According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 850,000 abortions occur every year in the United States. There are many reasons a woman may decide to terminate a pregnancy. The type of abortion performed will vary based on length of pregnancy, laws in the state in which the abortion will occur, reason for termination and preference of the woman. Like any medical procedure, abortions have risks. If you are considering an abortion, talk to a knowledgeable health care professional or counselor about the details of each type of available abortion procedure before making a decision.
Medical Abortion
A woman may choose a medical abortion up to nine weeks into the pregnancy. A medical abortion requires the woman to take a medication or combination of medications to induce the early expulsion of the products of conception. In most cases, a combination of medications is used, and the procedure takes two visits. On the first visit, a drug called mifepristone is administered. Mifepristone blocks production of the hormone estrogen, which causes the lining of the uterus to begin to thin. Within 24 to 36 hours, the patient will return to the clinic and receive a second medication, misoprostol, which will cause the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. Patients may experience bleeding for up to two weeks following the administration of misoprostol, with light bleeding or spotting continuing for several days after that. Around two weeks after the procedure, the patient returns for a follow-up visit so the physician can ensure that there are no complications. Medical abortion requires no hospitalization and no surgery, if no complications arise.
Suction Aspiration
According to Planned Parenthood, a suction aspiration abortion is the most common type of abortion and can be used during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. In a suction aspiration abortion, antibiotics and pain medication will be given prior to the start of the procedure. The physician will open the patient's cervix using dilators or medication. Once the cervix is dilated, a tube is inserted through the cervix to the interior of the uterus. The physician then uses either a hand-held suction device or suction machine to empty the uterus. If needed, an instrument known as a curette, a surgical scraping device, will be used to remove any remaining tissue from the uterus. The patient is then sent home with pain medication, antibiotics and a medication to help control bleeding. Patients will be asked to follow-up within two to four weeks to make sure the patient is healing well and no infection is present.
Dilation and Evacuation
A dilation and evacuation abortion is often used only for abortions that are required after the 16th week of pregnancy. A dilation and evacuation is similar to a suction aspiration may require more extensive preparation of the uterus. Like a suction aspiration abortion, medications will be given prior to the procedure; the cervix will be opened using dilators or medication; and a suction machine will be used to remove the uterine contents. However, with a later abortion, extra medication may be injected into the cervix for better pain management. It may also be necessary to inject a solution into the patient's abdomen to ensure fetal death prior to beginning the evacuation portion of the procedure. Patient are sent home with pain medication, antibiotics and medication to help control bleeding. A follow-up appointment will be set for two to four weeks after the dilation and evacuation is complete to ensure that the patient is feeling well and no complications have occurred.
