You are safe with us!
The decision whether or not to have a child respectively a termination of pregnancy / abortion can put most women in exceptional circumstances. For more than 30 years we concern ourselves with the topics family planning, pregnancy and children because we know how important these issues are in the life of most people.
Even though modern medicine offers many ways to predetermine the ideal moment for a pregnancy and thereby prevent a termination of pregnancy / abortion to begin with, life cannot always be planned that way and unexpected situations may arise. As an institution that has concerned itself with family planning, contraception and termination of pregnancy / abortion for so many years, we are aware of the huge responsibility we bare.
The renowned team of doctors and the experienced counsellors of the pro:woman Ambulatorium / centre for vasectomy have been informing and consulting women and men on the topics family planning, pregnancy, termination of pregnancy / abortion and contraception for many years.
Make use of your freedom of choice and get all the information that interests you at our clinic.
Free pregnancy test
You think you may be pregnant? The condom burst and you are unsure if something might have happened? Your period is late? You feel pregnant?
At first it is neccessary to create clarity. Therefore you should make a pregnancy test.
Caution: pregnancy tests can only determine whether you are pregnant at the earliest 10 days after the unprotected intercourse. You can reliably determine a possible pregnancy using a (urine) test from the pharmacy.
A delayed menstruation may have many different reasons – e.g. stress, illness or the intake of certain pharmaceuticals.
If your menstruation is still late despite a negative pregnancy test we advise you to make another test after a few days.
At pro:woman you can make a pregnancy test anytime – without an appointment, anonymously and free of charge. You will receive the result within a few minutes.
Calculate your pregnancy week
The first day of your last menstruation has been on
Please note that this is merely a mathematical calculation. The actual duration of the pregnancy can only be determined via ultrasound.
Termination of pregnancy (abortion)
The menstruation didn’t show. Thoughts like “Please no!”, “Not a child now!” or “Not another child” aren’t uncommon.
First of all, clarity and certainty over the situation have to be established. Making a pregnancy test or having an ultrasound performed can determine a possible pregnancy at a very early stage. The earlier, the better. This also enables the determination of the pregnancy week.
Some women make their decision for or against the pregnancy right away, others need some time for consideration. If you consider a termination of pregnancy / abortion you may find detailed information concerning your possibilities helpful.
Family and friends can also help you make your decision for or against a termination of pregnancy / abortion, as well as counselling services or doctors.
pro:woman’s renowned team of doctors and experienced counsellors have been informing and consulting women in this very difficult situation for more than 30 years. We are here for you! We won’t let you down!
About termination of pregnancy / abortion
General information concerning the termination of pregnancy
General information concerning the termination of pregnancy (abortion):
Once the decision for a termination of pregnancy / abortion has been made, pro:woman offers four different methods to carry it out: the surgical suction with three variations of anaesthesia to choose from or the medicinal method using Mifegyne® (colloquially called “abortion pill”). It is exclusively your decision which method of termination of pregnancy / abortion you prefer. Generally there are no significant differences between the methods concerning physical or psychological impact during or after the termination of pregnancy / abortion.
At pro:woman we have been here for you for more than 30 years, exerting the utmost care and providing first-class medical quality. This special experience creates security. The risk of complications is very low in all the four methods. After the termination of pregnancy / abortion a short rest usually suffices. In general you will be able to resume work the following day.
A termination of pregnancy / abortion generally has no effect on a later occurring pregnancy. The price for a termination of pregnancy / abortion depends on the chosen method (see menu items listed above). Please also ask for our special conditions for teenagers.
Legal aspects concerning the termination of pregnancy
Legal aspects concerning the termination of pregnancy / abortion:
According to Austrian law every woman has the right to have a termination of pregnancy / abortion performed up to the end of the third month of pregnancy. The woman alone has the right to decide. Other parties/persons have no right of co-determination. Other regulations such as a compulsory waiting-period or counselling in certain counselling centres or the declaration of the reason for the termination of pregnancy don’t exist in Austria. A termination of pregnancy / abortion may be carried out anonymously without having to inform anybody.
Occasionally very young girls get pregnant unintentionally. From the 14th birthday on a judicious young woman is entitled to decide alone whether or not she would like to have a termination of pregnancy / abortion. After the first three months of pregnancy a termination of pregnancy / abortion can only be carried out in Austria in case of certain medical reasons. A termination of pregnancy can be performed even after the first three months without the declaration of any reasons in either the United Kingdom or the Netherlands (late abortion).
Counselling
Termination of pregnancy / abortion – woman-to-woman counselling from the first moment on
- Counselling prior to a termination of pregnancy
- Preparation for the termination of pregnancy
- After the termination of pregnancy
- Contraception after a termination of pregnancy
- Support after a termination of pregnancy
For most women the decision for or against a termination of pregnancy / abortion is anything but easy. Some women make a quick decision while others need some time to consider. Having different thoughts concerning the relationship with the partner, the financial and professional situation or the right time for having a child are very common at this stage.
pro:woman accompanies and supports you from the first moment on. You can make use of our free counselling anytime, not matter whether you decide for or against the pregnancy. All of pro:woman’s counsellors have a special training which enables them to provide psychological assistance during the decision making process as well as answer all medical questions concerning the termination of pregnancy / abortion.
Because we know that an unplanned pregnancy can often present a variety of problems, we also talk to you about social and financial matters. We have been accompanying and supporting women through the whole difficult process of a termination of pregnancy / abortion for more than 30 years. You are guaranteed absolute anonymity for every contact and/or counselling.
Preparation for the termination of pregnancy / abortion:
A delayed menstruation may have different reasons – e.g. stress, illness or the intake of certain pharmaceuticals. A completely absent menstruation can be a sign of a possible pregnancy. To make sure if there really is a pregnancy there are two ways: one is a pregnancy test which can determine a pregnancy from 10 days after unprotected intercourse on. This (urine) test from the pharmacy can very reliably verify whether the pregnancy hormone HCG is present and thereby detect a pregnancy. Some tests can even determine the approximate pregnancy week. If the menstruation continues to be late despite a negative pregnancy test (showing no pregnancy) it is advisable to make another test after a few days.
Free pregnancy test: at pro:woman you can make a pregnancy test anytime, free of charge and anonymously. You will receive the results within a few minutes.
Another way to determine whether a pregnancy exists inside the uterus is to have an ultrasound. This is possible from the fifth week of pregnancy on. A gynaecological examination and/or ultrasound however is not necessary if you want to have a termination of pregnancy / abortion as this is part of the treatment at pro:woman.
The important thing is to be sure whether or not you are pregnant – via test or ultrasound.
After the termination of pregnancy / abortion:
The risk of complications is very small with any of the methods. The termination of a pregnancy / abortion generally has no effect on fertility or a later pregnancy.
Any bleeding and/or abdominal cramps which may occur after a termination of pregnancy are usually not heavier than during normal menstruation. They can start right after the treatment or a few days later. The duration of the bleeding may also vary (a few days to 2-3 weeks of spotting). To avoid infection after a termination of pregnancy / abortion you should behave like during your normal menstruation.
It takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks for your normal menstruation to start up again. However it is possible even before then to get pregnant again. Therefore it is essential to start using effective contraception right after the termination of pregnancy / abortion! A termination of pregnancy / abortion cannot be detected even by a doctor at a later gynaecological examination or treatment.
Contraception after a termination of pregnancy / abortion:
To the hormonal balance a termination of pregnancy / abortion is like the start of a new menstrual cycle, which means that there is the possibility of new pregnancy right away. It is therefore advisable to start using contraception right after the termination of pregnancy / abortion.
Our doctors and counsellors as well as your own gynaecologist are happy to inform you about all the possibilities. Should you decide on a hormonal contraceptive you may start with it right after the termination of pregnancy or wait for your next menstruation. Talk to your attending gynaecologist about it.
Support after a termination of pregnancy / abortion:
Your first-class medical and psychological treatment is very important to us. At pro:woman you are treated by highly trained doctors which are the most experienced in Austria when it comes to the topic of termination of pregnancy / abortion. A constantly present team of counsellors consisting of psychologists, life-coaches, social- and family-counsellors as well as pedagogues with a variety of additional qualifications is at your personal disposal to provide the best possible support for you before, during and after the termination of pregnancy / abortion.
Methods of a termination of pregnancy
Once the decision to have a termination of pregnancy / abortion is made pro:woman provides four different methods to carry it out: the surgical method in combination with three different kinds of anaesthesia or the medicinal method via Mifegyne® (also colloquially known as “abortion pill”).
It is very important for us to provide these four methods and thus enabling you to choose the right method for YOU without being forced into anything by anybody. The more comfortable you are with your chosen method the better your body will adjust to the treatment.
The risk of complication is very small with any of the four methods. After the termination of pregnancy a small rest period usually suffices. In general you will be able to resume work the following day. A termination of pregnancy / abortion generally has no effect on a later pregnancy.
- Surgical termination of pregnancy
- (Early) medicinal termination of pregnancy
- Which method is the one for me?
Surgical termination of pregnancy:
This method of termination of pregnancy / abortion (also known as suction-aspiration) can be carried out from the fifth week of pregnancy to the end of the third month of pregnancy.
The surgery is carried out after an ultrasound under local anaesthesia, half-sleep (sedation) or general anaesthesia. You can decide which of these three kinds of anaesthesia you are most comfortable with. We are happy to advise you!
After the introduction of the anaesthesia the cervix is gently stretched and the pregnancy is sucked out of the uterus. Another ultrasound will make sure that no tissue remains behind.
The treatment causes no pain and only takes 3 to 4 minutes. Your overall stay at our clinic won’t be longer than approximately two hours.
A termination of pregnancy / abortion can be carried out medicinally via Mifegyne®. Because this method can be used from the moment on at which the pregnancy is determined (positive pregnancy test), it is also called “early termination of pregnancy / early abortion”. Mifegyne® can be used up to the end of the 9th week of pregnancy.
Mifegyne works anti-hormonal thus causing the pregnancy-sustaining hormones to no longer be produced. The pregnancy is terminated – similarly to a spontaneous abortion.
24 to 48 hours after the intake of Mifegyne another pharmaceutical called Prostaglandin has to be administered. This substance causes contractions of the uterus musculature thereby inducing a withdrawal bleeding and the discharge of the pregnancy tissue.
Mifegyne can only be administered at medical institutions (such as pro:woman), not by a registered doctor. Mifegyne’s effectiveness and reliability lie at a high 98%.
In very rare cases the discharge of the pregnancy tissue might not be complete or the pregnancy may continue. In such a case a curettage has to be performed. In case of any of the following medical conditions Mifegyne should only be carried out after consultation with a gynaecologist: chronic adrenal dysfunction, hypersensitivity towards prostaglandins, untreated severe asthma or porphyria (metabolic disease).
Modus operandi Mifegyne-treatment
The Mifegyne®-treatment is carried out in two phases:
Phase 1
Ultrasound scan
Detailed information and counselling
Intake of Mifegyne® (pharmaceutical in tablet form) to initiate the termination of pregnancy / abortion
Duration of stay at clinic: approximately 1 hour
Phase 2
24 to 48 hours later
Intake of Prostaglandin to induce the withdrawal bleeding and the discharge of the pregnancy tissue – either at our clinic (duration of stay: up to 4 hours) or at home.
Prostaglandin causes contractions of the uterus similarly to menstrual cramps and thereby induces the withdrawal bleeding and the discharge of the pregnancy tissue. 7 to 14 days later either another pregnancy test or another ultrasound scan have to be performed.
