Types of Abortion:
Medical or Chemical Abortion
Medical abortion... chemical abortion... the Abortion Pill... whatever you may have heard it called, this is the typical form of abortion in the first trimester.
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First, a doctor will prescribe a dose of mifepristone. This medication blocks your body's progesterone. Progesterone is the hormone that allows a pregnancy to develop normally.
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Second, you are given a medication called misoprostol. This will induce cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus, which may continue for several days and may be severe.
Surgical Abortion
There are currently two different types of surgical abortion:
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1. Suction or aspiration abortion... this is the most common type of surgical abortion. It uses suction to remove the fetus from your uterus. This type is typically used before the 14-16th week after your last menstrual period.
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2. Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)... This also uses suction, but requires an additional tool called a curette: a long, looped shaped knife that scrapes the lining, placenta, and baby away from the uterus. D & E is typically performed when it has been more than 16 weeks since your last menstrual period.
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Both types have risks associated with them so it is important to get all the facts before proceeding.
