Electively terminating a pregnancy, called an abortion, can be done several different ways. The options for a woman depend on how far along she is in the pregnancy. Typically, the earlier the decision to abort the pregnancy is made, the more options available. Women should always seek medical advice when considering an abortion to prevent unnecessary complications. Purchasing home abortion products is extremely risky, even deadly, and unlikely to end in a successful abortion.
Medical Abortion
A medical abortion is done using a combination of drugs. The drugs can be used up through the ninth week of the pregnancy. Methotrexate and misoprostol, called MTX, are two drugs used together up through the seventh week of pregnancy. Mifepristone and misoprostol, called RU-486, are used in combination through the seventh through the ninth week of pregnancy. Mifepristone is used to detach the embryo from the uterus so it no longer thrives. A second office visit is necessary for the administration of misoprostol, a drug that induces contractions to expel the detached embryo. Women are examined a few days following the abortion to ensure the tissues have been fully expelled from the body.
Suction Aspiration
Suction aspiration is one type of surgical abortion procedure that can be carried out during the sixth through 12th week of pregnancy. The American Pregnancy Association explains that pain medication and sometimes misorprostol are administered prior to suction aspiration. To perform this procedure, the doctor will insert a speculum into the vagina so an injection of anesthetic can be given into the cervix. The cervix is then dilated with medical devices and a suction device is inserted into the uterus to remove the fetus and placenta. The procedure is over in about 10 to 15 minutes, but the woman may recover in the facility for a few hours longer.
Dilation & Curettage (D&C)
Dilation and curettage is a type of surgical abortion that is typically performed 12 to 15 weeks into the pregnancy or earlier, if the woman chooses. Like the suction aspiration procedure, the D&C requires the woman's cervix be dilated so a long, looped shaped knife (curette) can be inserted into the uterus. The curette is used to scrape the lining, placenta and fetus away from the uterus, explains the Mayo Clinic. A suctioning device is used to suction the materials from the uterus.
Dilation & Evacuation (D&E)
Dilation and evacuation (D&E) is performed during the 15th through 21st week of the pregnancy. With this procedure, the doctor will insert a synthetic dilator into the woman's cervix 24 hours before the D&E is to be performed. This will open the cervix to allow the curette to be inserted. A suctioning device is inserted into the cervix to remove tissue from the lining before the curette is used to scrape anything remaining from the uterus. When needed, the doctor will use forceps to remove larger matter. Suctioning is used to remove the remnants of the pregnancy.
Dilation & Extraction
Dilation and extraction is a procedure performed after the 21st week of pregnancy. Prior to the procedure, the woman will receive a synthetic cervical dilator to open the cervix. The water will break on the third day following the dilator. When this happens, the woman is to return to the facility to have the fetus rotated and pulled down the birth canal. Once the head is out the doctor will make a small incision in the base of the fetal skull and insert a suction catheter to remove the brain matter. This forces the skull to collapse and the fetus dies. The doctor will continue withdrawing the fetus with the forceps.
