Abortion Methods

A female can choose from three types of abortion methods- medical (use of medicines), surgery (invasive technique utilizing instruments), and chemicals (injectable drugs or chemicals for ending pregnancy). Here is an in-depth analysis and information of these pregnancy termination methods mentioned below. Users are requested to know that the details are purely informational, and the medical practices in real may or may not differ. Speak to doctor before proceeding with any of these techniques.

Medical Abortions

In medical regimens, administration of FDA approved drugs is done to abort the fetus. A female can take the abortion pills at home without the presence of doctor required. This system is followed in early trimester when a woman is between 4 to 10 weeks pregnant. Any procedure above this gestation age is done by invasive technique. The person may require three follow-up visits to doctor, one to get the medicines, second to note the progress, and third (after 14 days of treatment) to analyze if medicines worked to end the pregnancy.

In case by some possibility the abortion pills fail, then surgical intervention is done to complete pregnancy termination. However, a majority of pregnancy endings are done in the first trimester only, and abortion in late-term is very rare. The medical process is noted the best and effective in early pregnancy, and has 95-98% success rate.

Some of the common medicines and their way of working are included below:

• Mifepristone (RU-486) & Misoprostol: The RU-486 tablet is an oral medication that blocks the progesterone hormone, which the body produces otherwise to maintain and develop the uterus lining. This supportive lining holds the pregnancy parts. The endometrial lining provides protection and nutrition to the fetus, which stops once Mifepristone breaks this support. A second drug (Misoprostol) is utilized to cause womb contractions so the deadened fetus and pregnancy tissues are expelled from the uterus. The woman bleeds heavily in the regimen and passes blood clots. Normally, it takes more than 10 days to successfully oust the contents from the womb. The user may face a few side effects, such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, headache, and tiredness, just like in a natural miscarriage. But these cease on successful abortion.

• Methotrexate: Being an oral drug containing a chemical, it stops the growth of cells in unborn and nullifies the life support needed for survival. The fetus perishes as the medicine takes effect. Misoprostol is further taken to produce uterine contractions in pushing out the pregnancy parts from the person’s womb. Bleeding, cramps, and side effects are the same as reported above.
• Salt Poisoning: This method is followed in the second or third trimester. The practitioner uses a needle to inject the salt in the woman’s womb, which goes into the amniotic fluid sac of the fetus. The unborn ceases to exist with the chemicals in an hour. The female is then made to go into labor for one or two days to deliver the deadened baby.
• Prostaglandins: Again, this kind of drug treatment is administered in the second and third trimester. Here, the woman is injected with the prostaglandin hormone in her amniotic sac. The chemical causes premature labor and cramping required to remove the pregnancy from the womb.

Surgical Abortions

For getting rid of a pregnancy in different trimesters, specific surgical processes are engaged. These are done under the observation of the necessary medical staff. The woman is cared for with all the precautions maintained for her well-being. The surgical method is quick and highly successful. Normally, the female can leave the clinic within a day, or may be kept in observation for longer in case of late-term terminations.

Compared to the medical system, the surgical one can be initiated only after the female completes 6 weeks of her pregnancy. However, the time taken is less, and bleeding is also less than with the drug regimen. The costs of such an abortion depend on the place the treatment is obtained from and follow-up care, etc. Those who find it difficult to afford the surgical method, and need privacy, often choose the medication process in early pregnancy ending.

 Here are the following invasive procedures were followed to terminate pregnancy:

• Suction aspiration: This method is mostly utilized in pregnancy’s first trimester (the first 3 months). The practitioner gently inserts a vacuum-type or suction tube instrument in the woman’s womb. The instrument has a pointy edge to remove the fetal and pregnancy sections, which is then sucked into a collection bottle.
• Dilation and curettage (D&C): The abortionist utilizes a loop-shaped instrument to remove the fetal contents and scrape the uterine wall clean. The pregnancy parts are then taken out and checked to ensure that there are no remnants in the uterus.
• Dilation and Extraction (Partial-birth abortion or D&X): This process is followed in the third trimester, when the fetus is around 32 weeks or less. The doctor reaches the fetal section with forceps and collects the entire pregnancy tissue with the instrument. Other tools that could be involved are scissors and a suction tube.
• Dilation and evacuation (D&E): For pregnancy ending in the second trimester, which is 24+ weeks, the doctor uses the dilation and evacuation technique. Medicine may be used to dilate the cervix so that it is easier to insert the instrument. The unborn and the pregnancy mass are removed with forceps.
• Hysterotomy: Done in the third trimester, hysterotomy is described as an abortive C-section (cesarean section). The physician creates an incision in the woman’s abdomen to remove the unborn. This procedure may be performed in case of risks to the mother’s life, or some developmental complication during birth or before.