Frequently Asked Questions

When you book your appointment, you will be asked whether we can call you, text you, email you, and/or send mail to your home address. It is completely up to you how and when we contact you. Respecting client privacy is a top priority for our clinic at all times.

Absolutely. We do not share any information about you to anyone or acknowledge that you have been to our clinic without your permission. We will only contact you in the way you instruct us to. If your procedure is billed to the Medical Services Plan (MSP), they will maintain a record of your personal data and what procedures are billed to MSP in your name. MSP is held confidentially by the Province of British Columbia. For more information about MSP, go here. If you elect to have a medical abortion, your prescription for Mifegymiso will be on PharmaNet, which is the province-wide network that records every prescription dispensed in BC. For information about privacy and PharmaNet, go here.

No, you do not need consent from your parents if you are a youth. Consent is based on capacity, not age. If the physician and clinic staff feel you understand the procedure and its risks, you may consent to medical care at our clinic.

Yes, abortion is a safe procedure. Aspiration abortion is one of the safest surgical procedures available. The medications used for medication abortion have been safely used around the world since 1988.

You do not need a referral or note from a doctor to book an abortion at our clinic. However, if you do see a doctor beforehand or if a doctor or clinic refers you to our clinic, please give us their name when you book your appointment.

If you have a BC Care Card (regular BC Medical Services Plan coverage), most contraception is free at a pharmacy. We offer prescriptions and can provide IUDs or Implants in-clinic on the day of your procedure at no cost. If you don't have a BC Care Card, you may be able to purchase contraception at the clinic. For further information, please call us at 604-736-7878.

Yes, our clinic is wheelchair accessible. When booking your appointment, please advise us if there is anything we should know about your mobility or health circumstances that will assist us in ensuring you receive the best possible care while you are at our clinic.

Through ultrasound and other testing, some pregnancies are deemed “non-viable.” When a pregnancy ends on its own, it is called a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage. Our clinic provides care for clients who are experiencing a miscarriage. Depending on how far along your pregnancy is, there is a range of options available to you. Our counselling, nursing, and physician team will provide you with information about your medical options and assist you with a decision on how best to manage the miscarriage. Our counsellors can provide resources and referrals in the community for support after a miscarriage.

• Aspiration abortion: You will probably feel some pinching, definitely some pressure, and possibly some cramping. You will be offered IV medication to help you relax and manage any discomfort. We also numb your cervix with a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort.
• Medication abortion:  Most clients do not experience any cramping or bleeding after taking the first medication (mifepristone). After taking the second medication (misoprostol) 24 - 48 hours later, you will experience cramping and bleeding. Cramps can be mild to severe for a few hours during this process. Pain medication will be offered to you and can help.

Please refer to this list of resources, or call our office for information about other abortion services in BC.

Elizabeth Bagshaw Clinic is situated on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are committed to understanding what it means to operate on unceded territory, to recognizing Canada's history of colonization and ongoing harms to Indigenous people, and to meaningfully incorporate this knowledge into the health services that we deliver. In 2019, we committed to increasing the cultural competency of our clinic and all members of our team. We continue to carry out organization-wide training and work on policy development in order to meet this commitment. If you have cultural, spiritual, family, and/or language needs, please let us know when you book your appointment and we will work with you to ensure you feel well cared for during your time at our clinic.      

Yes. Our staff have been trained in providing safe, non-judgmental care to trans, non-binary, and Two-Spirit clients. We are always interested in feedback regarding additional ways that we can improve our services for clients from these communities.

If you are a BC resident and have valid Medical Service Plan (MSP) coverage (BC Care Card), your abortion will be completely covered by the plan. If you are from another province, you will have to pay for services at our clinic. However, you can apply for partial reimbursement from your provincial health plan. If you are a visitor to BC or wish to pay privately for other reasons, the following fees will apply:

• If you are under 10 weeks pregnant and choose a medication abortion, the fee for your appointment is $575, and the medication will cost $332.75.
• If you are under 12 weeks pregnant, an aspiration abortion will cost $700.
• If you are between 12 weeks and 14 weeks pregnant, an aspiration abortion will cost $750.
• If you are 14 weeks pregnant and over, an aspiration abortion will cost $1600.

The fees for our services are aligned with the other abortion care providers in Vancouver and Vancouver Island. If you require information about MSP coverage or have any questions about our fees, please contact us at 604-736-7878.

If you are facing financial barriers that may limit your ability to access our services, please contact our office. 

If you are a status First Nations person in BC and want to register for MSP, please contact the First Nations Health Authority. Our clinic accepts Cash, Debit, Visa, Mastercard, and Union Pay.

Please refer to this page for information on how to prepare for your procedure and what to expect during and after.

• You will always be booked for the soonest available appointment, please contact us if you wish to reschedule.
• We offer abortion services Tuesday to Fridays.
• We offer IUD insertions Monday to Fridays.
• If you are coming to the clinic for an abortion, you can have an IUD inserted immediately post-procedure.

An appointment must be scheduled in advance by telephone or through the online booking page. We are not able to book appointments in person or accept patients without an appointment. Please go to the “appointment” section of this website or call us at 604-736-7878, Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM to book an appointment. The clinic is open some Saturdays as well.

Medication Abortion

• If you are less than 10 weeks pregnant and choose to have a medication abortion, you should expect to be at the clinic for approximately 2 hours.
• Afterwards, we require a follow up to confirm that the pregnancy has ended. You may choose to come back to the clinic for an ultrasound or go to Lifelabs for two blood tests.

Aspiration Abortion

• If you are less than 14 weeks pregnant, you should expect to be at the clinic for 3 - 4 hours for an aspiration abortion. The abortion procedure is very brief but you will need time to see the counsellor and nurse, and then recover after your abortion.
• If you are between 14 and 17 weeks pregnant, you will be scheduled for a two-day abortion procedure. You can expect to be at the clinic for 2 - 4 hours on each day.

Friends and family are no longer allowed inside the clinic for the health and safety of other patients and staff. Professional translation services are covered for those who indicate a language barrier on the patient intake form. Requests for extenuating circumstances may be accommodated at the discretion of the clinic. Please contact [email protected] at least two business days in advance of your appointment to submit a request.

It is safe to insert an IUD (intra-uterine device) immediately following your procedure. You may bring a pre-purchased IUD with you to your appointment or you may purchase one from us. You can make an appointment with a counsellor to discuss whether an IUD is the right choice for you and review the various options to decide which one will meet your needs.