What abortion methods are there?

Abortion methods are broadly classified into two: surgical abortions which involve the physical removal of the pregnancy from the uterus, and medical abortions which rely on medicines to terminate the pregnancy and then the body expells the pregnancy from the uterus.

 

Surgical abortions are performed in clinics and hospitals abroad. They are relatively simple and straightforward procedures and are usually performed as a day procedure, ie: you would not have to stay overnight if everythings goes well. In the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, a suction cannula is introduced through the cervix and the pregnancy is extracted with a vacuum - this procedure is called vacuum aspiration. Beyond 14 weeks of pregnancy a surgical abortion is performed through a more extensive procedure called dilation and evacuation. As the name implies, it involves dilation of the cervix and gentle evacuation of the pregnancy from the uterus using forceps and suction.

 

Medical abortions performed in the first 12 weeks can be managed by the woman herself at home. Later medical abortions usually require supervision in a clinic or hospital. Medical abortion involves the use of medicines - usually Mifepristone followed by Misoprostol, but Misoprostol can also be used on its own - which end the pregnancy. The body then expells the pregnancy from the uterus as it would during a natural miscarriage. Bleeding can continue for a few weeks after using abortion pills as the body clears the uterus.