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Learn About the Procedures
You have the right to be empowered with complete information about any medical procedure that may be performed on your body. There are two types of abortions performed in the United States, chemical and surgical. Please look below for an explanation.
Chemical Abortion Procedures:
Morning After Pill (MAP): Within 72 hours of sexual intercourse
RU 486: (Abortion Pill): Within 4-7 weeks after last monthly period (LMP)
Surgical Abortion Procedures:
Suction Curettage: Within 6-14 weeks after last monthly period (LMP)
Dilatation and Evacuation: Within 13-22 weeks after last monthly period (LMP )
Dilatation and Extraction: From 22 weeks after last monthly period (LMP) to full-term
Morning After Pill : Within 72 hours of sexual intercourse
Also known as “Emergency Contraception,” this procedure consists a of pregnancy test and two doses of pills. The woman must first have a negative pregnancy test result before taking the pills. If the pregnancy test is negative, then the woman is instructed to take the first dose of the Morning after Pill. Note: a negative result indicates that the woman is probably not pregnant from intercourse during her previous monthly cycle. It will not show whether or not she just became pregnant from the “night before.” She is instructed to take this first dose as soon as possible, but not more than 72 hours after intercourse. The woman takes a second dose 12 hours after the first dose. If conception already occurred within the 72 hour time frame (that is, the “night before”), the pregnancy is expelled. This is an early abortion.
Side effects may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache,
and changes in menstrual bleeding. MAP is available by prescription only. Some
providers will require an office visit before the prescription is written. For
more information on long term effects, please click
here. (consider other risks)
RU486 (Brand name: Mifeprex): Within 49 days after last monthly period (LMP)
This procedure usually requires 3 doctor visits. At the first visit the patient is given a pelvic exam, blood test, and sometimes an ultrasound exam to determine the developmental stage of the baby ( although the ultrasound is not required by the FDA). Three pills of Mifepristone are given to the patient. Please note that in some cases, doctors use the drug Methotrexate on the first visit instead of Mifepristone. This drug is given in the form of an injection (shot) instead of by mouth. About half of the women who take this drug begin to bleed about 2 days later. This means the abortion has begun to take place. On the second visit, the patient is given another drug called Misoprostol ( either by mouth or by a suppository which is inserted into the vagina. Contractions usually begin within one to four hours. The contractions cause the baby, extra tissue and blood to be discharged from the vagina. The third visit takes place about twelve days later. At this time the doctor examines the patient to be sure that the abortion is complete, there are no problems (such as infection), and that the patient is no longer pregnant. It is extremely important that the patient have this third exam. Her future reproductive health (ability to have children) is at risk if all the tissue is not expelled. Heavy bleeding is expected at times, followed by severe abdominal cramps. Generally, cramping will be milder after the baby is expelled. This may take place at any time during or after the second dose of medicine.
Other side effects may include nausea/vomiting, headache, dizziness, weakness,
abdominal/pelvic pain, and fainting. If you have heavy bleeding, such as soaking
2 or more maxi pads per hour for 2 hours in a row, or fever of 100.4 or higher,
you need to call your doctor immediately. For more information about long term
effects, please click here. (consider
other risks)
Suction Curettage: Within 6-14 weeks after LMP
In the state of North Carolina for the year 2002, 46.1% of abortions were performed using this method. It is typically used for pregnancies that are less than 12 weeks along. In this procedure, the doctor opens the cervix with a dilator (a metal rod) or laminaria (thin sticks derived from seaweed and inserted several hours before the procedure). A tube is inserted into the uterus and is connected to a suction machine. The suction removes the fetus’ ( baby) from the uterus. The doctor may also use a curette, a loop-shaped metal instrument, to scrape any remaining tissue from the uterus.
Possible physical side effects include abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting,
heavy bleeding. Complications may include perforation (tearing) of the uterus,
formation of scar tissue on the uterine lining (which could make it difficult
to become pregnant in later years), infection, damage to internal organs, and
in rare cases, death. The risk of complications is found in about 1 out of every
100 early abortions. Please click here
for information on long term emotional risks.
Dilation and Evacuation (D & E): Within 13-22 weeks after last monthly period ( LMP)
This surgical abortion is done during the second trimester of pregnancy. The cervix must be opened wider than in the first trimester, because the fetus (baby) doubles in size between the 13th and 14th weeks of pregnancy. This is done by progressively larger metal rods or by laminaria. The body of the fetus is then removed through the suction tubing. The doctor my also use a curette (loop shaped metal instrument) to be sure all body parts, uterine lining, and placenta have been removed.
Possible side effects include abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting and heavy bleeding. Complications may include perforation (tearing) of the uterus, formation of scar tissue on the uterine lining (which could make it difficult to become pregnant in later years), infection, damage to internal organs and in rare cases, death.
The risk of complications is found in about 1 in every 50 of these later term
abortions. Please click here for information
on long term emotional risks.
Dilation and Extraction (D & X): from 23 weeks after last monthly period
(LMP) to full term Also known as partial birth abortion, this procedure
takes three days. 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
labor. After labor begins, the abortion doctor uses ultrasound to locate the
fetus’ ( baby’s) legs. Grasping a leg with forceps, the doctor delivers the
baby up to the baby’s head. Next, scissors are inserted into the base of the
skull to create an opening. A suction catheter is placed into the opening to
remove the contents of the skull. The baby is then removed. All of the possible
side effects and complications described in the suction curettage and D & E
abortions also apply to this late term abortion. Late term abortions carry a
greater risk for long term emotional trauma than possibly any other type of
abortion. Please click here for more information.
(consider other risks).
For 24 hour help click here
Call Now:
252.757.0003 or 252.946.8040
(Greenville, NC) (Washington,NC)
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