Early Abortion Options

The earlier a woman decides to have an abortion, the more options there will be available to her.

Two options, both non-surgical, are the Abortion Pill and the Aspiration Procedure. Both are natural and safe methods for ending pregnancy. These early options are completed within less than ten weeks of pregnancy.

It is recommended that pregnancies be terminated within the 5th to 10th weeks. Before ten weeks, the pregnancy actually consists of a thickened tissue which lines the uterus (this is similar to tissue development before menstruation) and a gestational sac, which is filled with fluid and approximately the size of a grape. The action of the Abortion Pill blocks the pregnancy hormones causing it to stop developing and induces labor. The Aspiration procedure applies pressure to the menstrual lining which releases it from the uterine wall.

Both the Abortion Pill and the Aspiration Procedure are gentle, natural and the safest methods of early abortion. They are conducted simply and can be offered in a medical office. They have fewer complications than surgical abortion and are equally as effective. The early methods are safer compared to surgical abortions because they do not involve electronic suctioning, scraping of the uterus or general anesthesia.

During the Aspiration Procedure, the physician removes the pregnancy tissue with a quiet, handheld instrument. This procedure is performed on a medical examination table in the same position as having a pap smear. Patients may resume their normal activities immediately following as it takes only three to five minutes. This procedure used to be described as a menstrual extraction.

The Aspiration Procedure has many advantages. It is much safer than surgical abortion because just as with Abortion Pill procedure there is no electronic suctioning, scraping of the uterus and no sedation.

As for a medical abortion, it is completed in the privacy of your home. The first pill is taken with the physician in the medical office. 24-72 hours later, another set of pills are taken at home. The second set of pills will induce bleeding. Cramping may be experienced for several hours. Pain medications may be administered to relieve the discomfort caused by the cramping. A subsequent visit to the doctor is required to make certain the process has been complete.

The non-surgical methods described above have been endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO). In their Technical Guidelines on Safe Abortion, they have stated that medical abortion and aspiration are the preferred methods for first trimester abortions. Both methods are effective, safe and suitable for primary level care which should be available in private clinical settings.

Some health facilities still use the dilation and curettage or sharp curettage method. According to the WHO guidelines, this method should be used only when medication abortion or vacuum aspiration procedures are not available, because of the much higher chance of complications associated with the sharp curettage method.