Abortion

What is abortion?
Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus
or embryo prior to viability.
An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be
purposely induced. The term abortion most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a
human pregnancy.
Types:
Spontaneous abortion
Also known as miscarriage is the unintentional expulsion of an embryo or fetus before the 24
week of gestation.
Defined as the delivery of a nonviable embryo or fetus before the 20
th
week of pregnancy due to
fetal or maternal factors.
Recurrent spontaneous abortion
The occurrence of three or more consecutive losses of clinically recognized pregnancies prior to
the 20
th
week of gestation.
Induced abortion
Most abortions result from unintended pregnancies. A pregnancy can be intentionally aborted
in several ways. The manner selected often depends upon the gestational age of the embryo or
fetus which increases in size as the pregnancy progresses, specific procedures may also be
selected due to legality, regional, availability, and doctor or patient preference.
Reasons for procuring induced abortions are typically characterized as either therapeutic or
elective. An abortion is medically referred to as a therapeutic abortion when it is performed to
save the life of the pregnant woman; prevent harm to the womans physical or mental health.
Methods
Medical
A type of non-surgical abortion in which abortifacient pharmaceutical drugs are used to induce
abortion. An oral preparation for medical abortion is commonly referred to as an abortion pill.
Abortion pill is a medicine that ends an early pregnancy. In general, it can be used up to 63 days after
the first day of a womans last period.
Surgical abortion
Empties the contents of your uterus and usually uses a vacuum to remove the fetus and related
pregnancy material from the uterus.,
Aspiration
Performed during the 1
st
6 to 16 weeks gestation.
The cervix is stretched to allow passage of a hollow suction tube with sharp-edged openings
near its tip into the uterus.
Powerful suction force is then applied, allowing the fetus to be ripped apart then suctioned out
of the uterus into a collection container.
Dilation and Evacuation
Procedure performed after 16 weeks gestation
Laminaria or synthetic dilator is inserted inside your cervix. Tenaculum is used to keep the cervix
and uterus in place and cone-shaped rods to increase the size and continue the dilation process.
Then the cannula is inserted to begin removing tissue away from the lining. If needed, forceps
may be used to remove larger parts.
Dilation and Extraction
This procedure is used after 21weeks gestation.
Laminaria is inserted vaginally to dilate the cervix. Your water should break on the third day and
you should return to the clinic. The fetus is rotated and forceps are used to grasp and pull the
fetus through the birth canal.
Salt poisoning
Used after 16 weeks gestation
A syringe of a concentrated salt solution is injected into the amniotic fluid via a long needle
through the mothers abdomen.
The mothers typically then delivers a dead fetus within one to two days. The fetal skin upon
delivery, having been clinically burned away, usually presents a a glazed red surface.
Prostaglandin or Saline Induction
Used if a pregnancy is between 16 and 24 weeks.
The woman is given prostaglandin by injection and this cause cervical dilation and uterine
cramping which expels the products of conception.
Hysterotomy
Used if pregnancy is more than 16 to 18 weeks.
Removal of the fetus by surgical intervention similar to a cesarean birth may be performed.
The live fetus is first terminated while still in the mothers womb, such as by cutting of the
umbilical cord.
Once the fetus is dead, the fetus is then physically lifted out of the mothers womb and the
abortion is completed.