Abortion Methods
The following is a list of abortion methods arranged chronologically according to the time they are performed during a pregnancy.
Some of the procedures are used during more than one trimester, therefore they are listed according to the earliest time during a pregnancy that the procedure can be performed.
First Trimester Chemical Abortions – A woman who desires a chemical abortion need only go to her own private physician. The process involves the taking of drugs either orally or vaginally, and occasionally by injection. There are two ways to accomplish the abortion: the use of Methotrexate and Cytotec (misoprostol) or by using Mifeprex (mifepristone or RU-486) and Cytotec. Each method is equally effective.
By using Methotrexate, fetal and placental cell division is stopped or slowed. This is accomplished by the drug interfering with the action of folic acid which is needed for cell division. After Methotrexate is given time to work, the woman follows it with the drug Cytotec which then causes uterine contractions and the onset of bleeding and abortion.
Mifeprex abortions work by blocking the action of progesterone which is needed to maintain a pregnancy. It causes the uterus to shed the endometrial lining, thus shearing the baby away from its nutritional source. This drug, too, is followed by Cytotec, which induces contractions and expulsion of the baby from the womb.
Both methods can be used up to the 7th week of pregnancy, although some providers allow it through the 9th week. Heavy bleeding and anemia can result. Approximately 4% of women using this method still need a surgical abortion.
Vacuum aspiration or suction curettage – A physician dilates the cervix, then uses an instrument to suction out the contents of the uterus; performed up to 3 months.
Second Trimester Saline method – A strong salt solution is injected into the amnion, poisoning the fetus and severely burning its skin, after which the mother goes into labor and expels the dead fetus. This procedure is no longer commonly done.
Dilation and evacuation (D&E) – Similar to vacuum aspiration, but a larger cervical opening is required due to the larger size of the baby. Like vacuum aspiration, it requires piecemeal destruction of the baby to allow for evacuation. Performed between 4 and 8 months.
Third Trimester Partial birth (late-term) abortion (D&X) – A surgeon partially pulls the fetus out of the birth canal feet first, punctures the base of the skull with a scissors or other sharp instrument to insert a catheter into the skull to remove its contents, then collapses the skull so that the head can be delivered without harming the woman’s reproductive organs.
Some of the procedures are used during more than one trimester, therefore they are listed according to the earliest time during a pregnancy that the procedure can be performed.
First Trimester Chemical Abortions – A woman who desires a chemical abortion need only go to her own private physician. The process involves the taking of drugs either orally or vaginally, and occasionally by injection. There are two ways to accomplish the abortion: the use of Methotrexate and Cytotec (misoprostol) or by using Mifeprex (mifepristone or RU-486) and Cytotec. Each method is equally effective.
By using Methotrexate, fetal and placental cell division is stopped or slowed. This is accomplished by the drug interfering with the action of folic acid which is needed for cell division. After Methotrexate is given time to work, the woman follows it with the drug Cytotec which then causes uterine contractions and the onset of bleeding and abortion.
Mifeprex abortions work by blocking the action of progesterone which is needed to maintain a pregnancy. It causes the uterus to shed the endometrial lining, thus shearing the baby away from its nutritional source. This drug, too, is followed by Cytotec, which induces contractions and expulsion of the baby from the womb.
Both methods can be used up to the 7th week of pregnancy, although some providers allow it through the 9th week. Heavy bleeding and anemia can result. Approximately 4% of women using this method still need a surgical abortion.
Vacuum aspiration or suction curettage – A physician dilates the cervix, then uses an instrument to suction out the contents of the uterus; performed up to 3 months.
Second Trimester Saline method – A strong salt solution is injected into the amnion, poisoning the fetus and severely burning its skin, after which the mother goes into labor and expels the dead fetus. This procedure is no longer commonly done.
Dilation and evacuation (D&E) – Similar to vacuum aspiration, but a larger cervical opening is required due to the larger size of the baby. Like vacuum aspiration, it requires piecemeal destruction of the baby to allow for evacuation. Performed between 4 and 8 months.
Third Trimester Partial birth (late-term) abortion (D&X) – A surgeon partially pulls the fetus out of the birth canal feet first, punctures the base of the skull with a scissors or other sharp instrument to insert a catheter into the skull to remove its contents, then collapses the skull so that the head can be delivered without harming the woman’s reproductive organs.