| Procedures |
|
|
|
You also have the option to choose to have an abortion, in which the contents of the uterus are removed by one of the following procedures: RU-486 Within 4-7 weeks (some offer up to 9 weeks) after Last Menstrual Period (LMP) This is a medical abortion which usually requires three office visits for medication to be administered. The RU-486 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 embryo, usually within 4 hours after the second medication is given, which is often at home away from the clinic. Two weeks later, a follow up examination is done to make sure that the abortion is complete. If the abortion is incomplete the patient must agree to complete the surgical abortion. This method fails in 1 in 20 instances, requiring the patient to agree to a surgical abortion. Suction Curettage Within 6-14weeks This is a surgical abortion in which doctor opens the vagina with a speculum; local anesthesia is applied to the cervix only. The cervix is then opened with a dilator (a metal rod) or laminaria (thin sticks derived from plants and inserted hours before the procedure). The doctor inserts a long plastic tube into the uterus that connects the tubing to a suction machine. The suction (7x more powerful than a vacuum cleaner) pulls the fetus’ body apart and out of the uterus. One variation of this procedure is called Dilation and Curettage (D&C). In this method, the doctor may use a curette, a loop-shaped knife, to scrape along the side of the uterus to assure that the fetal parts are out of the uterus. (90% of all abortions are by this method) Within 12-24 weeks This is a surgical abortion which begins with the doctor opening the vagina with a speculum. The cervix is then dilated with the use of laminaria (the cervix must be dilated much more than during the first trimester procedure as the fetus has doubled in size between weeks 11 and 12). This is inserted up to two days before the surgical procedure. Begins with dilatation of the cervix using laminaria (cervix is dilated much more than during the first trimester procedure as the fetus has doubled in size between weeks 11 and 12). This is inserted up to two days before the surgical procedure. An instrument called a tenaculum holds the cervix open. The abortionist will then insert dilators into the cervix to further open it. The suction cannula and other instruments such as forceps are used to remove the fetus from the uterus. Process takes about 10-20 minutes. The patient is then taken to the recovery room for approximately 1-1.5 hours. Saline Abortion From 16-32 weeks This procedure starts similar to other late term abortions with dilating the cervix. A long needle is then inserted into the woman’s abdomen and a salty solution (saline and salt water) is injected into the amniotic fluid. The salt poisons the fetus. Other medications are given to start contractions of the uterus. The procedure ends with delivery of the fetus followed by a recovery period. |