A surgical abortion for a pregnancy over 12 weeks is usually done while the woman is sedated, although it can also be performed while the woman is awake. The cervical canal is enlarged (dilated) and a hollow tube is inserted into the uterus.

A vacuum (suction) machine is used to remove the tissues (fetus and placenta) from the uterus. Medicines such as oxytocin are sometimes given to cause the uterine muscles to contract and reduce bleeding.

A medical abortion for a pregnancy less than 7 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period can be safely performed using a combination of medications.  The current regimen approved by the FDA includes administration of one dose of Mifepristone (RU486), an antiprogestin, followed by one dose of Misoprostol, a prostaglandin analogue two days later. These medications may be given in the doctor's office, after a thorough history and physical is performed.

Indications

• Woman's choice to end a pregnancy (elective termination)
• Woman's health is endangered by pregnancy (therapeutic abortion)
• An abnormality in the developing fetus (birth defect, genetic abnormality)

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