Abortion is not just a simple medical procedure. For many women, it is a life changing event with significant physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences. Most women who struggle with past abortions say that they wish they had been told all of the facts about abortion. The following information will help you understand more about abortion procedures, side-effects and risks.

Abortion Procedures
Morning After Pill (MAP): within 72 hours of sexual intercourse
Also known as “Emergency Contraception,” this procedure consists of a pregnancy test and two doses of pills. The woman first must take a pregnancy test and receive a negative test result before taking the pills. If a negative test result occurs from the pregnancy test, then the woman is instructed to take the first dose of the MAP. Note: a negative result indicates that the woman is probably not pregnant from intercourse during her previous monthly cycle, but it will not show whether or not she just became pregnant (from intercourse 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 life is expelled. This is an early abortion.

RU486, Mifepristone: within 4 to 7 weeks after LMP
RU-486 is a chemical abortion.  Also known as the Abortion Pill, this abortion is used for women who are within 28 to 49 days after their last menstrual period. This procedure usually requires three office visits.  Here is how the RU 486 works in your body to induce a chemical abortion:

     1.  At the first doctor visit, you will take three of the RU-486 pills, otherwise known as Mifeprex®.  These pills block the effects of progesterone, altering th blood supply to theh uterus and placenta, and cutting off the supply of blood and nourishment to the developing embryo.

     2.  Two days later, you will return to the doctor to take another drug, misoprostol, also called Cytotec®, either by mouth or by inserting it in your vagina.  (It's reported that some doctors give their patients these pills to take at home, but that's not what the FDA recommends.)  Misoprotstol causes your uterus to contract and expel the embryo.

     3.  A third visit to the doctor confirms that the abortion is complete, but 5-8 percent of women will still require surgical abortions to complete the process, meaning a fourth and maybe a fifth follow-up visit. 

Early Vacuum Aspiration: within 7 weeks after LMP
This surgical abortion is done early in the pregnancy up until 7 weeks after the woman's last menstrual period. The cervical muscle is stretched with dilators (metal rods) until the opening is wide enough to allow the abortion instruments to pass into the uterus. A hand held syringe is attached to tubing that is inserted into the uterus and the fetus is suctioned out.

Suction Curettage: within 6 to 14 weeks after LMP
In this procedure, the doctor opens the cervix with a dilator (a metal rod) or laminaria (thin sticks derived from plants and inserted several hours before the procedure). The doctor inserts tubing into the uterus and connects the tubing to a suction machine. The suction pulls the fetus' body apart and out of the uterus. One variation of this procedure is called Dilation and Curettage (D&C). In this method, the doctor may use a curette, a loop-shaped knife, to scrape the fetal parts out of the uterus.

Dilation and Evacuation (D&E): within 13 to 24 weeks after LMP
This surgical abortion is done during the second trimester of pregnancy. Because the developing fetus doubles in size between the thirteenth and fourteenth weeks of pregnancy, the body of the fetus is too large to be broken up by suction and will not pass through the suction tubing. In this procedure, the cervix must be opened wider than in a first trimester abortion. This is done by inserting laminaria a day or two before the abortion. After opening the cervix, the doctor pulls out the fetal parts with forceps. The fetus' skull is crushed to ease removal.

Dilation and Extraction (D&X): from 20 weeks after 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 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 skull contents. The skull collapses and the baby is removed.

Our services are not intended to be a substitute for professional counseling, medical, or pre-natal care.
THE STPRC DOES NOT OFFER ABORTION SERVICES OR ABORTION REFERRALS.