There is no limit to the number of abortions you can have via the NHS. Abortion is common: nearly one in three pregnancies end in an abortion worldwide. At MSI UK we know that each abortion is different and surrounded by a unique set of circumstances.
In this blog, you will find information about:
- Abortion treatment options at MSI UK
- How to book an abortion appointment
- Contraception options after an abortion
Abortion is a very common and safe treatment. There are a wide range of reasons why someone may need abortion care and having more than one abortion is common – in 2021 more than 40% of abortions were subsequent procedures. There is no right number of abortions and abortion providers will never judge you for your decision.
When contacting an abortion provider, we will provide a safe, non-judgemental space where you can ask questions and make a booking.
Please remember that you have the right to change your mind at any time, whether you have made a booking or had your consultation. Abortion providers will support you whether your decision is to continue or end a pregnancy.
This is why abortion providers offer free, confidential counselling services (as part of NHS-funded abortion care) to anyone who would like to talk through their abortion options before, during or after their treatment.
Call us on 0345 300 8090 to arrange a counselling appointment.
A client’s story about having more than one abortion
Sharing stories is the key to breaking the stigma around abortion and at MSI, we are so grateful that people are sharing their stories with us via our abortion story online form. We know that it is important for people to read abortion stories to know that they are not alone and feel reassured in whatever decision is right for them.
Here is a story from a client who is smashing the stigma about having more than one abortion.
What abortion treatment options do we provide?
At MSI Reproductive Choices in the UK, we offer medical (and telemedicine) and surgical abortions across our clinics in England.
A medical abortion, also known as “Abortion with pills” uses medication to end a pregnancy. The treatment involves taking two types of medicine at two different times. It is the safest treatment option up to 9 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy for most people. We also offer at-home abortion services (telemedicine) up to 9 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. This means that if you meet safety criteria to allow for a medical abortion without a scan, you can take both sets of pills at home, without needing to attend a clinic. The abortion medication can either be collected by you from one of our clinics or posted to your home address after your consultation.
We offer surgical abortion up to 23 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. A surgical abortion is a safe and simple procedure carried out by specialist doctors in a clinic and involves the pregnancy being removed through your vagina, either by using suction (vacuum aspiration) or specialised instruments (dilation and evacuation). The type of surgical abortion procedure we offer you will depend on how many weeks you have been pregnant and your medical history.
How to get an appointment for an abortion?
98% of abortions in the UK are funded by the NHS, and you can have a consultation appointment for NHS-funded abortion care within 48 hours with MSI UK.
It is important to know that you do NOT need a GP referral to access abortion care. You can access NHS-funded abortion care by getting in touch with an abortion provider like MSI Reproductive Choices to book a consultation. Reminder: access to our clinics is appointment-only. Please make sure you call us to book your appointment before attending our clinics.
When contacting an abortion provider, we will provide a safe, non-judgemental space where you can ask your questions and make a booking.
Please remember that you have the right to change your mind at any time, whether you have made a booking or had your consultation. Abortion providers will support you whether your decision is to continue or end a pregnancy.
Contraception options after an abortion
Contraception counselling is a part of your NHS-funded abortion care with MSI Reproductive Choices, should you wish to start a method of contraception following an abortion. If you are looking for a contraceptive method that suits your individual needs, you can book an appointment within three months of your abortion treatment.
If you do not want to get pregnant again, you may want to consider long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). LARC methods such as the implant, coil and injection are the gold standard of the contraception world because they are the most effective, do not interrupt sex and once fitted, you can forget about them.
All LARC methods are reversible so if you want to, you can plan a future pregnancy when the time is right.
If you do not think long-acting reversible contraception is right for you, then you can also use short-acting methods, which you can find out more about here.
Please remember that condoms are the only contraceptive method that will help protect you against STIs.
VIDEO: Your contraceptive options
In this video, Julia Hogan, contraception nurse consultant, talks about your contraceptive options following an abortion.
“CHOICE”: MSI UK’s digital contraception counsellor
At MSI UK, we believe that information about contraception should be readily available. If you need help finding the best contraceptive method for you, try our digital contraception counsellor “Choice”. Using “Choice”, you can receive personalised contraceptive advice by answering a few short questions about your lifestyle, preferences, needs and medical history.
Get in touch
At MSI Reproductive Choices, we are here for you and there are a number of ways you can contact us.
You can always get in touch should you have any questions about our services, would like to book an appointment or you have had treatment with us and want aftercare support.