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Abortion
A surgical abortion ends a pregnancy by surgically removing the contents of the uterus. Different procedures are used for surgical abortion, depending on how many weeks of pregnancy have passed.
Care before and after a surgical abortion includes a physical exam and lab tests, education about what to expect, self-care instructions, symptoms that mean you should call your doctor, and birth control planning.
Surgical methods in the first trimester (5 to 12 weeks)
- Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) or machine vacuum aspiration uses suction through a small tube to empty the uterus of all tissue.
Surgical method in the second trimester
- Dilation and evacuation (D&E) is typically done when an abortion occurs in the second 12 weeks (second trimester) of pregnancy. It usually includes a combination of vacuum aspiration, dilation and curettage (D&C), and the use of surgical instruments (such as forceps) to clear the uterus of fetal and placental tissue.
A D&E is most commonly used during the second trimester because it has a lower complication risk than induction abortion.
Nonsurgical method in the second trimester
- Induction abortion ends a second-trimester pregnancy by using medicines to start (induce) contractions, which expel (push) the fetus from the uterus. If the fetus has severe medical problems, a woman may choose to have an induction abortion.
See the What to Think About section of this topic for a comparison between medical abortion and surgical abortion.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: February 22, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Rebecca H. Allen, MD, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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