Abortion Procedures
Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA)
This surgical abortion is done early in the pregnancy up until 7 weeks after the woman's last menstrual period (LMP). The cervical muscle is stretched with dilators (metal rods) 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 manually.
Dilation and Suction Curettage (D&C)
This is the most common abortive procedure, performed within 6 to 14 weeks after the woman's LMP. The doctor opens the cervix with a dilator (a metal rod), laminaria (thin sticks derived from plants and inserted hours before the procedure), or combination of the two. The doctor next inserts tubing into the uterus which is connected to a suction machine. When turned on, the machine creates suction powerful enough to pull the fetus' body apart, finally expelling it from the uterus. A sometimes necessary variation of this procedure is called Dilation and Curettage (D&C), a method in which the doctor uses a curette (a loop-shaped knife) to scrape the various parts of the un-evacuated fetus out of the uterus.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
This surgical abortion is performed during the second trimester of pregnancy (13 to 24 weeks after LMP). In that the developing fetus doubles in size between the eleventh and twelfth weeks of pregnancy, the body of the fetus is simply too large to be broken up by suction and pass through the suction tubing. In this procedure, therefore, the cervix must be opened even wider than in a first trimester abortion. This is accomplished by inserting laminaria a day or two before the abortion. After opening the cervix, the doctor uses strong forceps to rip the still-alive fetus into pieces small enough to pass through the uterus. To make removal easier, the fetus' skull is crushed.
Dilation and Extraction (D&X)
Also known as partial-birth abortion, this procedure takes three days to complete and is performed from 20 weeks after LMP up to full-term of the pregnancy. During the first two days, the cervix is dilated and medication is given for cramping. On the third day, the woman receives medication to start the process of labor. Once labor begins, the abortion doctor uses ultrasound technology to locate the exact position of the baby's legs. Using strong forceps, he next grasps one of the baby's legs and begins to deliver it, feet first, until only the baby's head remains inside the mother. Next, scissors are inserted into the base of the baby's skull and an opening wide enough to fit suction tubing into is cut. A suction catheter is then placed into the head of the baby through the opening and the brain and other contents of the skull are sucked out. This has the effect of collapsing the skull so that the now dead baby may be removed.
RU486, Mifepristone
Otherwise known as the "abortion pill," this medically-induced abortion is used for women who are within 30-49 days of their LMP. A procedure which usually requires three office visits, the RU486 or mifepristone pills are given to the woman who returns two days later for a second medication called misprostol. In short, the combination of these medications causes the uterus to expel the fetus.