The following are descriptions of the various types of surgical and chemical abortions procedures performed in the U.S.
RU486, Mifepristone (Abortion pill) - used within 4 to 7 weeks after the last menstrual period. - This chemical abortion procedure usually requires 3 office visits. The RU 486 pills are given to the woman to take after which she returns 2 days later for a second medication called misprostol. The first pills cause the death of the fetus, the second medication causes the uterus to contract and expel the dead baby. Bleeding and cramping are normal. Side effects may include nausea, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, and back pain. One out of 100 women require surgical intervention to stop bleeding. RU 486 has recently been linked to the deaths of 7 women in the U.S. due to infection.
Manual Vacuum Aspiration - used within 7 weeks after last menstrual period. - The cervical muscle is stretched with metal rods (dilators) until the opening into the uterus is wide enough for the abortion instruments to pass through. A hand held syringe is attached to tubing that is inserted into the uterus and the fetus and placenta are suctioned out. Side effects include bleeding, infection, emotional stress.
Suction Curretage - used within 6 to 14 weeks after LMP - this is the most common abortion procedure. The abortionist opens the cervix with dilators and laminaria (thin sticks derived from plants and inserted hours before the procedure to soften the cervix). The abortionist inserts tubing connected to a suction machine. The suction pulls the fetus' body apart and out of the uterus. One variation of the procedure is called Dilation and Curretage. In this method, the abortionist may use a curette, a loop-shaped knife, to scrape the fetal parts out of the uterus. Side effects include hemorrahage, infection, perforation of the uterine wall, cervical tears, effects on later pregnancies, emotional stress.
Dilation and Evacuation (D & E) - used within 13 to 24 weeks after LMP. - Because the developing baby doubles in size between the 11th and the 12th weeks of pregnancy, the body of the fetus is too large to be broken up by suction and will not pass through the suction tubing. In this procedure, the cervix must be opened wider than in a first trimester abortion. After opening the cervix, the abortionist pulls out the fetal parts with forceps. The fetus' skull is crushed to ease removal. Side effects include hemorrahage, infection, cervical tears, perforation of the uterus, effects on later pregnancies, incomplete removal of fetus, and emotional stress.
Dilation and Extraction (D & X) - used from 20 weeks after LMP to full-term.- This procedure takes 3 days. During the first 2 days, the cervix is dilated and medication is given for cramping. On the 3rd day the woman is given medication to start labor. After labor begins, the abortionist uses ultrasound to locate the baby's legs. Grasping a leg with forceps, the abortionist delivers the baby up to the head. Next, scissors are inserted into the base of the baby's skull to create an oepning. A suction catheter is placed into this opening to suction the skull contents. The skull collapses and the baby is removed. Side effects may include hemorrahage, infection, effects on later pregnancies, and severe emotional stress.
(American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists Practice Bulletin #26, Medical Management of Abortion, Apr. 2001), (American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Induce Abortion, 2001), (Warren Hern, Abortion Practice, 1990 Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott C.), (Martin Haskell, M.D., Second Trimester Abortion: From Every Angle, paper presented at the Fall Risk Management Seminar of the National Abortion Federation, Sept. 13-14, Dallas, Tx.)