The cost of an abortion in Australia varies significantly depending on the type of procedure (medical or surgical), the stage of pregnancy, clinic, location (state/territory), and whether you have a Medicare card or private health insurance. Some services may be free in public hospitals or specific territories for eligible residents.
The cost of an abortion is different for each state and each clinic. If you have a Medicare card, it will cover some of the costs. Medicare does not usually cover the full cost. Ask how much the abortion will cost when you make your appointment.
MS-2 Step is approved in Australia for medical abortion (termination) of pregnancy up to 63 days (9 weeks) after the start of your last menstrual period.
In Australia, abortion is legal, but gestational limits vary by state, generally allowing medical abortion up to 9 weeks and surgical procedures up to 22-24 weeks, with later abortions requiring approval from two doctors, often for specific health reasons; the ACT has no set limit, while Tasmania has stricter rules. Medical abortions (pills) are typically available up to 9 weeks, while surgical abortions can extend further, depending on the state's laws and medical circumstances.
Before 10 weeks, you may have a choice of taking medicine to end the pregnancy or having a procedure such as vacuum aspiration. After 10 weeks, surgical abortion is usually the only option. Abortions are rarely done after 24 weeks of pregnancy (during the late second trimester and entire third trimester).
Medical abortion is a common choice for terminating a pregnancy within the first nine weeks. It involves using medication to end the pregnancy and is highly effective during the first two months.
Just like with the abortion procedure, how much an abortion with the abortion pill hurts varies from person to person. For some people it may be similar to a heavy period and for others it may be more intense.
A medical abortion is a safe and effective way to end an early pregnancy. With a medical abortion: You can end a pregnancy early (as soon as you know you're pregnant or as soon as you learn of an early miscarriage). Passing a pregnancy may feel more natural (as opposed to having a procedure).
If you're 6 weeks pregnant and don't want the baby, you can explore abortion (medical or surgical), adoption, or parenting, with abortion being a timely option for early pregnancy; consulting a doctor or family planning clinic quickly is crucial for discussing options like a medical abortion (pills) or a simple surgical procedure and understanding legalities, while adoption involves finding an agency and considering temporary care.
One in three of the clients (530) had pregnancies that were between 8 and 9 weeks and almost half had not given birth before (49%; 777). About half (48.5%; 773) of respondents said that the pain they experienced was more than expected, with most (92%) giving their pain a score of at least 4 out of a maximum of 10.
If she is between 13 and 20 weeks pregnant, the pregnancy may be terminated only under specific conditions. If she is more than 20 weeks pregnant, it will be done only if her or the foetus' life is in danger or there are likely to be serious birth defects.
Recovering at home
Yes, abortion can be bulk-billed or free, especially through public hospitals or certain community clinics for Medicare cardholders, but costs vary significantly with private clinics often charging hundreds to thousands of dollars, though Medicare covers part of the fees. Factors like your location, provider (public vs. private), and Medicare/concession card status determine if it's bulk-billed or has out-of-pocket costs, with public services generally free and private services more expensive.
Nearly all of these bans include exceptions, which generally fall into four categories: to prevent the death of the pregnant person, when there is risk to the health of the pregnant person, when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, and when there is a lethal fetal anomaly.
Comparisons were also made to the pain experienced during birth. Some participants reported their abortion pain as worse than period pain but better than labor pain. For some participants, the expected pain was similar to that of their experienced pain.
Most of the procedure time is spent preparing your body for the procedure. The suction portion only takes about a minute and the entire procedure takes around 15 to 20 minutes.
Some people describe the cramping from the abortion pill as similar to a heavy period. For others, it can feel more intense—closer to early labor cramps. Someone who's had an unmedicated vaginal delivery may find the experience more familiar or manageable than someone who's never had a pregnancy before.
Depending on where you live and your nurse or doctor, the abortion pill can be offered as early as about 4 weeks after your last period, and you can get an in-clinic abortion as early as about 5 weeks after your last period, depending on your medical situation.
Some people describe these as strong period pains, other people who have given birth to a baby previously say they feel more like contractions in labour. You may have milder cramps or aches for a day or so afterwards. Paracetamol or ibuprofen should help with these.
IUDs and implants are the most effective (more than 99%) contraception available to prevent pregnancy. They also require replacement less often than any other method. LARC methods do not protect you from STIs. Practise safer sex by using condoms.
The "3-2-1 Rule" in pregnancy is a guideline for first-time mothers to know when to call their midwife or doctor for active labor: consistent contractions that are 3 minutes apart, lasting 2 minutes each, for 1 hour (or sometimes cited as 3-1-1, meaning 3 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour). For subsequent pregnancies, the 5-1-1 Rule (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour) is often used, indicating labor is progressing more quickly.
An early abortion is the termination of a pregnancy during the first trimester (the first 3 months of pregnancy). Early abortions can be accomplished with medication or surgery.
You can use abortion pills (also called medication abortion) up to 77 days (11 weeks) after the first day of your last period. You can get an in-clinic abortion until 24 weeks (or later in some cases, for medical reasons).
Aspiration abortions are successful 98% of the time. About 2% of people need a repeat procedure or additional intervention. If the procedure is conducted before your pregnancy is visible on ultrasound, you may need a blood test to confirm success. Medication abortions are successful 95 to 97% of the time.