Abortion in Victoria

Medical abortions are available for pregnancies up to nine weeks gestation. This method is available via Clinic 66 online and at various abortion clinics in Melbourne and is a safe, non-invasive method of terminating a pregnancy. The medical abortion process consists of 2 medications taken hours apart.
These risks are relatively surgical abortion clinic melbourne low when the procedure is performed under medical supervision. Following the prescribed steps and attending follow-up appointments ensures the abortion is complete and addresses potential issues. Statistics on the rate of abortions in Australia are not publicly available. However, extrapolating figures from West Australia and South Australia — the only states to make figures available — suggests that about 65,000 women terminate their pregnancies each year. Of those, only about 1 per cent are late surgical abortions after 20 weeks. Before an abortion, the doctor or nurse will confirm the pregnancy with a urine test and organise blood tests and an ultrasound to check the stage (length) of pregnancy.

The data gap at the national level is the defining methodological challenge of Australian abortion statistics in 2026. How early an abortion can be performed varies between providers. Traditionally, both medical and surgical abortions are offered from around 6 weeks of pregnancy. This allows confirmation that the pregnancy is located within the uterus and not ectopic.
No other local providers could assist her at this point in the pregnancy. The GP rang Westmead Hospital in western Sydney, but he was told Kate should be able to have the procedure in Orange. Decriminalisation was meant to give women access to safe, affordable abortions. Five years on, the system is failing people in rural and regional areas at almost every step. Abortion had been provided, although not advertised, at the hospital in Orange since the 1980s. The service was infrequent, but it was offered regardless of a patient's reasons for seeking a termination.
At the first appointment, I’ll make sure you understand all your options and that no medical factors are preventing you from taking the medication. If you decide a medical termination is right for you, there are three appointments required. Abortion is a safe and legal medical procedure in Victoria and has been since the 1970s. A medical abortion will not adversely affect your fertility and we will ensure your future contraception needs. Finding out you’re pregnant can lead to different feelings and emotions. For others, the decision may be difficult, confusing and at times overwhelming.

The green whistle (Penthrox) is now available at all Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Hubs as a pain relief option for intrauterine device (IUD) procedures, including insertions and removals. Not a problem we are also accepting referrals from other general practitioners. Your GP will be able to explain and to refer for all necessary tests. Once you completed all tests, you may come to the CBD Doctors Melbourne for further management (medications, counselling and follow up). A medical abortion occurs over several days so your normal routine may be disrupted for longer. Surgical abortion, like any operation, requires a period of fasting, usually from the midnight before your surgical abortion appointment.
The LHD later provided their advice, but more than two years after the questions were first raised, the executive had still not given permission for the service to resume. Internally, it was decided there was nothing to gain from upsetting anti-abortion and religious groups across the country, when the states had responsibility for abortion care anyway. Because in the years since decriminalisation began, not enough has been done to improve the infrastructure that provides this care to the people who need it most. "The receptionist booked me in with a female doctor, and then 20 minutes later they rang back and said the doctor was not comfortable providing the service that I wanted," she says. Kate had just moved 10 hours away from her family in Melbourne, to central-west New South Wales. She was about to start looking for a job when she discovered that, to her surprise, she was pregnant.
If you have a concession healthcare card you may be eligible to have an abortion at your local public hospital. You can choose to have an IUD contraceptive device, or Implanon fitted at the time of surgical abortion. Most abortions in Victoria are performed by private providers (such as GPs, private clinics and specialists) which means you will need to pay for the abortion. Most people will also need to pay for blood tests and ultrasound scans. As each private provider has their own schedule of fees and charges, you will need to speak to them directly about their costs.

The ultrasound and blood test can be done locally and are usually bulk billed. A blood test is also helpful at this time to measure pregnancy hormone levels and to check for anaemia. With a positive test result, it’s best to talk with a GP experienced in pregnancy terminations as soon as you can. If you’ve missed a period and are worried you’re pregnant, the first step is to get a urine pregnancy test from the supermarket or pharmacy. Mifepristone, the first medication, blocks progesterone, leading to the thinning of the uterine lining. 24 to 48 hours later, misoprostol is taken to induce uterine contractions  and expel pregnancy tissue.
Depending on where you live, surgical abortion can be hard to come by. Orange Health Service has been working on a formal abortion policy and is expected to start offering an expanded, routine service in July. In the aftermath, Labor conducted a sweeping review of what went wrong during the campaign.

The tablets used to terminate the pregnancy are Mifepristone and Misoprostol. The abortion pills work by blocking progesterone acting which is essential for the establishment and development of pregnancy, as well as causing uterine contractions and cervical dilation to bring on a miscarriage. For more information on the two-step procedure, please read our fact sheet here. Medical abortion is generally safe when conducted under proper medical supervision, although it carries some risks and potential complications. It is essential to have the procedure supervised by qualified healthcare professionals to ensure safety.
Many people experience mild abdominal pain, similar to period pain. Here are some tips to help ease your pain and discomfort after a medical or surgical abortion. A medical termination (or medical abortion) can be undertaken very early in pregnancy using medication prescribed under your doctor’s guidance. Ms Keogh interviewed 19 health professionals who provided abortion services, were involved in abortion policy and advocacy, or counselling related to abortion. Before an abortion, the doctor or nurse will confirm the pregnancy with a urine test and will ask you information about your pregnancy to try and determine the stage of your pregnancy. This may require blood tests and/or an ultrasound to check the stage (length) of pregnancy.