ABORTION FACT SHEET

WHAT IS ABORTION?

Abortion is a procedure used to terminate a pregnancy. It is one of the most common and safest surgical procedures. Approximately 1.5 million women choose to have abortions each year in the United States. Less than 1% of all abortion patients experience a major complication associated with this surgery.

DETERMINATION OF LENGTH OF PREGNANCY

Before an abortion is performed, it is important to establish that the woman is indeed pregnant and to measure how far along her pregnancy is. Health professionals usually measure a pregnancy in terms of the time that has passed since the woman's last normal menstrual period (abbreviated as LNMP). The patient is given a pregnancy test, then examined by a physician. She may also be examined by ultrasound, a simple use of sound waves (not x-ray) to view the inside of the uterus.

THE SURGERY

The most common method for abortion is vacuum aspiration. This method is safely performed on an outpatient basis in a doctor's office or clinic. Most often a local anesthetic is used to numb the cervix. Some women may choose to be completely sedated through an IV, which will put the patient to sleep for the duration of the surgery.

The physician inserts an instrument into the vagina that will hold the vaginal walls apart, and then begins to gradually dilate, or open, the cervix. This usually takes only a few minutes to complete. The physician then inserts a small tube which is attached to a suction machine. The mild suction of the machine empties the contents of the uterus. Finally, the physician will carefully check the walls of the uterus with a small spoon-shaped instrument, called a curette, to be sure that the abortion is complete.

The surgery usually takes between 5-10 minutes. Some women experience menstrual-like cramping during the procedure. Cramping usually subsides after 10-20 minutes. Some bleeding, similar to a light period, may occur after surgery and is considered normal.

RISKS

Risks associated with abortion include, but are not limited to: blood clots in the uterus, infection, low blood pressure following surgery, and failure to terminate pregnancy. These complications rarely occur, as abortion is considered to be one of the safest surgical procedures.

FOLLOW UP CARE

Following an abortion, the patient stays in a recovery room for 15-30 minutes. Before she leaves the facility, she is given preventative antibiotics and other medication. She is also given instructions for post-operative care, including a 24-hour phone number for her to call in the event of an emergency. About three weeks after surgery, the patient should have a follow-up visit to make sure the abortion was successful.