Early Medical Abortion
The animated film below provide more detail on early medical termination of pregnancy.
Early medical abortion can be managed at home up to the 12th week of pregnancy. You may be advised or opt to have this treatment in hospital. After 12 weeks, a medical abortion will take place in the hospital. In Lothian these are the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and St John’s hospital.
Early medical abortion at home (up to 12th week of pregnancy only)
- This means less than 12 weeks since your last period not 12 weeks since you last had sex.
- A face to face clinic visit is not always required, however there are some circumstances where we would ask you to attend clinic.
- Medication will be available for you to collect from the clinic.
- At home you will swallow one tablet of mifepristone.
- Then 1 or 2 days later you will place 4 tablets of misoprostol under your tongue for 30 minutes.
- Alternatively you can insert the 4 tablets of misoprostol into your vagina.
- You will be given a 24 hour contact support number.
- Two weeks later you will take a pregnancy test.
This leaflet and consent form give more information about early abortions.
Other Languages
The Early Medical Abortion Leaflet is also available in the following languages: