Termination of Pregnancy

Service Content

The Family Planning Association provides termination of pregnancy in accordance with the Law. Medical and counselling services are provided before and after the abortion. All FPAHK clinics provide consultation and applicants should prepare to visit us at least twice before termination of pregnancy can be offered.

At the first visit to the Association, our nurse will collect applicant's personal and family medical history and perform urine pregnancy test. Having an abortion is a serious decision. The applicant is advised to take time to reconsider her choices carefully after the first visit. If the applicant decided to have her pregnancy terminated, our nurse will offer her a second appointment to see the doctor, who will perform physical and pelvic examinations in order to assess the risk and determine whether the applicant is suitable to undergo abortion in the Association.

In Hong Kong, termination of pregnancy can only be legally performed by registered doctors at gazetted hospitals or FPAHK Day Procedure Centre. Performing illegal abortion or abortion by oneself is liable to fine and imprisonment.

Choices for Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) at FPAHK

Our doctor will assess your eligibility for TOP in FPAHK. Some of the common non-eligible reasons include (but not limited to): gestational age > 10 weeks on the day of TOP, allergy to TOP medications, multiple fibroids, 2 or more Lower Segment Cesarean Sections, anemia, serious illness, etc. If you are not suitable to undergo TOP in FPAHK, our doctor will give you a referral letter to any gazetted hospitals. The doctor at the hospital will decide whether you can have the TOP there.

Termination of pregnancy in early stage can be performed either medically or surgically. Success rates and safety of both methods are similar.

  Medical TOP Surgical TOP
Method Drugs are used to stimulate uterine contraction to expel products of conception A suction catheter is inserted thro’ the cervix to empty the uterus by vacuum aspiration
Anaesthesia Not necessary Local or monitored anaesthesia
Advantages
  • Surgery and anaesthesia related risks are avoided
  • More "natural" process
  • Needs one visit for TOP and two followups
  • Higher chance for a complete abortion
  • Shorter duration of bleeding after TOP
Disadvantages
  • Needs two visits for TOP
  • Needs more follow-up visits to confirm complete abortion
  • Suction evacuation is needed if the abortion is incomplete or fails
  • Complications include infection and heavy bleeding
  • Side effects of drugs include abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, diarrhea and allergy
  • An invasive procedure
  • Risks of surgery include cervical or uterine injury, infection, bleeding or intrauterine adhesion which may lead to subfertility
  • Risks of anaesthesia include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, general aches & pain
  • Serious anaesthetic complications include breathing difficulty & suppression, stroke, heart attack
  • Less privacy and autonomy


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