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Early medical abortion can be performed up until the 9th week of pregnancy. It involves the use of two drugs. The first is mifepristone (also known as RU 486) which is taken orally. This is a progesterone antagonist. Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum in early pregnancy and is responsible for maintaining the supporting uterine lining.  

Early medical abortion can be performed up until the 9th week of pregnancy. It involves the use of two drugs. The first is mifepristone (also known as RU 486) which is taken orally. This is a progesterone antagonist. Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum in early pregnancy and is responsible for maintaining the supporting uterine lining.  

Between 36-46 hours after ingestion of mifepristone, prostaglandin vaginal pessaries are given which cause dilation of the neck of the womb. The lining of the womb, along with the pregnancy, are lost through the cervix.  

Between 36–46 hours after ingestion of mifepristone, prostaglandin vaginal pessaries are given which cause dilation of the neck of the womb. The lining of the womb, along with the pregnancy, are lost through the cervix.  

Some medical procedures involve the use of methotrexate, a folate anatagonist.  

Some medical procedures involve the use of methotrexate, a folate anatagonist.  

==Surgical Procedures==

==Surgical Procedures==

 

The type of surgical procedure varies with the gestation of the pregnancy.

The type of surgical procedure varies with the gestation of the pregnancy.

[[Suction aspiration]] is a surgical procedure which can be performed under local or general anesthetic. It most often used in the first trimester of pregnancy (the first three months). Suction aspiration involves dilating the cervix and passing a suction curette (similar to a vacuum hose with an extremely sharp end) into the womb. In order to dilate the cervix, prostaglandin may be used as in early medical abortion described above, though it is more common to use metal dilators. The suction curette is used to remove the pregnancy. The suction and cutting edge dismembers the fetus and the products are extracted by suction.  

[[Suction aspiration]] is a surgical procedure which can be performed under local or general anesthetic. It most often used in the first trimester of pregnancy (the first three months). Suction aspiration involves dilating the cervix and passing a suction curette (similar to a vacuum hose with an extremely sharp end) into the womb. In order to dilate the cervix, prostaglandin may be used as in early medical abortion described above, though it is more common to use metal dilators. The suction curette is used to remove the pregnancy. The suction and cutting edge dismembers the fetus and the products are extracted by suction.  

After the 15th week of pregnancy, [[dilatation and evacuation]] (D&E) is typically performed. A toothed forceps, such as a Sopher forceps, is used to grasp parts of the fetus and twist them off, as well as to crush and extract the skull. Suction is used to remove remaining soft tissues as well as the placenta. After about 20 weeks of pregnancy, the [[abortionist]] will often kill the fetus with a lethal injection on the first day of a multi-day procedure, both to ensure that there is no [[abortion survivors | live birth]] and to allow fetal tissues to soften overnight for easier dismemberment.<ref name="Haskell">Haskell, M.: "Dilation and Extraction for Late Second Trimester Abortion," Presented at the National Abortion Federation Risk Management Seminar, September 13, 1992</ref> Successive changes of [[laminaria]] are used to dilate the cervix to allow for extraction of the fetal parts.

After the 15th week of pregnancy, [[dilatation and evacuation]] (D&E) is typically performed. A toothed forceps, such as a Sopher forceps, is used to grasp parts of the fetus and twist them off, as well as to crush and extract the skull. Suction is used to remove remaining soft tissues as well as the placenta. After about 20 weeks of pregnancy, the [[abortionist]] will often kill the fetus with a lethal injection on the first day of a multi-day procedure, both to ensure that there is no [[abortion survivors|live birth]] and to allow fetal tissues to soften overnight for easier dismemberment.<ref name="Haskell">Haskell, M.: "Dilation and Extraction for Late Second Trimester Abortion," Presented at the National Abortion Federation Risk Management Seminar, September 13, 1992</ref> Successive changes of [[laminaria]] are used to dilate the cervix to allow for extraction of the fetal parts.

==Partial Birth Abortion==

==Partial Birth Abortion==

==Saline Instillation==

==Saline Instillation==

The [[saline abortion]] technique is used in the second and third trimester. Under ultrasound guidance, saline is instilled into the amnion in order to induce premature labour, which occurs 24-28 hours later. Fetacide occurs because the fetus swallows the instilled saline and dies of salt poisoning. The saline solution is also caustic and burns the fetal skin during the process.

The [[saline abortion]] technique is used in the second and third trimester. Under ultrasound guidance, saline is instilled into the amnion in order to induce premature labour, which occurs 24–28 hours later. Fetacide occurs because the fetus swallows the instilled saline and dies of salt poisoning. The saline solution is also caustic and burns the fetal skin during the process.

==Induction Abortion==

==Induction Abortion==

[[Induction abortion | Induction]] procedures are typically used in late abortions, when the fetal tissues are too strong for a dismemberment abortion to be preformed easily or when, due to abortion of a wanted pregnancy for suspected fetal abnormalities, an intact fetus is desired by the mother. A chemical or drug is injected into the fetus or the amniotic fluid on the first day of the procedure. Over successive days, laminaria packs are used to dilate the cervix. On the final day, drugs are administered to trigger labor. The woman then delivers the dead fetus.

[[Induction abortion|Induction]] procedures are typically used in late abortions, when the fetal tissues are too strong for a dismemberment abortion to be preformed easily or when, due to abortion of a wanted pregnancy for suspected fetal abnormalities, an intact fetus is desired by the mother. A chemical or drug is injected into the fetus or the amniotic fluid on the first day of the procedure. Over successive days, laminaria packs are used to dilate the cervix. On the final day, drugs are administered to trigger labor. The woman then delivers the dead fetus.

==Risks of Abortion Procedures==

==Risks of Abortion Procedures==

 

The risks of an abortion procedure include procedure failure, hemorrhage, perforation, damage to the cervix, infections and psychiatric morbidity.  

The risks of an abortion procedure include procedure failure, hemorrhage, perforation, damage to the cervix, infections and psychiatric morbidity.  

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==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/31876.html True Face of an Abortion], [[Kevin Roeten]], ''[[The Conservative Voice]]'', April 25, 2008. Father [[Frank Pavone]] (Priests for Life) has posted two videos to YouTube that explains exactly what happens during an abortion.

*[http://www.theconservativevoice.com/article/31876.html True Face of an Abortion], [[Kevin Roeten]], ''[[The Conservative Voice]]'', April 25, 2008. Father [[Frank Pavone]] (Priests for Life) has posted two videos to YouTube that explains exactly what happens during an abortion.

[[Category:Abortion]]

[[Category:Abortion]]