Abortion

An induced abortion is a medical procedure that uses drugs or surgical instruments to terminate a pregnancy and remove a fetus from a woman’s uterus. Abortions (or miscarriages) can also occur spontaneously, without any medical intervention. For the purposes of this article, we will use the term abortion only in the sense of induced abortions.

You will not find any discussion of the moral implications of abortion in this article. We are not here to take a pro-life or pro-choice stance. You will have to make that decision for yourself. We are simply here to provide you with the facts that you need to make an informed decision.

The vast majority (nearly 90 percent) of abortions performed in the United States occur within the first 12 weeks of gestation (the first trimester). Most of these use the suction-aspiration method, which involves removing fetal tissue from the uterus with a medical vacuum or a manual syringe.

Abortions occurring after the first trimester typically use one of two methods. The first is called dilation and evacuation (D&E). It involves opening the cervix and removing the fetus using medical tools like forceps. The second involves injecting a saline-hormone solution into the uterus that kills the fetus and induces labor. Some women have difficulty finding a doctor who will perform a second-trimester abortion because of the increased risk and controversy.

5 Things You Need to Know

  1. Abortions were made legal in the United States in the landmark Roe v. Wade case of 1973. Today, over 1 million abortions are performed every year in the U.S.
  2. Verifiable international abortion statistics are hard to come by. It’s estimated that over 45 million abortions are performed around the world every year (only 30 million of which are performed legally).
  3. Around 20 percent of Americans who choose to get an abortion are teenagers.
  4. Abortion is a relatively low-risk procedure, but it does carry the potential for serious physical complications. Risks include infection, loss of blood and damage to the uterus. Prior to the 16th week of pregnancy, abortion is safer than childbirth.
  5. Perhaps the most significant risk associated with abortion is related to the mental health of the patient. Some women experience strong feelings of stress, guilt and grief following an abortion. Others experience relief.

3 Questions You Need to Ask Your Doctor

  1. What are the health risks associated with having an abortion?
  2. Will information about my abortion be kept confidential?
  3. What method will be used to perform my abortion?

Also Known As: Induced abortion, artificial abortion, surgical abortion, medical abortion

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