My experience with the medical abortion tablets (BPAS NHS UK)

I thought I would make this post for anybody who is going to go through this, as I couldn't find an honest explanation before I did it.

When my period was about 4 weeks late I rang BPAS and made an appointment for 2 weeks time, that was the earliest available to have the medical exam and midwife available at the same time.

I arrived at 10 for the appointment, filled out lengthy health forms, had these read by a HCA who took my height and weight and the reason I wanted the abortion in order to apply for the prescription.

Then I saw the midwife who took my blood pressure and did a finger prick to find out my blood type. Then she conducted an ultrasound scan with the cold jelly but as it is too early (6 wks 6 days), had to do an intrusive scan with a camera inserted into the vagina. This was slightly painful as she told me I have a tilted womb.

She asked if I wanted to see the screen (I didn't) or know if there were multiple pregnancies (I did, there wasn't).

Then I waited for about an hour while the prescription was received by the practise. I was called back in to take the first tablet. I then left the surgery at about 12 so the entire appointment took 2 hours.

I did not experience any side effects worse than I had already been having from the pregnancy - which was nausea.

I was provided with 4 antibiotics to take after my tea to prevent infection.

I was told to take the second medication - 4 tablets to be inserted vaginally or put between gum and cheek - 24 hours later. I did this vaginally and then had the recommended 30 minutes lying down to make sure they don't fall out.

I experienced cramping after 2 hours but minimal bleeding. This became severe after half an hour and I took the first 2 of the prescribed codeine. I could not move or stand up without severe pain which brought me to tears.

However 4 hours post-tablet and I still had not bled severely so I put in the two spare tablets as instructed.

Shortly after I bled a small amount and went to the toilet. I pushed and a large clot came out which I assume to be the pregnancy. I didn't realise I would have to push as I have never passed clots before when bleeding.

The bleeding and cramping was lighter than a period after that point.

They gave me a pregnancy test to take in 2 weeks to make sure all is well and no tissue is left behind.