No abortion pills by post: why you must come in

Why the medicines cannot simply be sent to you

Every so often someone asks us to post the tablets, courier them, or arrange the whole thing over a phone call so that they never have to come in. We understand why — it feels quicker, and more private. But it is not something we can do, for one simple reason: the medicine is only a small part of safe care. What actually keeps you safe is the visit that comes before it. A termination is a medical treatment, not a parcel, and like any real treatment it begins with being seen, examined and guided by a doctor in person. You can read how we provide it on our abortion services page.

What the scan and examination are actually for

When you arrive, the first step is a consultation and a scan, done here on the day. This is not a formality. It answers three questions that cannot be answered from a distance, and each one is about your safety.

First, it confirms that you are pregnant and tells us how far along the pregnancy is. This matters, because the right method depends entirely on it, and no honest advice about your options is possible until it is known.

Second, it confirms that the pregnancy is inside the womb. Sometimes a pregnancy settles and begins to grow outside the womb, most often in a fallopian tube. This is called an ectopic pregnancy, it is a serious emergency, and the abortion medicines cannot treat it at all. It can only be found on a scan — which is exactly why the scan is done first, every single time. To send tablets to a woman with an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy would put her life in danger.

Third, the examination checks for anything that would make the medicine route unsafe for you in particular. Certain health conditions change what is safe, and only a proper assessment can pick these up. Which method is right for you is a medical decision made after you are seen, never one that can be posted to you in advance.

What a phone or online consultation can — and cannot — do

A phone or online consultation is genuinely useful, and we are glad to have one with you. It lets us listen, answer your questions and take a first history, so that you are not walking in blind. What it can tell you is whether treatment is likely to be feasible, and what your sensible next step is. What it cannot do is deliver the treatment. No scan, no examination and no safe termination can happen down a phone line. So think of the call as the doorway, not the room: it helps you take the first step with less fear, but the step itself — being seen, and being treated — happens at the hospital, in person. There is no exception to this, and anyone offering you one is not offering you safe care.

Why ordering pills online is a real danger

It is worth being plain about this, because the internet makes it look easy. Buying tablets from an online seller, or taking something a friend passes on, skips every one of the safety checks above. Without a scan, you cannot know how far along you are, and you cannot know whether the pregnancy is inside the womb or growing dangerously outside it. Without an examination, you cannot know whether the medicine is safe for your body. And without a doctor and a hospital behind you, there is no one watching for the warning signs, and no one to turn to quickly if something goes wrong. Heavy bleeding, severe pain or fever are not things to face alone at home with a number found online. The hospital visit is what makes the treatment safe — the tablets on their own do not.

This is also why we hold ourselves to a high standard of safe, dignified, properly supervised care, rather than the false convenience of a packet in the post.

You are welcome here, and your visit stays private

Many of the women who come to us are unmarried, and we want to say this clearly: it changes nothing. Choosing to end a pregnancy is lawful in India, and we provide it lawfully at a government-licensed facility — you can read what the law allows on our MTP Act page. You do not need anyone else's permission to come, and you will be treated with the same respect and care as anyone else. Nobody will look at you a certain way, and nobody will ask you to justify your decision.

Your privacy matters to us. What you tell us, and the care you receive, stay confidential. This guide is written by Dr Mayur Pai, and the same doctors who see you are the ones who care for you, in one place, from the first consultation onwards.

Getting started

If any of this is on your mind, the kindest thing you can do for yourself is to reach out early. Call or message us and tell us your situation, in as much or as little detail as you like. An online consultation can tell you whether treatment is feasible and guide your very next step — but please remember that to receive any treatment you must come to the hospital in Goa in person, because the scan, the examination and the treatment itself can only be done here. Nothing is booked, charged or decided simply by asking. This article is for education only and is not personal medical advice; please consult your doctor about your own situation.

Or call +91 75582 52088 · 0832 251 3641

This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.