Abortion at 5 Weeks: 6 Easy WAYS (Medical pills and Surgical)

Question: What are the steps to take to safely have an abortion at 5 weeks? What are the risks and side effects of medical or surgical abortion at 6 weeks?

If you’ve had sex and now tested positive for pregnancy, it becomes a serious decision if you are not ready for a baby.

Most of the time, teenage girls and even adult women find themselves in a situation where they get pregnant and want to end the pregnancy through the safest possible method.

You should know that if you are already five weeks pregnant, there are medical and surgical options that can end a pregnancy early in many countries. These options depend on how far along you are, your health, and the abortion laws where you live. 

Having said that, an abortion at any time of pregnancy comes with its own risks. Also, in some countries, abortion is very restricted or illegal. In some places, ending a pregnancy outside approved services can even have legal consequences.

So, before you use any abortion pills, talk to a trained health professional for proper examination, ultrasound dating, and counselling. You should also be aware of any laws that may prohibit abortion in your country. This article is for education only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice.

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A reader’s question

Here’s an email I received from Merkel (one of my blog readers):

Hi Dunn
I am 5 weeks pregnant and not ready for a baby yet. Unfortunately, I’m not sure who’s responsible for my pregnancy, and I’m yet to tell anyone about my problem.
I want to get rid of the pregnancy but am confused about what drugs to take. I’m worried about long-term complications, and I need your help. Please reply.

If you are 5 or 6 weeks pregnant, this article explains medical and surgical termination of pregnancy, side effects of pills, and danger signs that indicate something’s not right.

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What you should know about abortion at 5 or 6 weeks

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. Laws are different from country to country, so what is allowed in one place may be illegal in another. You always need to know your local law and use safe, regulated services where possible. (WHO summary of abortion care: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240039483). World Health Organization

After an abortion, different women feel different emotions. Some feel relief, others feel sadness or guilt, especially if they do not have good counselling and support. So, it’s vital that you are as sure as you can be about your decision. I suggest you talk to your partner (if it is safe to do so), trusted family or friends, and your doctor or counsellor for the help you need.

There are short- and long-term risks of abortion, just like any medical procedure. However, if you are 5 or 6 weeks pregnant and use evidence-based methods in a proper clinic, the risk of serious complications is generally low and lower than abortions done later in the second trimester.ACOG+1

Before any abortion at 5–6 weeks, a clinician should usually:

• Confirm how many weeks pregnant you are (often with an ultrasound).

• Check for an ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb), which can be life-threatening and cannot be treated with abortion pills.MedlinePlus+1

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Medical abortion at 5 weeks pregnant

If you are 5 weeks pregnant, there are medications that can safely cause your uterus to contract and then empty the pregnancy. This is called a medical abortion (or “abortion pill”). (Good overview here: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007382.htm and https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21899-medical-abortion). MedlinePlus+1

Some of these medications can cause strong cramps and bleeding and may take some time (up to about two weeks) for the pregnancy tissue to pass completely.Mayo Clinic+1

Here are some of the medicines used in medical abortion at 5 or 6 weeks of pregnancy (always under medical supervision):

1. Tablet misoprostol

Misoprostol, sometimes sold under brand names like Cytotec, is a medication that can help end a pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. It is also used to treat stomach ulcers and to manage miscarriages.

Current guidelines recommend that misoprostol works best when it is combined with mifepristone, because the combination has higher success rates (about 95–98% up to 9 weeks).Ipas+1

Misoprostol is a prostaglandin analog that causes your womb to contract when placed under your tongue, in your cheek, or deep inside your vagina. Your doctor or clinic will explain which route and dose are appropriate for you.

If you use misoprostol tablets without mifepristone, there is a higher risk of incomplete abortion. An incomplete abortion means that the uterus contracts and the pregnancy stops, but some tissue remains inside the womb and continues to cause bleeding and cramps.srhr.org+1

If you end up having an incomplete abortion, you may experience prolonged bleeding, cramping, or infection and may need a surgical procedure to finish the abortion.

