First Trimester Abortion
Abortion Choices in First Trimester
Abortion Pill (Medical Abortion)
The Abortion Pill involves a series of pills to terminate pregnancy within 10 weeks (70 days) of your last menstrual period a pregnancy and does not require surgery or anesthesia. Click here to read more about the abortion pill
Aspiration (Surgical Abortion)
Aspiration is a surgical abortion procedure to terminate pregnacy up to 13 weeks from your first day of your last menstrual period. Surgical abortion is preformed by a doctor in-clinic. The procedure can also be referred to as suction aspiration, suction curettage, or vacuum aspiration.
The Procedure: A speculum, surgical instrument used to hold open the walls of the vagina, is inserted into the vagina to hold it open. The cervix is dilated either by special dilators called laminaria or by medications taken by mouth or placed in the vagina. Once the cervix is wide enough, an instrument connected to a suction or vacuum is inserted into the uterus to suction out the fetus and placenta.
Side Effects and Potential Risks:
- Cramping, nausea, and sweating
- Heavy/prolonged bleeding
- Blood clots
- Damage to the cervix
- Perforation of the uterus
- Possible signs of infection: fever, pain, or abdominal tenderness could signal an infection caused by an STD or bacteria being introduced to the uterus, or as a result of tissue being left in the uterus after the
abortion. Contact a health provider with any concerns.
Before having a surgical procedure completed you should first have STI testing. Click here to schedule an appointment
Reference:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Induced Abortion,
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/induced-abortion#:~:text=A%20first%2Dtrimester%20abortion%20can%20be%20performed%20with%20surgery%20
https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/915#:~:text=Cut%20or%20torn%20cervix%3A%20The,the%20wall%20of%20the%20uterus
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687