How is a First Trimester Abortion Performed? (First 3 Months of Pregnancy)
Suction aspiration is commonly used
Most abortions are performed using what is called suction aspiration. The woman needs to be in her first trimester (first three months) of pregnancy, which means 12 weeks pregnant or less.
The cervix opening is widened with rods of increasing size, and a tube is then inserted into the uterus. The foetus and placenta are vacuumed out. The uterus is then scraped with an instrument called a curette to make sure that no products remain behind. This operation takes less than 15 minutes.
If the woman is more than 12 weeks pregnant, she needs to have a mid-trimester abortion.
Better Health Care Channel: Health and medical information for consumers, quality assured by the Victorian government (Australia)
[Accessed 09/08/2009] http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Abortion_procedures.
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