The level of pain varies from person to person. Both medical and surgical abortions cause some amount of cramping. These cramps can feel like light to heavy menstrual cramps, like when you get your period. Most women report cramps that last from five minutes to a half hour.  It is normal to experience some bleeding during and after both the medical and surgical abortion. You can use pads like when you have your period. Most women find that Tylenol is enough to help with their pain, and they are physically capable of returning to work or school after a surgical abortion. 

The procedure itself only takes about five minutes. Some kind of painkiller is used in all abortions. Also, general anesthesia can be used if the woman would prefer to be asleep for the procedure. The use of general anesthetics can increase the amount of time the woman would need to remain in the clinic after the procedure and the medical risks of the procedure.  

The clinic you choose will talk with you more about how you may feel physically and emotionally before, during and after the abortion. It is important to remember that each person has a unique experience of pain, although for the majority of women, abortion is not considered a “painful” procedure if done in the first trimester (three months) of pregnancy.