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How are the different surgical abortion procedures performed? First Trimester (1-12 weeks) 1. Suction curettage - The physician dilates (opens) the cervix with mechanical dilators or laminaria (a porous substance that is typically inserted a day before the abortion). During the abortion, the doctor attaches tubing to a suction machine and inserts the tubing into the uterus. The suction created by the vacuum pulls the unborn baby's body apart and detaches the placenta from the wall of the uterus, sucking the fetal parts and placenta into a collection bottle.
2. Dilation and Curettage (D&C, or sharpe curettage) - This method is not
as common since it requires more dilation and more time, and is considered
less safe than suction curettage. The cervix is dilated and a curette, or
loop-shaped knife, is inserted into the uterus to pull the unborn baby's
body apart and detach the placenta from the wall of the uterus. All body
parts and membranes are then scraped out of the mothers body. 1. Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) - At this point in pregnancy, the unborn baby's body is too large to be broken up by suction and it will not pass through the tubing. The cervix needs to be dilated more than in a first trimester abortion. This is usually accomplished by inserting laminaria a day or two before the abortion. The physician then dismembers the body parts. The skull is crushed and the spine is broken toe facilitate removal. 2. Saline, Prostaglandin, and Urea Instillation - These methods, more common during the 1970's and 1980's, are rarely used now, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which reported that they accounted for only 0.7% or approximately 11,200 of all reported abortions in 1991.
In a saline abortion, the physician injects a concentrated salt solution
through the mother's abdomen into the amniotic sac surrounding the baby.
The fetus absorbs the solution, which causes burning, hemorrhage, edema,
shock, and eventually death. The saline also causes the uterus to contract
and expel the baby. At about 16 weeks, ultrasound is used to pinpoint the location of the baby's heart. A needle injects a fluid into its heart, causing an immediate heart attack, killing the pre-born baby. Used commonly in "pregnancy reduction" abortions-when multiple babies are present and some are killed to give others better chance of survival, or they are killed because of defects.
Prostaglandin abortions are performed by injecting a protaglandin hormone
into the amniotic sac. The hormone stimulates uterine contractions to
expel the fetus, who has usually died, although a 1978 study showed that
up to 7% of babies aborted with prostaglandins showed signs of life. Second and Third Trimester 1. Dilation and Extraction (D&X) - This technique, does not dismember the fetus; rather, the fetus is delivered intact, without infusions. As described and performed by abortion doctor Martin Haskell, D&X abortions take three days to complete. In the first two days, the woman's cervix is dilated with laminaria in two or more sessions, with medication given for cramping. On the day of the procedure, the laminaria are removed, and the patient is injected with Pitocin to induce contractions. The abortion doctor next determines the fetus' orientation in the uterus through ultrasound and locates the legs. Grasping a leg with large forceps, he pulls the leg into the vagina and delivers the baby up to the baby's head with his hands. Next, the doctor slides his hand up the baby's back and hooks his fingers over the shoulders of the baby. Then a pair of surgical scissors are inserted into the base of the skull to create an opening. Removing the scissors, he inserts a suction catheter into the opening and suctions out the skull contents. Minus its brains, the skull decompresses and is easy to remove. Finally, the abortionist removes the placenta with forceps and scrapes the uterine walls with a suction curette. What are the physical risks of surgical abortions? First Trimester
Second Trimester Infusion Methods
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)
How often do abortion complications and deaths occur? Getting accurate statistics on abortion morbidity (complications) and mortality (death) rates is difficult. The rates are generally accepted as under reported. Reporting on abortions is strictly voluntary in most states. Both the CC and the Alan Guttmacher Institute acknowledge a significant undercount in their statistics on the number of abortions performed. The rate of major complications resulting from abortion is usually reported at around 2%. The risk of complications rises as a pregnancy progresses. In many cases, the physicians may not even know complications occur, as many women do not contact them if they experience problems, and many women fail to return for follow-up appointments. |
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The CDC reports that between 1979 and 1986 almost 5% of maternal deaths were due to abortion (including spontaneous abortions), for a total number of 124. The leading causes of death from abortion during 1979-1986 were hemorrhage from the uterine bleeding, generalized infection, and blood clots in the lungs. However, many abortion-related deaths are not listed as such, but as a complication of childbirth or to some factor caused by the abortion without mentioning the abortion. |
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To further illustrate the problem, Dr. C. Everett Koop, in his 1989 letter to President Ronald Reagan, explained that the lack of scientifically sound studies made it impossible to "provide conclusive data about the health effects of abortion on women," and stated that complications are difficult to quantify. What are newer non-surgical abortion methods? RU486 Mifepristone (RU486), given along wit the hormone prostaglandin, has been used in France and other countries for early abortions, and is now available in the United States. This method is used for women who are between 30-49 days from their last menstrual period.
Procedure: The RU486 pill is given to a woman, who then returns two days
later for the medication, prostaglandin. The combination of these two
medications usually causes the uterus to expel the baby and placenta
within 24 hours. Methotrexate Some medical centers are using this chemotherapy drug along with an ulcer medication (misoprostol) in a similar way to that of RU486. Methotrexate has not been approved for abortion by the Food Drug Administration, but once a drug has been approved for one purpose, it may be used for other purposes as well. Procedure: On the first visit, an injection of the methotrexate is given to stop the fetal cells from growing. During the second visit, misoprostol suppositories are inserted into the vagina to induce contractions and expel the fetus. A third visit is scheduled for a few days later to confirm the expulsion of the fetus. Complications: The major concern with using this medication is that, if the procedure fails, the fetus has been exposed to a medication known to cause fetal abnormalities. It is too soon to tell how poorly or how well it will work. Emergency Contraceptive Pills - Morning After Pill: This can be a type of abortion because the pills may act by preventing implantation of the already fertilized egg. The pills may also prevent ovulation. Procedure: A higher than normal dose of birth control pills is given within 72 hours of intercourse. Complications: Procedure failure, nausea, and vomiting. What are the psychological risks of abortion? Over the years many studies have shown some degree of post-abortion trauma or negative effects. Some studies have demonstrated that these effects extend even to men involved in abortions as well as siblings of the aborted fetus. The research has pinpointed factors that may predict a negative emotional response: prior children, prior abortion(s), low self-esteem, second-trimester abortions, more maternal orientation, religious affiliation and religious conservatism, forced or coerced abortion, lack of relationship support and/or immature interpersonal relationships, pre-abortion ambivalence, genetic rather than elective abortion, prior emotional problems, prior unresolved trauma, lack of support from the one's family of origin, adolescent rather than adult status, and biased pre-abortion counseling. Characteristics of post-abortion stress include: uncontrolled re-experiencing of the abortion; unsuccessful attempts to put away negative memories and pain of the abortion, which reduces the sufferer's responsiveness to other; and experiencing symptoms not present before the abortion. Such symptoms may include the following:
If you had an abortion and can relate to any of these symptoms, most likely you are suffering from Post-Abortion Trauma. Please call NLPC's confidential P.A.C.E. Line, 217-521-8834 if you would like to know more about P.A.C.E., or if you would like to speak with a P.A.C.E. peer counselor who has also experienced an abortion. All inquiries and information are kept strictly confidential.
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