How Abortions are Performed

Medical (i.e. chemical abortion)

During the early stages of pregnancy the abortion pill may be used. This procedure is known as a medical abortion. RU-486 is a synthetic steroid which starves the womb of the natural hormone progesterone which is required to maintain the lining of the uterus during pregnancy. 48 hours later a second drug (prostaglandin) is given, this causes the womb to cramp and contract. The lining of the womb breaks down and is lost along with the baby through bleeding from the vagina. These drugs take different lengths of time to work so one cannot be sure when or where the baby will be passed. The process can be painful although pain killing medication may be given. The drugs used in this process have a long list of side effects the most commonly experienced are abdominal pain, nausea, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness. In a very small number of cases, RU-486 has caused life-threatening complications.

Vacuum Aspiration

A plastic suction tube is inserted through the neck of the womb (the cervix). A pump is then connected to the tube and this sucks out the foetus along with other tissue associated with the pregnancy. The word ‘foetus’ is Latin for ‘young one’ or ‘offspring’.. After a vacuum aspiration abortion there can be bleeding for up to 14 days. Such abortions can be carried out under local or general anaesthetic.

Dilation and evacuation (D & E)

This procedure involves stretching the cervix wide enough for forceps to be used to remove the baby. Vacuum aspiration may be used afterwards to ensure that no tissue is left inside the womb. There may be bleeding and cramps after the abortion for up to 14 days. General anaesthetic is used. Risks associated with D & E are injury to the uterine lining or cervix, uterine perforation or rupture, infections caused by incomplete removal of the baby and other tissue and blood clots. If bleeding continues beyond 14 weeks or if blood clots form a repeat vacuum aspiration is carried out.

Between 20 and 24 weeks two methods of abortion are available:

A surgical two-stage abortion (Each stage requires a general anaesthetic)

Stage 1 involves widening the neck of the womb and stopping the heart of the unborn child with an injection of potassium chloride.

Stage 2 is carried out the following day and involves removing the baby and other pregnancy tissue using the D & E method. If the cervix has not been opened wide enough forceps will be used to crush the baby’s head making it easier to remove. Surgical two stage abortions usually require an overnight stay in hospital.

Medically induced abortion

The drug prostaglandin is injected into the womb and this causes it to contract strongly as in labour. This can last for around 6-12 hours. During this process the woman stays awake and may be given drugs to control the pain. The woman delivers the baby as if in childbirth. The abortionist will aim to kill the baby before birth using a poison. In some cases the baby may be alive for a short time after the delivery. Afterwards a ‘D & E’ may be necessary to ensure that the womb is completely empty to avoid the risk of infection. Medically induced abortions normally require an overnight stay in hospital.

As with all types of abortion, if a woman experiences heavy bleeding, a lot of pain or a high temperature, she should seek medical help.