Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) is suitable for people who are less than 12 weeks pregnant.
This information explains what happens to you when you are in hospital.
Before the procedure
You will attend our Women’s Health Unit at the time of your appointment. You will be seen by one of the nurses, who will check your details and answer any questions you may have.
You will be given two tablets (Misoprostol) to put under your tongue. This softens the neck of your womb (cervix) to reduce the risk of complications during your procedure. This can cause women to bleed and have period-like pains. You will also be given some painkillers and an antibiotic to reduce the risk of infection.
Your procedure will then take place 1-2 hours after taking your Misoprostol medication.
Please note: you may eat and drink as normal while waiting for the procedure to take place.
During the procedure
A nurse will stay with you throughout the procedure. She will provide reassurance and support.
In the examination room you will be transferred onto the examination couch and your legs suspended in stirrups.
Entonox (gas and air) will be given to use throughout the procedure.
The doctor will gently insert a small speculum into the vagina to see the neck of your womb (as if you were having a smear.) An injection of local anaesthetic is then given into the cervix. This can feel like a small pinch.
Following the injection the cervix is dilated gently.
The pregnancy tissue is then removed using gentle suction from a handheld syringe. You will feel discomfort during the procedure similar to bad period pains. The gas and air helps with this, and the procedure lasts less than 5 minutes.
If you would like an intrauterine coil or progesterone implant for contraception, we can insert this for you.
Once the procedure has started, it is usually not then safe to stop due to the risk of bleeding. However, if you change your mind before the procedure, please let us know and we can discuss other options with you.
Risks
- Heavy bleeding requiring blood transfusion – fewer than 1 in 1000
- Infection – fewer than 1 in 100
- Damage to womb – 1-4 in 1000. If the doctor suspects this has happened, you may need to stay overnight on the ward for further treatment
- Retained pregnancy tissue requiring further treatment – 3 in 100
- Scarring inside the womb – rare.
After the procedure
Once the procedure is complete, the nursing staff will give you some advice and contact numbers, and then you can go straight home.
You will be given antibiotics to take for 7 days to reduce the risk of infection.
We will make sure you have the contraception of your choice.
Women under 12 weeks who are rhesus negative no longer need an anti-D injection after a surgical abortion.
More information
For more information about MVA, please contact:
- Ward 40 0191 282 5618 (Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm)
- Ward 40 day unit 0191 282 5640 (24 hours)
