Abortion Pill

About the treatment

Medical abortion (the abortion pill) is suitable up to 9 weeks of pregnancy, calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period. You take the pills on two separate days. You will receive the first pill at the Emmakliniek, and the second one to take at home.

The first pill (mifepristone) stops the pregnancy from developing. You take this at the clinic. The second medication consists of 4 misoprostol pills. You will be given these to take home and insert vaginally 2 days later. The pills cause the uterus to contract, which expels the pregnancy. This will cause cramping and bleeding, similar to a miscarriage.

The abortion pill isn't a suitable option for everyone. Your doctor will discuss this with you and explain your options.

Benefits

Short stay at the clinic
Treatment can be continued at home
Feels more natural to many women
No surgical intervention required

Disadvantages

Heavy bleeding and pain may be more severe than during a normal period
Side effects (including nausea, diarrhea, fever, and headache) may occur
Takes longer (three days)
You don't know exactly when the miscarriage begins or ends
There is a chance (2–5%) that the treatment will not be successful and that a suction curettage will still be necessary

What can you expect?

01

Preparation at home

What are you bringing?

Valid identification with a Social Security Number (passport, ID card, or driver's license)
Insurance card or policy summary
If necessary, one chaperone who can drop you off and pick you up

02

At the clinic

Assessment & Intake

Before treatment begins, you will first be asked to fill out a medical questionnaire. After that, one of our doctors will call you in for an ultrasound to determine the exact stage of your pregnancy. The preliminary examination will be followed by a consultation with the doctor.

03

At the clinic & at home

Treatment

Part 1 of the procedure takes place at the clinic. Here, you will take the first pill with some water. This pill will terminate the pregnancy. You may go home immediately, but if you vomit within half an hour of taking it, please return for another pill. After that, you will have a day without medication and can go about your daily activities.

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On day 3, you will insert four tablets vaginally at home. These will cause the uterus to contract and terminate the pregnancy. Make sure an adult who is aware of the treatment is with you.

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04

Home

Immediately after treatment

After 1 to 4 hours, the abdominal cramps and bleeding will increase. The doctor will discuss with you in advance which pain relievers you can take.

Please contact us immediately if you experience: heavy bleeding, a fever above 38.5°C, severe abdominal pain, or very little bleeding.

05

Follow-up Care & Check-ups

Aftercare

Be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment at the clinic or with your primary care physician after 3 weeks. Please note that you can become pregnant again immediately after an abortion procedure. We’re happy to discuss birth control options with you.

How long does it take?

Day 1–12

Pending consideration

Day 1 of treatment

Preparation for the clinic: 1 hour

Taking the pill: 5 minutes

Day 3 of treatment

Insert four small tablets: 20 min

After 3 weeks

Post-abortion follow-up

Costs

If you live in the Netherlands and have health insurance, the costs of treatment will be fully covered by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Please bring your insurance card or policy statement and a valid form of identification. If you do not have these documents, you can request an extract from the civil registry at your local city hall and bring it with you.

If you are not officially a resident of the Netherlands and do not have insurance, you will be responsible for the costs, which must be paid in cash or by debit card before treatment begins.

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Frequently Asked Questions

View all questions

Take your time before making a decision

When you're pregnant, you have several options:

Carry the pregnancy to term and raise the child on my own
Placing a child for adoption or foster care
Terminating a pregnancy (abortion)

Take your time before making a decision. Try to think about how you feel and what matters to you. What does this situation mean for you, your life, and your future? Only you can weigh these factors. We believe it’s important that you reach a well-considered decision at your own pace.

Want to talk to someone?

It can be helpful to talk to someone who will listen without judging you. This could be a friend or family member, but you can also make an appointment with your family doctor or schedule a consultation at our clinic. The consultation is confidential, non-binding, and free of charge. For information about the decision-making process, you can also contact FIOM.

Safe, respectful care

Other people's experiences

Share your experience

“All the staff were very helpful and made me feel completely at ease. I had a very positive experience at this clinic. They also make sure you’re 100% certain about your decision, so you won’t regret it later.”

"I was really nervous beforehand, but the care and attention made me feel safe."