• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Abortion

• Overview
• Recovery
• Risks

Definition:

An abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy by removing the fetus and placenta from the mother's womb.

There are many forms of abortion -- sometimes an abortion occurs on its own (spontaneously), and other times a woman chooses (elects) to end the pregnancy.

See also:

• Elective abortion
• Incomplete abortion
• Infected abortion
• Threatened abortion

Alternative Names:

Suction curettage

Description:

Abortion may be performed using medicines or surgery.

A non-surgical, or medical, abortion can be done within 7 weeks from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period. A combination of prescription hormone medicines are used. The doctor may give you the medicines while you are in the medical office, after performing a physical exam and asking questions about your medical history.

A surgical abortion uses a vacuum to remove the fetus and related material. This is usually done after 6 weeks of pregnancy. Medicine (sedative) may be given to cause sleepiness. The doctor may numb the cervix so you have little pain during the procedure.

If the surgical abortion is done after 12 weeks of pregnancy, the doctor must first open (dilate) the cervical canal. Small sticks called laminaria are placed into the cervix to cause it to open. Sometimes, this is done a day or two before the actual abortion procedure. The doctor will insert a hollow tube into the womb before using the vacuum to remove the tissues (fetus and placenta) from the womb. You may receive medicines to make the uterine muscles contract. This reduces bleeding.

Indications:

There are several reasons an abortion might be considered:

• The woman may not wish to be pregnant (elective abortion)
• The pregnancy is harmful to the woman's health (therapeutic abortion)
• There developing baby has a birth defect or genetic problem

The decision to end a pregnancy is very personal. Most health care providers recommend careful counseling before making such a decision.

Abortion is a controversial issue. A woman who chooses to end a pregnancy may feel she cannot share her decision with others. Therefore, it is important for her to identify those who may help her through what may be a difficult time.

It is also important to choose a reputable health care provider or clinic that advocates choice for women. Women who are trying to make this difficult decision should find a safe place in which they can obtain counseling regarding all options for pregnancy resolution.

If a woman chooses to have an abortion, she should find a safe place to have the procedure performed and obtain the proper support and follow-up care afterwards.

References:

ACOG. Clinical management guidelines of obstetrician-gynecologists. Medical management of abortion. Obstet Gynecol . 2005 Oct;106(4):871-82.

Gabbe SG, Niebyl JR, Simpson JL. Obstetrics - Normal and Problem Pregnancies . 4th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2002:622-644.

Stenchever A. Comprehensive Gynecology . 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001:413-434.

• Review Date: 3/29/2007
• Reviewed By: Melanie N. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.