What do you mean by abortion? Abortion is a medical process through which pregnancy is ended in the uterus (womb). Depending upon the duration of pregnancy, there are several options and types of abortion.
Different types of abortion are used to end pregnancy and the procedure is done through surgery or medication.
Surgical abortion is done in a hospital while through medical abortion, you can end your pregnancy by using prescription medicines at home. Anyhow, the type of pregnancy you go through is decided by knowing how far along you are with your pregnancy.
In the first trimester the pregnancy ending procedure is done through vacuum aspiration while in the second trimester, when your pregnancy duration is nearly up to 12 to 14 weeks since your last menstruation, you will go through a dilation and evacuation procedure or D&E for abortion. When your pregnancy has entered the third trimester meaning you have more than 15 weeks with pregnancy, you may have D&X or dilation and extraction to end the pregnancy. All these procedures are outpatient and you can leave the clinic or hospital after two to three hours of the abortion procedure.
Is Abortion a Common Procedure?
According to an estimated report published in the paper of Guttmacher Institute of Medical Sciences, 2023, nearly 1 in 5 women in the US would go through any type of pregnancy ending procedure by the age of 40. So it is common here to end pregnancy at different durations of being pregnant.
According to a CDC report, 15.5 abortions per 1000 women, in 18 to 40 years old women, were reported last year. Most of those are conducted as a legal procedure. But the alarming thing is that a large number of women who got abortions were less than 20 years old and usually did this in the second trimester. Thus it was concluded at the end of the report that all unintended pregnancies usually end in abortion.
This article provides you with a comprehensive guide about all types of abortion and their procedure details. It also discusses their advantages and disadvantages, when to do this, potential risk factors, and recovery duration.
Significant Guidelines
Major types of abortion include surgery and medication. The type of abortion usually depends on the stage of pregnancy.
In the US, different states perform this procedure under different laws and the law decides when or whether a woman can have an abortion.
Safety Concerns for Abortion
Like any other medical procedure, pregnancy ending procedure also has some small risks but overall it is a safe procedure.
Trying or ending a pregnancy on your own is not recommended but you have to go to an expert doctor with special training in a clinic or hospital, for surgical abortion.
To end your pregnancy through any medication at home, you need to have access to accurate information about the safety and use of medication. Supportive and nonjudgmental care is an essential factor for passing through the abortion procedure.
The Best Places for Legal Abortion
Various law restrictions are applied for surgical or medical abortions in different states. So it matters a lot, where do you live? Doctors who perform this procedure must obey the laws of the state where they are licensed to practice. In case of violating the law, their license may be canceled and they may face civil or criminal penalties.
So the first thing is to get accurate information about your state’s laws about the procedure. After knowing these laws you can search for a law-abiding hospital and doctor for proceeding the next phase. But if you are not sure about the laws about the procedure, your state applied. You can get help from the site AbortionFinder.org, to get a state-by-state guide about abortion laws.
Accurate Time for a Woman to Have An Abortion
Although this pregnancy ending procedure is a legal procedure in the US, doctors still prefer to carry out the procedure usually in the first trimester or at the early stage of the second trimester.
You can understand that the most recommended duration to have an abortion is from the time of conceiving to the 12th week of pregnancy. Some states also allow abortion in the second trimester which is between 12 to 26 weeks while some states even allow the procedure in the latter part of the second trimester.
According to a survey report in 2023, 74.5% of abortions in the country were carried out when the pregnancy was only 7 to 8 weeks. However, according to a CDC report, nearly 90% of abortions took place after the first trimester or at an early phase of the second trimester.
Termination in the First Trimester
In the first trimester, doctors usually recommend medical termination or vacuum aspiration. Medical abortion can take place till 8 to 9 weeks of pregnancy. Two types of medications are involved in this procedure.
Between 7 to 14 weeks of pregnancy, usually, surgical options including dilation and evacuation are considered best.
Termination in the Second and Third Trimester
Dilation or evacuation are suggested to most of the women who are in the second trimester of pregnancy and usually the procedure is carried out between 12 to 26 weeks of pregnancy in this trimester. In the third trimester, pregnant women can undergo labor induction for abortion but such cases occur rarely. Only 1 to 2 % of abortions take place in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Medical Abortion
In This type, the pregnant woman is directed to take pills to end pregnancy. This procedure involves two types of medications including, misoprostol and mifepristone.
Generally, 200 milligrams of mifepristone are enough for ending the pregnancy. The second medication, misoprostol, is taken two to three days after taking mifepristone.
Generally, doctors recommend taking these pills orally by placing them under the tongue or direct swallowing but these pills also can be taken vaginally. Mifepristone stops the development of pregnancy while misoprostol triggers the evacuation from the uterus, which may happen between 5 to 24 hours after taking pills.
Most of the women experience bleeding and cramping as the uterus empties, like a heavy period. Cramping becomes more serious for some persons and may cause severe loss.
Advantages of Medical Abortion:
Medical abortion has some positive aspects:
- There is no need for surgery for this procedure.
- It can be done in the first trimester.
- No need for anesthetic.
- No need for further treatments.
