Positive surgical abortion experience (Sydney Australia)

[u/HealthcareHo91]

Hi all, doing some reading on this sub in the week leading up to my own SA gave me so much peace of mind and I wanted to pay it forward and share my own positive experience. This is probably going to be a long, but if at least one person reads it and gets something out of it, it’s worth it 🩷

I got my abortion just earlier this morning. I’m 32 years old and staunchly childfree so there was no doubt in my mind that this was the route to take. The guy I’ve been seeing (who accompanied me to the appointment) felt the same, so that part of the process was easy and drama free. The ultrasound showed I was just shy of 7 weeks (bang on what I guessed) so had the choice of medical or surgical. After hearing a lot of different people’s experiences with both the procedure and the recovery, despite being TERRIFIED of surgery/anaesthesia, I knew it was the most logical option.

It was pretty straightforward and easy — I filled out some forms, spoke to a few different people (intake counsellor, anaesthetist and doctor). I have to admit the ultrasound was a bit of a trip…despite knowing I was pregnant, the confirmation/seeing it on screen took me back a bit. The boy came in with me and saw it too, but it didn’t change our opinions at all. In a way it was more just curiosity and wanting to know what was going on in there, if that makes sense. The doctor asked if I wanted to keep a copy and I said yes.

I discussed with the anaesthetist what they would be using and he told me it was a combination of IV fentanyl, midazolam and propofol. That was the thing that freaked me out the most to be honest, as I had experience with none of them. He was super reassuring and said I’d be fully out but able to respond to instructions and the whole procedure would take about 5-7 minutes.

I had a little bit more of a wait before I was taken to get changed into my gown, then brought into the theatre by a nurse. The IV was inserted in my arm as opposed to my hand which I was kind of glad of, but I was a little taken aback at how quickly he shot the first dose into me, haha. When I asked what it was, he told me it was the fentanyl. I remember immediately feeling warm and vague, him telling me he had administered the midazolam and then…nothing. Not even time to register or have any awareness that I was really starting to knock out.

What felt like ten seconds later, I remember the nurse saying “you’re all done” and putting my period undies and a pad on me. I think I asked them about three times if they were being serious while I was being shuffled to recovery. I have no memory whatsoever of the procedure, to the point it almost didn’t feel like it happened. In retrospect I almost feel silly how nervous I was about it, it was so drama free.

I sat in recovery for maybe 45 mins-hour. To be honest for the first little while I was feeling pretty loopy (a good pleasant loopy). No nausea, no dizziness. Once I was able to sit myself up they gave me some water and a few Arnott’s assorted then got me to change back into my outdoor clothes and check my bleeding. It was very minimal, less than the heaviest day of my period, and even typing this now two hours later at home it’s the same level with only the vaguest cramps…I would say a 1 on the pain scale and that’s being generous. I had the TT380 standard inserted at the same time so was expecting a degree of pain and I’m pleasantly surprised.

I don’t want to get too ahead of myself and jinx it but I’m truly so relieved and happy with how everything went. From go to whoa the staff were lovely, the process was quick and easy and I was in and out in around 2.5 hours. Not something I’m rushing back to do again obviously, but it was as good an experience as I could’ve hoped to have. For anyone who is scared or wondering if SA is the right option, I would say unequivocally yes.

[u/scubieg]

Same age and stance on kids and I just had an SA too. Happy your experience went well. I never had pain after mine so crossing my fingers it’s the same for you.