How Much Does Medical Abortion Cost In South Africa 2024-2025
A medical abortion, also known as medication abortion, occurs when medically-prescribed drugs are used to bring about an abortion. A typical regimen consists of a combination of medications, with mifepristone followed by misoprostol being the most common abortifacient regimen.
How Much Does Medical Abortion Cost In South Africa
What is the cost of a safe abortion in South Africa?
All government (public) facilities provide free abortion services.
In private clinics:
A medical abortion, from five to nine weeks, costs on average between R620-R1 200.
MVA, from 10 to 14 weeks, costs on average between R1700-R2500.
A surgical abortion, from 14 to 20 weeks, varies from case to case but one can expect to pay around R5 500.
Medical aid (insurance) has criteria for covering abortion. Please check what yours covers.
Does abortion hurt?
Having an abortion feels different for everyone — it can be super painful or just a little uncomfortable. Your level of discomfort can depend on the medications you get, how far into your pregnancy you are, and how much cramping and pain you have. For most people, it feels like strong period cramps.
How long does a medical abortion take?
Whether you choose the surgical or medication abortion, you’ll meet with the doctor for your procedure: medication abortion patients will take one pill in the office and receive additional medicines to take home. For surgical abortion patients, the actual procedure lasts about 5 to 8 minutes.
What happens to your body after an abortion?
After having an abortion, you’ll probably have some period-type pains, stomach cramps and vaginal bleeding. This should start to gradually improve after a few days, but can last for 1 to 2 weeks. This is normal and is usually nothing to worry about. The bleeding is usually similar to normal period bleeding.
What are the disadvantages of medical abortion?
Medical abortions do have some disadvantages, which include:
Medical abortions are not 100 percent effective.
Bleeding and cramping may last longer than with a surgical abortion.
Medical abortions may require more than one visit to the doctor’s office.
They cannot end a tubal or ectopic pregnancy.
What food is good after abortion?
Eat the Right Nutrients:
Make sure that your diet includes plenty of protein, iron, B vitamins and calcium after an abortion as your body will need lots of these to recover. Fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, and foods enriched with calcium and iron can be particularly good for you.