Disadvantages of Medical Abortion:
Medical termination has a few disadvantages including:
- It can be carried only in the second trimester.
- A part of this treatment must take place at a clinic.
- It causes painful cramping.
- Sometimes, it cannot work and pregnancy doesn’t end.
Risk Factors of Medical Abortion:
Bleeding after medical abortion continues for several weeks. Regular checkup from a certified doctor is necessary till complete recovery.
Many side effects are linked with this procedure of termination such as some women experience nausea, heavy bleeding through the vagina, fatigue, dizziness, fever, and diarrhea.
More complications may occur after processing a medical abortion. These can include:
- Infection in the uterus can be seriously harmful if not treated in time.
- Failure of termination may happen.
- Heavy bleeding due to the presence of remains of pregnancy materials can be life-threatening.
- Need surgery to clear the uterus.
Vacuum Aspiration as Surgical Abortion
Gentle suction involves this type of surgical abortion, to end the pregnancy. It is recommended by doctors during the first trimester. The procedure starts when the doctor inserts a speculum into the vagina and applies medication through an injection to numb the area. Then thin rods called dilators are used to open the cervix for inserting a thin tube into the uterus. Then a mechanical or manual suction device is used to empty the uterus.
Advantages of Vacuum Aspiration:
Its advantages include:
- It can be done up to the initial 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- No need for general anesthetic.
- It is pain-free but some women experience cramping or nausea.
- It is a time-saving procedure i.e. it takes only ten to fifteen minutes.
Disadvantages of Vacuum Aspiration:
The main disadvantage of vacuum aspiration is that it is not available in the third trimester. Bleeding and spotting for several weeks may cause weakness.
Recovery from this type of abortion depends on your resting time after treatment. Antibiotics are also suggested to prevent infection and doctors recommend avoiding sex minimum for two weeks after treatment.
Risk Factors for Vacuum Aspiration:
Bleeding and vaginal infection are major complications. However, the risk of complications in this type of termination is very low. If you choose this type of pregnancy termination, you need to consult your doctor if signs of bleeding or infection remain persistent.
Dilation and Evacuation as Surgical Abortion
This type of abortion is used in the second trimester. To initiate the D&E procedure, doctors give a general type of anesthetic that ensures that the patient may not feel anything during the surgical procedure. Then they insert a speculum into the vagina and dilate the cervix by using dilators. Then they use small forceps to remove pregnancy tissues. Finally, suction is done to clear the remaining material of pregnancy.
Advantages of Dilation and Evacuation:
Its biggest advantage is that it is the most safe and effective way of abortion and the second good thing is it is available in the second trimester.
Disadvantages of Dilation and Evacuation:
Its main disadvantage is the requirement of anesthetic. Recovery from this type of pregnancy termination is slow and involves cramping and mild pain that occurs for a few days after the abortion procedure. Irregular bleeding may continue for one to two weeks.
Risk Factors for Dilation and Evacuation:
This procedure also has some potential complications including, injury to the uterus, infection, and irregular heavy bleeding.
However, the chances of uterus injury during a second-trimester abortion are very low.
Labor Induction Abortion
It is the late-term method of pregnancy termination that may take place in the second or third trimester. This is a rare type of abortion. Most doctors avoid this type of abortion and only recommend it if the pregnant woman’s life is in danger.
To perform this type of abortion, doctors use medication to start labor that triggers the uterus to empty over a period of 24 hours maximum. These medications are taken orally but in some cases, doctors prefer to inject them into the vagina or uterus. Doctors use pain relievers or local anesthetic to lessen the cramping during this type of abortion.
After abortion, the patient is kept under supervision for one to two days, to supervise the side effects of labor induction. Doctors examine the health and recovery of patients and then decide the length of stay at the hospital. Often they estimate it during abortion.
Risk Factors for Labor Induction:
Medications used for inducing labor cause side effects, such as:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Cramping
- Vomiting and nausea.
- Uterus injury.
- Infection in the uterus or vagina.
- Cervical rupture.
- Hemorrhage.
- Remains of pregnancy tissues in the uterus.
Conclusion
Medical means of ending a pregnancy are known as abortion. Abortion is of different types depending on the duration of pregnancy. These types of abortion are:
- Surgical abortion.
- Medical abortion.
- Vacuum aspiration.
- Dilation and evacuation.
- Labor induction.
Which type of abortion is suitable for a pregnant woman is decided after examining the stage of pregnancy. A professional healthcare provider always suggests the type of abortion according to the stage of pregnancy and laws of the state. In many countries or states, abortion is a legal procedure but in some countries, it is not legal. People there do it illegally like in Pakistan.
Since the year 2000, many countries legalized this procedure or lessened the limitations for abortion. In the United States, however, abortion is a legal procedure and has laws for abortion but with time different states are banning abortions due to the increasing percentage of pregnancy termination in recent years. Recently 10 states in the US ban or limit the rules for the person to end their pregnancy.
Due to such laws, pregnant women travel to other countries where they can easily end their pregnancy. Before going through this procedure, a person must discuss it with a professional healthcare provider because lack of knowledge or inexperienced doctors can cause permanent damage to your sexual health.
