Cover -- Contents -- 1 Pre-abortion -- 1.1 Information, counselling and decision-making -- Provide information -- Offer counselling -- Decision-making -- Characteristics of abortion procedures -- Recommended methods of abortion -- 1.2 Medical history -- 1.3 Physical examination -- Pregnancy dating -- Limitations to dating -- key considerations -- 1.4 Laboratory and other investigations (if necessary and available) -- 1.5 Discussing contraceptive options -- Provide information and offer counselling -- 2 abortion -- 2.1 Summary of methods: medical and surgical abortion -- Medical abortion -- Surgical abortion -- 2.2 Infection prevention and control -- Standard precautions -- 2.3 Pain management -- Understanding pain with abortion -- Pain-management options -- Example of how to administer a paracervical block* -- 2.4 Medical abortion -- Clinical considerations -- 2.5 Medical abortion: ≤12 weeks (or ≤84 days) of pregnancy -- Treatment regimens for medical abortion ≤12 weeks (or ≤84 days) of pregnancy -- Providing the abortion procedure -- 2.6 Medical abortion: >12 weeks (or >84 days) of pregnancy -- Clinical considerations -- Providing the abortion procedure -- 2.7 Surgical abortion: cervical preparation -- 2.8 Drugs, supplies and equipment for surgical abortion -- 2.9 Surgical abortion: ≤12-14 weeks of pregnancy -- Clinical considerations -- Prior to the start of the procedure -- Surgical abortion -- 2.10 Surgical abortion: >12-14 weeks of pregnancy -- Clinical considerations -- Prior to the start of the procedure -- Surgical abortion -- 3 Post-abortion -- 3.1 Prior to discharge from the health-care facility -- 3.2 Additional follow-up with a health-care provider -- 3.3 Post-abortion contraception -- Contraceptive methods and medical eligibility afer abortion -- 3.4 Assessing and managing abortion complications -- Ongoing pregnancy.

Incomplete abortion -- Haemorrhage -- Infection -- Uterine perforation -- Anaesthesia-related complications -- Complications may occur that are not specific to the abortion procedure.