What Abortion Procedures Are Used During The First Trimester?
In most cases, you will have a choice between medical or surgical abortion procedures during the first trimester. Medical abortions are available up through ten weeks gestation.
The types of abortion procedures performed during the first trimester are:
Methotrexate & Misoprostol (MTX):
A medical abortion procedure used up to the first seven weeks of pregnancy. This medication combination is not as commonly used in the U.S. with the availability of mifepristone, which works more effectively for this use.
Mifepristone and Misoprostol (RU-486):
A medical abortion procedure used up to the first seven to ten weeks of pregnancy. It can also be referred to as RU-486, the abortion pill, and mifeprex. This procedure consists of an oral pill regime.
- Day 1: swallow misferpristine pills. (Abortion Pill Reversal Info).
- Day 2 or 3: take misoprostol.
- Day 7 to 14: follow up with provider.
Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA):
A procedure used as early as 3 -12 weeks since the last period. A local anesthesia is typically used on the cervix.
Aspiration:
A surgical abortion procedure used to terminate pregnancy up to 16 weeks from the last period. It can also be referred to as suction curettage, dilation and curettage (D & C) or vacuum aspiration.
What Abortion Procedures Are Used During The Second Trimester?
Medication-based abortion procedures are not an option during the second trimester. The types of abortion procedures performed during the second trimester are:
Dilation & Curettage (D & C):
A surgical abortion procedure used to terminate a pregnancy up to 16 weeks gestation. It is also referred to as suction curettage or vacuum aspiration.
Dilation & Evacuation (D & E):
A surgical abortion procedure used to terminate a pregnancy after 16 weeks gestation.
Induction Abortion:
A rarely performed surgical procedure where saltwater, urea, or potassium chloride is injected into the amniotic sac; prostaglandins are inserted into the vagina, and pitocin is injected intravenously.
What Abortion Procedures Are Used During The Third Trimester?
The availability of any procedure used in the third trimester is based on the laws of your state. The procedures that can be done in the third trimester include:
Induction Abortion:
A rarely done surgical procedure where saltwater, urea, or potassium chloride is injected into the amniotic sac; prostaglandins are inserted into the vagina and pitocin is injected intravenously.
Dilation and Extraction:
A surgical abortion procedure used to terminate a pregnancy after 21 weeks of gestation. This procedure is also known as D & X, Intact D & X, Intrauterine Cranial Decompression and Partial Birth Abortion.
The information above regarding the abortion procedures was taken from AmericanPregnancy.org.
