Just thought I would add my experience as I know some people, me included, like to have an idea of what they're getting themselves into when they decide on abortion.
I initially went to the family planning clinic to see a Dr who referred me to the local sexual health clinic for a consultation. At the second consultation, I was given an ultrasound to check my dates but they didn't make me look at the screen, I was then okayed by a second doctor who called the local BPAS clinic to book me in for the procedure. I had opted for a surgical abortion under general anaesthetic . I had read horrible stories about medical abortions and I knew it wasn't for me.
On the morning of my procedure, I arrived at the clinic at 9am. I filled in a form about my medical history then waited to be called. There were about 5-6 other girls there at this point. The room was like a doctor's waiting room with magazines and TV and was pretty laid back. I was called at 9.30 to have another scan to confirm dates. I went back and waited to be called by the nurse. She called me at about 10 and she took a finger prick blood test and explained my procedure and also the contraception I'd chosen (they would be putting the implant in while I was asleep) then I was asked to wait back in the waiting room until I was called upstairs to theatre.
I only waited for about another 45 minutes and a nurse called me and two other girls up to a changing room where we were given gowns and blankets and slippers to change into. After a short wait, I was then taken into a pre-theatre room and laid on a bed while a lady tapped my hand to find a vein. She was very friendly and kept me chatting. A man came in and inserted a cannula into my hand while two others, the anaesthetist and the surgeon, came in and introduced themselves, both were very nice and chatty. I had been worried that the staff would be judgemental but they weren't at all.
I was taken into theatre and all I remember is having something injected into my hand, the next thing I knew someone was saying my name and as I came round realised I was on a ward. They gave me about 10 mins to come round then wheeled me into a recovery room where I was sat on a reclining chair and given some water and had my blood pressure taken a few times. After that I was allowed to change my sanitary pad and get dressed. I was then taken to another room where I was given hot chocolate and biscuits and saw the discharge nurse who explained my procedure had gone fine, gave me aftercare advice and explained my implant. I was then given some antibiotics and once I'd taken them, I was allowed to go home.
I was sick when I got back but this is a side effect of the anaesthetic. I was cramping a little so I had a sleep for a few hours and when I woke up I felt a lot better. My cramps got worse that evening but eased off the next day as did the bleeding.
I was very apprehensive about the whole thing, mainly because I had never had a GA before but it was as simple as falling asleep. The staff were all friendly and reassuring and made me feel totally at ease. A point to remember if you are wanting to go down the surgical route, if you haven't had a child before (I have so didn't need one) you have to take a tablet to open up your cervix which can take up to two hours to work and the girls I saw who took it got quite sick.
I just wanted to share my experience because it really isn't as scary as you think, it's over so quickly and it is totally pain free. The thing that hurt most was my arm where the implant had been inserted. The people there see all different women every day who have had to make the difficult choice to abort and so they aren't there to judge you. What I feel I should say is, if you have ANY doubts that abortion might not be right for you, please think very carefully. I knew 100% that it was the right decision for me and so I have no regrets and it became fairly easy to do. If I had had any desire to continue with the pregnancy and wasn't completely sure I wanted to terminate, I wouldn't have gone through with it and, after having been through it now, I don't think I could have coped.
Sorry this was long but I hope maybe it's helped answer some questions or reassured anyome going through the same thing.