FAQs

Absolutely. We do not give out any information about you to anyone, or acknowledge that you have been to our clinic without your permission. We will only contact you in the manner in which you instruct us to. All claims to Alberta Health Care are suppressed. They will never appear on a statement or be released to anyone.

Aspiration abortion: Most procedures normally take 5-15 minutes, but you will be in the clinic 2 to 3 hours. There is no follow up required after an aspiration abortion.

Medication abortion is a longer process. If you choose to have a medication abortion you will be in the clinic for about 2 and a half hours. You will take the first medication in the clinic and 24-48 hours later take the second medication at home. The abortion usually starts 1-4 hours after you take the second medication. Follow-up is required to ensure the pregnancy has ended. A nurse will discuss this with you.

Try not to come before your appointment time, as you will only have to wait longer to be seen. If you have someone coming to pick you up, make sure they arrive by 4:00 p.m. as the clinic will be closing shortly after that time. Please note that only patients who have aspiration abortions need to arrange for an escort home due to the sedation given. Medical abortion patients are able to leave the clinic unescorted and are safe to drive.

Aspiration abortion: Before the procedure begins, you will have an intravenous (IV) inserted and will be given medication to help with anxiety, to help you relax and to help with pain. You will be sedated but you will not be totally asleep. A local anaesthetic is also administered to the cervix. Some people will still have menstrual-type cramps during the procedure and these cramps can continue for an hour or more. While you might experience some discomfort during or after the procedure, most people find that it is controllable and does not last very long. (Some people elect to have the procedure without sedation and do so without any problems.)

Medication abortion: You will have a blood test done in the clinic. Patients may or may not experience cramping or bleeding after taking mifepristone at the clinic. After you take the second medication (misoprostol) at home 24-48 hours later, you will experience further cramping and bleeding. Cramps may be severe for a few hours during this process and may continue intermittently for up to six weeks. Over-the-counter pain medication can help.

Aspiration Abortion: When abortion was illegal it was a very unsafe procedure. This is because people often did the procedure under unsanitary conditions or with no medical training. However, since legalization, abortion has become one of the safest surgical procedures available. In the first three months (first trimester) of pregnancy, 97% of people report no complications, 2.5% report minor problems that can be handled in a doctor’s office and less than 0.5% require hospitalization for complications. To put this in perspective, abortion is at least 10 times safer than pregnancy and childbirth. Complication rates are a little higher in the second trimester, but the procedure remains very safe.

Medication Abortion: The medications have been safely used around the world since 1988. Abortion is at least 10 times safer than pregnancy and childbirth.

Details on the risks are outlined on the Risks of Procedures page.

No. Consent in Alberta is based on capacity, not age. If the physician and clinic staff feel you understand the procedure and its risks, you may sign your own consent form.

Call Kensington Clinic at (403) 283-9117 if you are seeking information on resources in your area.

If you are having an aspiration abortion, you will be required to arrange for a ride home or take a taxi/rideshare. You cannot operate a vehicle for 24 hours as you are considered legally impaired. Your driver can wait in the parking lot or return later to pick you up. If someone is coming to pick you up, they must be at the clinic no later than 4 p.m.

To respect everyone’s privacy, support people are not allowed into the clinic.

If you are having a medication abortion, you are not required to bring an escort as you can drive yourself home.

Aspiration abortion: Most people return to work or school the next day. We recommend that you do not do anything strenuous for 24 hours. The medications that you are given during the procedure can impair your judgment for up to 24 hours after your procedure. You cannot drive or engage in any activity that requires mental alertness for 24 hours after the procedure. Therefore, depending on the type of work you do, you may have to arrange for time off.

Medication abortion: You can return to work after taking the first medication, mifepristone. When you take the second medication at home, it will initiate bleeding and cramping within 1-4 hours. Bleeding can be heavy for some time. Depending on what time of day you take it and how you manage it, you may want to take time off work.

Please visit our Fees page or call the clinic at 403-283-9117 for more information.