To make an informed decision about abortion, you need to know what the short and long term physical and emotional risks are:
Types of Abortion
The type of abortion used depends on the gestational age of the baby, measured in weeks after the first day of your last menstrual period (or LMP). These are the most common types of abortions completed today:
4-7 weeks (30-49 days) after LMP - RU-486 (Abortion Pill)
This chemical abortion requires three visits to a doctor. The woman receives RU 486 or mifepristone pills and must return two days later for a second medication called misprostol. The combination of these medications causes the uterus to expel the fetus.
4-7 weeks after LMP- Manual Vacuum Aspiration
Using dilators (metal rods), the cervical muscle is stretched until the opening is wide enough to allow the abortion instruments to pass into the uterus. A hand held syringe is attached to tubing that is inserted into the uterus and the fetus is suctioned out with a powerful suction machine.
6-14 weeks after LMP - Suction Curettage or Dilation and Curettage (D & C)
The cervix is opened using a dilator or laminaria. They insert tubing into the uterus connecting it to a suction machine. A powerful suction pulls the fetus' body apart and out of the uterus. In a D & C, a curette (loop-shaped knife) may be used to scrape the fetal parts out of the uterus.
The information provided above is from the following sources found here.
- What will happen to your body during and after a surgical or chemical abortion?
- How will the procedure impact you now and affect your future well-being?
Types of Abortion
The type of abortion used depends on the gestational age of the baby, measured in weeks after the first day of your last menstrual period (or LMP). These are the most common types of abortions completed today:
4-7 weeks (30-49 days) after LMP - RU-486 (Abortion Pill)
This chemical abortion requires three visits to a doctor. The woman receives RU 486 or mifepristone pills and must return two days later for a second medication called misprostol. The combination of these medications causes the uterus to expel the fetus.
4-7 weeks after LMP- Manual Vacuum Aspiration
Using dilators (metal rods), the cervical muscle is stretched until the opening is wide enough to allow the abortion instruments to pass into the uterus. A hand held syringe is attached to tubing that is inserted into the uterus and the fetus is suctioned out with a powerful suction machine.
6-14 weeks after LMP - Suction Curettage or Dilation and Curettage (D & C)
The cervix is opened using a dilator or laminaria. They insert tubing into the uterus connecting it to a suction machine. A powerful suction pulls the fetus' body apart and out of the uterus. In a D & C, a curette (loop-shaped knife) may be used to scrape the fetal parts out of the uterus.
The information provided above is from the following sources found here.
