Sexual Health Victoria offers a medical abortion service via telephone consultation. We aim to provide access for those who may find it difficult to visit a clinic due to time, cost, transport, physical mobility and concerns regarding privacy and stigma.

Please refer to our medical abortion and surgical abortion pages for more detailed information about your options.

Some circumstances restrict the type of abortion you can have and whether telehealth medical abortion will be suitable for you. If you are uncertain about your suitability or have any questions not answered here, please call the clinic and one of our friendly staff can assist you.

Currently, our new TMAS service can only see clients who:

Reside in Victoria
Have completed/or plan to complete a pregnancy dating ultrasound
Have a pregnancy that is nine weeks (64 days) or under
Have a current Medicare card or reciprocal healthcare card
Have access to phone and internet services, have a valid email address and give permission to be contacted through these methods
Fit the medical eligibility criteria for medical abortion

If you book for TMAS and do not meet the requirements above, one of our friendly staff will contact you to assist in discussing your options.

How does the service work?

After calling our clinic and booking a TMAS appointment, you will receive an SMS with the link to a booklet with all the information you need to prepare for your consultation with our clinical staff.

Before your appointment, you will need to complete your online registration forms and supply any required investigations. The nurse will review this information and contact you if any issues need to be discussed before your appointment.

All clients who attend this service currently require the following:

An ultrasound that shows a pregnancy inside the uterus under nine weeks
A blood test that tells us your pregnancy hormone level

Some clients may also require:

A blood test that tells us your iron and haemoglobin levels
A urine test or swab test for common bacteria such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea

On the day of your appointment, a nurse will contact you to review your medical history and any health or safety concerns.

You may also want to discuss contraception options with your doctor or nurse. Some contraceptive options can be organised at your appointment.

Once you have all the information you need and have spoken with the doctor and consented (agreed) to medical abortion, SHV can make arrangements for a chemist to post your medication. This is done via express post and should be received within 1-3 days, depending on your location. If you would rather be sent an escript for the medication, this can be provided.

Preparing for TMAS

Ultrasound and blood testing – Your local GP can request that you have these investigations completed. Alternatively, a telehealth appointment can be arranged with one of our doctors.
Finding a support person – it’s important to have someone who can stay with you whilst you are passing the pregnancy at home. We encourage you to think of who is suitable. Your support person must be someone you trust and, if you have caring responsibilities at home, someone you would be happy to leave in charge of your children/pets were you to need to access emergency services.
Timing of your procedure – the two abortion steps/pills are taken 24-48 hours apart. The second step of the medication is the step that will cause symptoms, including pain and bleeding. You may wish to consider when and where you will want to be when taking this medication. We recommend a safe and private space with access to a bathroom.
Symptom management – we will provide you with a script for pain relief and medication to help with nausea. Other items that can assist you on the day of your procedure include a heat pack, large overnight sanitary pads, items to assist with distraction and food/drink that will be light on your stomach.
Emergency considerations – medical abortion is considered a safe procedure; however, it is important that you are aware of your local hospital and know how to access it. We also recommend membership with Ambulance Victoria, if you do not already have this through your private health insurance or concession card. You will also be provided with our number and the number of nurse-on-call, a 24-hour phone service.
Follow-up – Because you are passing the pregnancy at home, we provide you with the resources you will need to follow up on your care after your medication. This assists us and you in feeling confident that the procedure has been successful. This follow-up can usually be completed in your local community via pathology services and via phone consultation with our team when required.

How can I access TMAS AT Sexual Health Victoria?

To book an appointment for a tele-abortion at Sexual Health Victoria, please contact us at one of our clinics.

Please note that a booking fee of $50 will be collected at this time. This fee will be deducted from the final cost of your tele-abortion with us. A minimum of 24-hour notice (business hours) is required for cancellations. Deposits are non-refundable if the minimum notice is not given.

Sexual Health Victoria’s clinic fees can be reviewed here.

Telehealth Medical Abortion Service (TMAS)