Advertisement

Abortion Health Channel

Feature Article

Illustrations for this article

Click on an image below to enlarge

Abortion procedure

Abortion

Definition

An abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy by removing the fetus and placenta from the mother's womb.

There are many forms of abortion -- sometimes an abortion occurs on its own (spontaneously), and other times a woman chooses (elects) to end the pregnancy.

See also:

Alternative Names

Suction curettage

Description

Abortion may be performed using medicines or surgery.

A non-surgical, or medical, abortion can be done within 7 weeks from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period. A combination of prescription hormone medicines are used. The doctor may give you the medicines while you are in the medical office, after performing a physical exam and asking questions about your medical history.

A surgical abortion uses a vacuum to remove the fetus and related material. This is usually done after 6 weeks of pregnancy. Medicine (sedative) may be given to cause sleepiness. The doctor may numb the cervix so you have little pain during the procedure.

If the surgical abortion is done after 12 weeks of pregnancy, the doctor must first open (dilate) the cervical canal. Small sticks called laminaria are placed into the cervix to cause it to open. Sometimes, this is done a day or two before the actual abortion procedure. The doctor will insert a hollow tube into the womb before using the vacuum to remove the tissues (fetus and placenta) from the womb. You may receive medicines to make the uterine muscles contract.

Continue reading this article

More Articles

Abortion - elective or therapeutic (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Elective or therapeutic abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy. Reviewer: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 09/19/2006
Email  |  Save

Abortion - complete (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A complete abortion is an abortion (induced or spontaneous) in which the entire fetus and placenta have passed out of the uterus before the 20th week of pregnancy. See also: Miscarriage Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/17/2007
Email  |  Save

Abortion - incomplete (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
In an incomplete abortion, parts of the fetus or placental material stay inside the uterus. See also: Complete abortion; Infected abortion; Miscarriage. Reviewer: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/08/2006
Email  |  Save

Miscarriage (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. (Pregnancy losses after the 20th week are called preterm deliveries) A miscarriage may also be called a "spontaneous abortion." This refers to naturally occurring events, not elective or therapeutic abortion procedures, which a woman may choose to have done. Other terms for the early loss of pregnancy include: Missed abortion (a loss of pregnancy where the products of conception do not exit the body; Incomplete abortion (not all of the products of conception exit the body; Complete abortion (all of the products of conception exit the body; Threatened abortion (symptoms indicate a miscarriage is possible; Inevitable abortion (the symptoms cannot be stopped, and a miscarriage will happen; Infected abortion. Reviewer: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 09/19/2006
Email  |  Save

Inevitable abortion (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Inevitable abortion is a spontaneous abortion which cannot be stopped. See also: Threatened abortion; Incomplete abortion; Infected abortion. Reviewer: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/08/2006
Email  |  Save

Abortion - threatened (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A threatened abortion is a condition that suggests a miscarriage might take place before the 20th week of pregnancy. Reviewer: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/17/2007
Email  |  Save

Abortion - infected (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
An infected abortion occurs when an infection develops in the material from the fetus or placenta or the lining of the uterus (endometrium. See also: Incomplete abortion; Inevitable abortion. Reviewer: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/08/2006
Email  |  Save

Use Healthline to search the web for more Abortion information.

Health Videos

Psychological Issues of the Abortion Pill
With the recent FDA approval of Mifepristone--the "abortion pill"--a new alternative is available to women with unwanted pregnancy. Abortion is always emot...
Email  | Save

Play Videoplay video read transcript

Health Experts, Healthline's Network of Health Experts

Abortion: When Denial is Not the Best Choice. in Teen Health 411 - 153 days ago
If a medical or surgical abortion. A medical abortion is done with medicine ( mifepristone. A surgical or aspiration abortion is usually done between six a... Email  |  Save
Implications of a "Negative" Blood Type. in Fruit of the Womb - 1 year 292 days ago
So what you are saying if the father has say A- blood type and the mother has a postive blood type there wont be no need for the shot.Its only givin if the... Email  |  Save
Two First Trimester Miscarriages. in Fruit of the Womb - 1 year 113 days ago
then this year on 07/2008 I had another miscarriage I was about 6wks and now I dont know if it was because of my abortion that Iam having miscarriages beca... Email  |  Save

Current News

Macon educator, philanthropist William A. Lane dead at 82
The Macon Telegraph | 1 hour ago
... Lane proposed adding 10 moral principles to the task force's report, covering topics such as birth control, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases. Lane decided to step down as president in early 1983, saying "new blood" was needed for the board ...

RE: Should lawmakers raise Florida's cigarette tax?
The Ledger | 6 hours ago
... ng cancer, chronic bronchitis and emphysema? It would be interesting to see. Ever notice that EVERYONE who supports abortion has ALREADY been born?? Please Wait. Your request is being processed...

Press Release: Model Resolution Opposing FOCA - Obama's plan for unlimited abortion
Free Republic | 6 hours ago
... President & CEO said, 'The so-called 'Freedom of Choice Act' endangers women's health. It protects and promotes the abortion industry, sacrifices the health of women to a radical political ideology, and silences the voices of everyday Americans who ...

Show all News

Create News Alert