Other side effects of misoprostol include diarrhea (watery stool), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, mild fever or chills, and sometimes constipation.MedlinePlus+1

2. Tablet mifepristone

Mifepristone, sometimes known as RU-486, is commonly used together with misoprostol to end a pregnancy at 5–10 weeks. On its own it blocks progesterone, the hormone that supports the pregnancy.ACOG+1

In many standard regimens, you take mifepristone first, and then wait 24–48 hours before taking misoprostol. Your clinic will choose the exact timing and dosing. This combination helps to reduce the chance of incomplete abortion compared to misoprostol alone.ACOG+1

Side effects around the time of the pills are usually belly pain, vaginal bleeding with clots (which may last for about 1–2 weeks), vomiting, nausea, fever, and feeling weak or tired.Mayo Clinic+1

3. Methotrexate

Methotrexate is a medicine that stops rapidly dividing cells from growing. It was used more often in the past for early abortion but is now mainly used for ectopic pregnancy and is not a first-line drug for routine abortion in most modern guidelines.World Health Organization+1

Side effects can include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever, and vaginal bleeding. If it is used, it is usually in a specialist setting with close follow-up.

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Surgical abortion at 5 weeks

Apart from pills, some women will be advised to have a minor procedure to remove the pregnancy from the womb. This is called a surgical or procedural abortion.MedlinePlus+1

Medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol is very effective, but it is not 100 percent. So, if there are still pregnancy tissues in the womb after medical treatment, or if you prefer a procedure, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Here are common surgical techniques that may be used:

1. Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) / suction aspiration

After a failed or incomplete medical abortion, or as a first choice, your doctor may use a gentle suction device to remove the pregnancy from your uterus. This is the most common first-trimester surgical method.WebMD+1

This procedure is generally very safe, and the chance of serious complications or incomplete abortion is low in experienced hands. It involves passing a small plastic tube through the cervix into your womb and using manual or electric suction to remove the tissue.

Advantages of this procedure are: lower risk of some complications compared with older sharp curettage, less cramping afterwards, relatively short procedure time, and often done as an outpatient (you usually go home the same day).

Like all surgeries, there is still some risk. Possible but uncommon complications include heavy bleeding, infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, perforation of the uterus, injury to the cervix, and uterine adhesions.

2. Dilation and Curettage (D & C)

Dilation and curettage is an older technique where the cervix is opened and the contents of the womb are removed with a metal curette. Today, many guidelines prefer suction methods (MVA) whenever possible, and reserve sharp D & C for special situations.WebMD+1

Before 10 weeks of pregnancy, if you use modern medical abortion (mifepristone and misoprostol), it is unlikely you will need a surgical procedure. However, if it fails and you have retained products of conception, a suction procedure (with or without curettage) may be performed.

Side effects of D & C include vaginal bleeding, pelvic infection, risk of cervical injury, uterine perforation from aggressive curettage, and anesthesia-related risks.

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Abortion at 6 weeks: What to expect

1. Vaginal bleeding

Whether you have taken pills or had a procedure, mild to heavy vaginal bleeding is expected after an abortion.

If you’ve used abortion pills like mifepristone and misoprostol, you can expect heavier bleeding with clots and tissue coming out. This may look like thick dark red or brown material. Bleeding or spotting can last 1–2 weeks, and in some people up to 3–4 weeks.Mayo Clinic+1

After a surgical abortion at 6 weeks, light to moderate bleeding for a few days is common, and some spotting for up to two weeks is not unusual.

Red flag signs – get urgent medical help if:

• You are soaking two or more large pads per hour for 2 hours in a row.Women’s Center New+1

• You feel dizzy, faint, or your heart is racing.

• You have severe abdominal pain not relieved by pain tablets.

• You have fever (38°C or higher) or foul-smelling vaginal discharge.

• You still feel very pregnant (breast tenderness, nausea) after 1–2 weeks or a home test remains clearly positive.

These may be signs of heavy bleeding, infection, or an incomplete abortion and need urgent review.

2. Abdominal and back pain

Pain in your abdomen and back is common and can last for several days up to one or two weeks. This is usually due to the uterus contracting back to its normal size.

To relieve cramps, your doctor may recommend ibuprofen or other NSAIDs, or paracetamol if NSAIDs are not suitable for you.World Health Organization+1

Avoid taking any strong painkillers without a prescription, especially if you have liver, kidney, or stomach problems.

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Future fertility and next pregnancy

Most evidence shows that an uncomplicated medical or surgical abortion does not reduce your chances of getting pregnant in the future and usually does not cause problems in later pregnancies.Mayo Clinic

However, if you had serious complications (e.g. severe infection, major uterine damage), there may be some increased risk. After your abortion, talk to your doctor about:

• When it is safe to try to get pregnant again (if you want to).

• Which contraception method is best for you to prevent another unplanned pregnancy.