PLEASE NOTE: It is not necessary that you print these attachments for Women's Health Care Services, P.A. However, you may print them for your own records.

Methods of abortion

The method of abortion used is dependant on the gestational age (how far along the pregnancy is) and the pregnant woman’s physical condition. More than 90 percent of all abortions are done in the first trimester (the first 14 weeks after a woman’s last menstrual period).

Early non-surgical abortion
(to 8 weeks LMP, 6 weeks conception)
A drug is given to the pregnant woman which stops the development of the pregnancy. A second drug is administered which helps the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. About 10% of abortions by this method fail and a vacuum aspiration must be performed to remove the embryo.

First trimester abortions by vacuum aspiration
(to 14 weeks LMP, 12 weeks conception)
Local anesthetic (numbing medicine) is injected into or near the cervix. Intravenous medication may be administered to ease discomfort. The opening of the cervix is gradually stretched, and a tube attached to a suction machine is inserted into the uterus. The uterus is emptied by suction. After the suction tube is removed, a curette (a spoon-like instrument) is used to scrape the walls of the uterus to be certain it has been completely emptied of the fetus and other products of conception. The procedure takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

Second trimester abortions by dilatation and evacuation
(15 weeks or more from last menstrual period)
Dilators (small, tapered segments of absorbent material which expand as they become moist and slowly open the cervix) may be put into the cervix for several hours or overnight. Intravenous medication may be given to ease discomfort and prevent infection. A local anesthetic is injected into or near the cervix. If dilators have not been used or expansion is incomplete, the cervix is carefully expanded with a succession of smooth tubes. The fetus and other products of conception are removed from the uterus with instruments and suction curettage. The procedure takes about 10-30 minutes.

Second and third trimester abortions by induction method
(22 weeks or more from last menstrual period)
Prior to inducing labor, the cervix is opened with dilators (see above) over a period of hours or days. Fetal death is accomplished with an injection of medication in the fetus. Drugs are administered which help the uterus to contract and expel the fetus. The time from the beginning of the procedure to delivery varies greatly; at Women’s Health Care Services most women deliver in 1 to 4 hours. Following delivery and removal of the placenta, intravenous medication will continue for a short time to make certain the uterus has contracted and bleeding is controlled. In rare cases where the induction method fails or cannot be used, an extraction procedure (similar to an abortion by D&E) or a hysterotomy is performed to remove the fetus. A hysterotomy is similar to a caesarean section delivery and carries the same risks.

IC Attachment B

Attachment A | Attachment C | Attachment D | Informed Consent Form