insurance and what it covers.

Abortion and contraception

Visiting a health professional about abortion can also be a good opportunity to discuss contraceptive options. Some services may be able to provide long-acting reversible contraception such as an intrauterine device (IUD), or a contraceptive implant or injection, at the time of the abortion or at your follow-up appointment.

Follow-up care and emotional support after an abortion

How you feel after an abortion is related to your unique situation and circumstances.

After having the procedure, most people feel:

relief
that they made the right decision for them at the time.

If you would like information about additional support, let your abortion provider know. They will either provide follow-up support or refer you to an appropriate support service for professional counselling.

Abortion facts and myths

There are some myths and misconceptions about abortion, and you might have encountered websites with conflicting information. Refer to Better Health Channel’s Myths and facts about abortion page for up-to-date and factual information.

Where to get help

1800 My Options or Tel. 1800 696 784 is Victoria’s sexual and reproductive health information and phoneline service, complemented by a website. It is a confidential, pro-choice and women-centred service, established to provide information to meet individual sexual and reproductive health needs. 1800 My Options does not provide clinical, medical, legal or financial advice or counselling. 1800 My Options provides:
- information about contraception, pregnancy options and sexual health
- pathways to sexual and reproductive health and abortion services across Victoria
- details of clinical, support and counselling services based on each person’s needs and location.
Sexual Health Victoria (SHV) . To book an appointment call SHV Melbourne CBD Clinic: (03) 9660 4700 or call SHV Box Hill Clinic: (03) 9257 0100 or (free call): 1800 013 952. These services are youth friendly.
Your GP (doctor)
Your local community health centre
Women’s health organisation for your region.

If you need an interpreter please phone 13 14 50 or advise your health service provider.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.