It is your choice alone which method you choose. In general there are no significant differences between the different methods concerning the physical and/or psychological impact during or after the termination of pregnancy / abortion.
Don’t let yourself be rushed into anything.
At pro:woman terminations of pregnancy / abortions have been performed for more than 30 years with the utmost care and first-class medical quality. With this special kind of experience we advise and support you at our clinic.
Our standards
- First-class state-of-the-art medical and psychological support provided by our experienced experts
- Quick, unbureaucratic aid with psychological and medical services
- Appointments individually and on short notice, also in the evening and on weekends
- Day hospital treatment
- Options of method selection
- Guaranteed anonymity
- Abortion conducted by experienced gynaecologists
- Accompanying counselling on contraception after the abortion
- Preventive counselling on contraception for every woman
- Psychological follow-up support if required
- 24h-Hotline
Freedom of choice
The final decision to have a termination of pregnancy / abortion is solely the woman’s business.
We understand women to be responsible and self dependent in making the right choices in their respective personal circumstances.
Sadly this isn’t always made easy for women.
Social boundaries, raised forefingers and persistent taboos try to influence the personal choice towards doing “the right thing“.
On principal we oppose this kind of manipulation and support women’s individual freedom of choice.The question “why” is a taboo for us!
Abortion – questions and answers
Are later pregnancies possible after a termination of pregnancy / abortion?
Yes. The termination of pregnancy / abortion generally has no effect on fertility whatsoever. You can get pregnant again right afterwards. Therefore please use a suitable method of contraception.
Does the surgical termination of pregnancy cause any pain?
In general you won’t feel a thing during surgery. Afterwards you may experience menstruation-like cramps.
How long does an abortion take?
The surgical termination of pregnancy takes no more than 3-4 minutes. The duration of stay at our clinic won’t be longer than approximately 2 hours. Where the medicinal termination of pregnancy is concerned, you only have to spend approximately 1 hour at our clinic, the rest of the treatment takes place at home.
How long does the anaesthesia last during the surgical termination of pregnancy?
As long as the surgery itself lasts, that is to say usually no longer than 5-10 minutes.
Do any pharmaceuticals have to be taken after a termination of pregnancy?
Usually not. Your attending gynaecologist will talk to you if neccessary.
When can I have sexual intercourse again after a termination of pregnancy?
You can start having sexual intercourse again if the follow-up examination shows that everything is as it should be. Please make sure to use appropriate contraception!
How quickly can I have an appointment?
At pro:woman you can have an appointment for a termination of pregnancy within a few days – maybe even on the following day.
Our 24h-Hotline is at your disposal around the clock.
How can I find the right doctor?
To make sure that no health effects arise after a termination of pregnancy, the only thing that counts is a doctor’s experience and qualification. Ask for the experience of the doctor and/or institution you consider having a termination of pregnancy at or ask around your circle of aquaintences or friends. The important thing is that you are offered four different methods of carrying out the termination of pregnancy so that you are able to choose the most suitable for you.
Can I have the contraceptive coil inserted during a surgical termination of pregnancy?
Yes. However you should talk to your gynaecologist or one of our consellors about which method of contraception is most suitable for you.
When can I start using the pill after a termination of pregnancy?
You can start using the pill or any other kind of hormonal contraceptive right after the treatment because the day of the termination of pregnancy is considered the first day of the menstrual cycle.
Who has to be notified of the termination of pregnancy?
Nobody. It is your decision alone to have a termination of pregnancy. From her 14th birthday on every woman has the right, according to the law, to have a termination of pregnancy. All your data is protected and stays completely anonymous.
Is there really such a thing as a “post-abortion syndrome“?
No. Scientific research has shown that there is no such thing as a “post-abortion syndrome” (certain consequences to health caused by a termination of pregnancy). Research has also established that women who choose to have a termination of pregnancy based on a stable decision have the same risk to suffer from any psychological problems as women who decide to carry their child to term.