Abortion Methods

Many women go into the abortion experience not fully knowing what it entails. By and large,
abortion is still a surgical procedure. You would want to know all the details and risks if you were having heart surgery, wouldn’t you? Well, it’s just as important to know all the in’s and out’s of
an abortion procedure as well.


Manual Vacuum Aspiration
This surgical abortion is done early in the pregnancy up until 7 weeks after the woman’s last menstrual period. The cervical muscle is stretched with dilators (metal rods) until the opening
is wide enough to allow the abortion instruments to pass into the uterus. A hand held syringe
is attached to tubing that is inserted into the uterus and the fetus is suctioned out.


Dilation and Curettage (D&C)the most common procedure
In this procedure performed within 6 to 14 weeks after the last menstrual period, the doctor opens the cervix with a dilator (a metal rod) or laminaria (thin sticks derived from plants and inserted several hours before the procedure). The doctor inserts tubing into the uterus and connects the tubing to
a suction machine. The suction pulls the fetus’ body apart and out of the uterus. Sometimes the doctor may use a curette, a loop-shaped knife, to scrape the fetal parts out of the uterus.


Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
This surgical abortion is done within 13 to 24 weeks after the last menstrual period. Because the developing fetus doubles in size between the eleventh and twelfth weeks of pregnancy, the body
of the fetus is too large to be broken up by suction and will not pass through the suction tubing.
In this procedure, the cervix must be opened wider than in a first trimester abortion. This is done
by inserting laminaria a day or two before the abortion. After opening the cervix, the doctor pulls
out the fetal parts with forceps. The fetus’ skull is crushed to ease removal.


Dilation and Extraction (D&X)partial birth abortion
This procedure takes three days. During the first two days, the cervix is dilated and medication is given for cramping. On the third day, the woman receives medication to start labor. After labor begins, the abortionist uses ultrasound to locate the baby’s legs. Grasping a leg with forceps, the doctor delivers the baby up to the baby’s head. Next, scissors are inserted into the base of the skull to create an opening. A suction catheter is placed into the opening to remove the skull contents.
The skull collapses and the baby is removed.


RU486, Mifepristone
This procedure is not a surgical one—it is a medical or chemical abortion used for women who are within 30 to 49 days past their last menstrual period. This procedure usually requires three office visits. The RU486 or mifepristone pills are given to the woman who returns two days later for
a second medication called misprostol. The combination of these medications causes the uterus
to expel the fetus.

Immediate Risks of Abortion

As with any surgical or medical procedure, there are risks. In most abortions, no serious complications occur. However, serious complications do happen in about 1 out of every 100 early abortions and in about 1 out of every 50 later term abortions. Let’s consider the immediate risks of abortion.


Heavy Bleeding—Some bleeding after abortion is normal. There is, however, a risk of hemorrhage, especially if the uterine artery is torn. When this happens, a woman may go into shock and a blood transfusion may be required.

Infection—Bacteria may get into the uterus from an incomplete abortion resulting in infection.
A serious infection may lead to persistent fever over several days and extended hospitalization.

Incomplete Abortion—Some fetal parts may not be removed by the abortion. Bleeding and
infection may occur. RU486 may fail in up to 1 out of every 20 cases.

Allergic Reaction to Drugs—An allergic reaction to anesthesia used during abortion surgery may result in convulsions, heart attack and, in extreme cases, death.

Tearing of the Cervix—The cervix may be cut or torn by abortion instruments.

Scarring of the Uterine Lining—Suction tubing, curettes, and other abortion instruments may cause permanent scarring of the uterine lining.

Perforation of the Uterus--The uterus may be punctured or torn by abortion instruments. The risk of this complication increases with the length of the pregnancy. If this occurs, major surgery, including a hysterectomy, may be required.

Damage to Internal Organs—When the uterus is punctured or torn, there is also a risk that damage will occur to nearby organs such as the bowel and bladder.

Death—In extreme cases, other physical complications from abortion including excessive bleeding, infection, organ damage from a perforated uterus, and adverse reactions to anesthesia may lead
to death. This complication is very rare and occurs, on average, in less than 20 cases per year.

Those are the immediate risks; however, abortion is not just a simple medical procedure with a few physical risks. For many women, it is a life-changing event with significant emotional, and spiritual consequences. Most women who struggle with Post-Abortion Syndrome say that they wish they had been told all of the facts about abortion.