Comprehensive Abortion and Reproductive Education

The Comprehensive Abortion and Reproductive Education (CARE) Program provides safe procedural abortion care, including care for people ending a pregnancy for medical reasons or pregnancy loss, as well as other reproductive health and education services.
About
​At BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, all pregnancy endings – abortion, miscarriage and loss – are treated with the same respect and dignity. People have many different reasons and feelings. You decide what this experience means, and we follow your lead.  

We care for cisgender women and gender-diverse people. 

​What we offer

The CARE Program provides procedural (surgical) abortion up to 24 weeks and six days of pregnancy.
  • Most procedures use conscious sedation and local anesthesia 
  • Deeper sedation or general anesthesia may be available depending on health history and safety needs 
  • Counselling and decision support are available both in person or by phone 
  • Optional follow-up and short-term emotional support are available 
  • Optional conversations about contraception and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing can be part of your visit 

​What we do not offer

The CARE Program does not provide medication abortion (the abortion pill). 

Medication abortion is available through the Willow Clinic in Vancouver. Procedural abortions up to 13 weeks and six days are offered at Everywoman’s Health Centre.
Appointments and booking

You do not need a referral to book a procedure. 

To plan safe care, we will ask about your overall health, your sexual and reproductive health history and this pregnancy. If you have already had an ultrasound, we will ask for your consent to request the report.

Booking online 

You can book an appointment online at any time through our secure, confidential booking site. We will ask you to fill out an online form that will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. You will receive confirmation of your online booking within two business days.

Booking by phone

You can also book an appointment by phone during clinic hours - see below under the contact us section. Booking your appointment by phone will take 15 to 20 minutes, and you may need to wait to speak with a clerk.  

When booking by phone, please have your BC Care Card number or other provincial health number available. Phone bookings must be made by the person seeking care. 

If someone is helping you book – such as a care provider, partner, friend or other support person – please use the online booking form, which includes a space to identify who is assisting you. We will still need to confirm directly with you that you want to proceed with care. 

Appointment confirmation 

​When your appointment is booked, you will receive instructions about how and when to confirm it. You must confirm your appointment by the date and time provided. If you do not confirm, your appointment will be cancelled automatically.

To confirm your appointment

  • Call 604-875-2022 or 1-888-300-3088, extension 2022 (toll-free) 
  • Press #1 
  • Say your name, and the date and time of your appointment 
​You will not receive a call back from the clinic. If you leave the message, your confirmation has been received.

To cancel your appointment

  • Call 604-875-2022 or 1-888-300-3088, extension 2022 
  • Press #2 
  • Say your name, and the date and time of the appointment you are cancelling. 

​Cost and coverage 

Procedures are covered through:
If you are not sure about your coverage, please check the MSP website for people living in BC:
If you do not have coverage, you will need to pay for the cost of the procedure.  

​In some situations, extra preparation for the procedure may have additional fees. If payment is required, please bring a debit card, credit card or cash. Bank machines are available on site.

Appointment details

You will need two pieces of identification to enter the clinic. One piece must be photo ID and the other your health care card – such as your BC Care Card. If you do not have ID, please tell the clerk while you are booking your appointment. 

If you wish, you can include cultural, ceremonial or traditional practices in your care. Indigenous patients can ask to meet with an Indigenous patient navigator​ for support. 

Privacy and safety

No filming, photography, or recording is allowed in abortion care spaces. This is required under BC’s bubble-zone legislation. 

Patients check in alone. Support people can wait in the designated waiting area. 

We will involve support persons as much as possible at your request, but support people cannot enter procedure areas because due to patient privacy. 

No children are allowed inside the clinic. If you have children and you do not have a support person who can wait with them or are unable to coordinate childcare, please let us know as early as possible.
Contact and resources

​Contact us

Our hours of service are from Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.​

CARE Clinic 

Entrance #77, BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre
Floor E3
4500 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
​V6H 3N1

Phone: 604-875-2022 or 1-888-300-3088, extension 2022 (toll free)
Fax: 604-875-3274

​Pregnancy Options Service  

Pregnancy Options Service is a confidential, provincial information and referral line run by the CARE Program. Pregnancy Options Service is not a crisis line. 

It provides:
  • Information on abortion services across BC 
  • Support for coordination of care  
  • Non-directive, non-judgmental information about abortion, adoption and parenting 
Phone: 604-875-3163 or 1-888-875-3163 toll free 
Email:pos@cw.bc.ca

​Additional resources 

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