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November 8, 2024 
Tom - What is Surgical Pregnancy Termination?
- The Importance of Effective Support During Surgical Termination
- Exemplary Pre-treatment Care
- Information is Provided that Helps a Woman Make an Informed Decision
- Care During Abortion Treatment
- The Provision of Compassionate Guidance
- Abortion Counselling
- Detailed Post-Treatment Care
- The Importance of Listening
- Final Words
Abortion is a sensitive topic and it can be a challenging decision for a woman to make. However, regardless of a woman’s decision about her body, she is deserving of respectful, compassionate, and sensitive care.
Here at Gynaedoctors, we are passionate about supporting women during this difficult time, providing a judgement-free environment that allows her to receive care without feeling judged or misunderstood.
In this article, we will explore the topic of compassionate care, looking at how we can better support women who are going through surgical pregnancy termination procedures.
What is Surgical Pregnancy Termination?
Despite the name, surgical pregnancy termination does not, in fact, involve any form of surgery. While the pregnancy is removed from the womb, no incision is made into the body to do so. Instead, a surgical abortion procedure is carried out in one of two ways:
Vacuum or Suction: a pregnancy can be removed from the womb using suction. However, this method of surgical termination is only suitable for women who are up to 14 weeks pregnant.
During this procedure, a small tube is inserted into the womb (through the cervix) and the pregnancy is removed using suction. It only takes 5-10 minutes and you can usually go home the same day.
Dilation and Evacuation: for women who are further along in their pregnancy (over 14 weeks gestation), dilation and evacuation is the method used to terminate a pregnancy.
This is where the cervix is dilated and forceps are used to remove the pregnancy from the womb. The procedure only takes 10-20 minutes and you are usually allowed to go home the same day.
The Importance of Effective Support During Surgical Termination
The right support is vital for women who are going through a surgical pregnancy termination procedure. Making the decision to terminate a pregnancy is never easy and a woman needs the right people around her to help guide and advise her.
If she lacks the support from a partner, family, or friends, that supportive role is required from abortion providers, such as our team at Gynaedoctors.
Here are some of the ways we believe women should be supported through surgical termination:
Exemplary Pre-treatment Care
Before a woman has a pregnancy termination, she is required to have certain medical tests and pregnancy scans. During each of these appointments, it is vital she is treated with care and respect.
According to the Women’s Health Strategy for England, “In the call for evidence public survey, 84% of respondents said that there had been instances in which they had not been listened to by healthcare professionals […] from initial discussion of symptoms to further appointments, discussion of treatment options and follow-up care.”
Many women seeking abortion care feel vulnerable, so it is vital they feel supported at every stage of their abortion journey. Compassion and understanding is key. It’s also important to give time and space for her to share her feelings, ask questions, and process any information she is provided with.
Information is Provided that Helps a Woman Make an Informed Decision
Women should feel able and empowered to make their own decisions. However, the right information is needed to do this.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “studies showed that empowerment of patients resulted in favourable health outcomes, such as increased power of decision-making, freedom for making choices and accepting responsibility […] Most of the women had experienced the stress and concerns caused by lack of information and […] (there was a ) feeling of peace and satisfaction following the acquisition of health information.”
That’s why, one of the best ways to support a woman through surgical termination is to talk with her about her options. It’s important to discuss with her the various treatments available, the pain relief options, the expected recovery time, the extra support that is available, such as post-abortion counselling and contraceptive advice, and who to contact if she needs help or medical attention.
Care During Abortion Treatment
During the abortion procedure itself, it is important a woman feels supported and well looked after. This means her comfort should be a top priority. She should have her nurses and carers checking in on her wellbeing throughout the procedure to make sure she feels safe and secure.
This is not just important for the patient’s comfort. It is also an important part of monitoring a woman’s wellness throughout her treatment and being prepared to act quickly, should any complications arise.
The Provision of Compassionate Guidance
We believe that one of the most important ways women should be supported is through the provision of compassionate guidance from healthcare professionals.
Receiving the right information can be transformative for women who are struggling at any point in their pregnancy termination journey. One of the many benefits of sensitive and professional abortion guidance is that you can receive up-to-date information about the options available to you. Sometimes just having this information can give women the tools they need to make an informed decision.
In addition to abortion information and support, women can receive contraception advice to help them move forward with the knowledge they need.
Abortion Counselling
Deciding whether or not to have an abortion can be difficult. So, it’s no surprise that some women seek professional counselling following their abortion. Post-abortion counselling is most suitable for women who are experiencing a sense of grief, guilt, regret, or shame.
According to the NHS, “As individuals we cope with things in different ways and the same is true following an abortion. It is common for people to experience a wide range of emotions and everyone’s experience is unique. There is no right or wrong way to feel.” Some common emotions that women feel after an abortion that may require additional support include:
- Relief at not being pregnant but sadness at the same time.
- Emotions that come as a surprise (perhaps you expected to feel relieved but you actually feel like you’re grieving).
- A strong feeling of guilt or shame.
- A feeling of regret or worry at having made the wrong decision.
- Feeling angry at the situation, other people, or yourself.
- Post-traumatic stress.
- Feeling generally emotional due to your changing hormones (while this isn’t unexpected, some women find it helpful to talk to a counsellor).
Detailed Post-Treatment Care
After an abortion, it’s not as simple as letting the patient go home. Most women will require further support following a surgical pregnancy termination procedure. Whether a woman needs post-abortion counselling, further treatment, or check-ups to monitor her recovery, abortion providers should avoid making any assumptions about how a woman might handle her post-abortion recovery and be on the front-foot ready to provide any extra support that might be needed.
Abortion providers should make sure a woman has a support network around her, whether family and friends or a professional support network of doctors and counsellors who can aid in her recovery.
It is vital that a woman who has undergone treatment does not leave the clinic without further support. Even if she seems reluctant, it’s important to provide her with the information she needs, should she require further support later on.
It’s also worth remembering that some women feel unable to express their feelings, wants or needs in a face-to-face environment. So, the provision of support in the form of leaflets, for example, allows her to seek support in her own time; whether that be through professional counselling, joining a support group, or checking-in with a doctor over the phone. Knowing where to turn to in the event she needs help is a vital part of compassionate abortion care.
The Importance of Listening
Most people have had the experience of visiting a healthcare provider and feeling rushed, dismissed, or like their problems are insignificant. We believe that everyone should receive compassionate care and that’s something we prioritise here at Gynaedoctors.
According to research by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, “There is a gender health gap in the UK. Women tend to live longer than men but spend more of their life in poor health; they experience poorer outcomes in many areas of healthcare […] Conversations go well when professionals actively listen to people, validate their concerns and use clear, non-technical language.”
Listening is particularly important for women going through surgical termination. Women should receive care that doesn’t feel rushed or dismissive. It’s important to give women the time they need to express their feelings, share their concerns, and ask any questions they may have.
Listening is especially important for abortion providers to prioritise as it can be easy for women to feel rushed into a decision they don’t feel fully confident about. Here at Gynaedoctors, we listen to our patients, giving them the time and support they need to make an informed decision that benefits them.
Final Words
As you can see, supporting women through surgical abortion is so much more than providing practical support during the procedure itself; it’s about providing a listening ear, showing compassion and understanding, taking the time to guide and advise, and ensuring she has the space to ask any questions without judgement.
Here at Gynaedoctors, we pride ourselves on providing compassionate pregnancy termination support. Whether you’re considering an abortion or you had one years ago but didn’t receive the care you expected, we’re here to help. Get in touch with us and a friendly member of our team will share your next steps.
For more information about pregnancy termination and the options available to you, we encourage you to visit our blog.
