Early pregnancy termination i.e. upto 7 weeks of pregnancy (calculated from the last period)
This can be easily done with the use of the abortion pill (RU 486). This method uses a combination of 2 drugs to cause a spontaneous miscarriage. This is a reasonably safe, effective and non surgical method and does not require drug anesthesia or hospitalization.
- 7 weeks since conception
- During this term a baby’s heart is already beating for a whole mont
Suction Curettage is a technique of electively terminating a pregnancy. It involves the removal of the fetus and accompanying tissue of the pregnancy from the uterus with instrumental evacuation through the vagina. Over 90% of induced abortions in the USA are performed by this method. This information and instruction is based on the assumption that you have had, or will have, counseling and competent guidance in making your decision to seek this procedure for termination of the pregnancy.
This is a slightly difficult and risky procedure. It involves hospitalization for 2 – 3 days. A liquid medicine is pushed inside the uterus (womb) through the cervix (mouth of the womb) with the help of a thin tube (catheter).
This medicine begins to work after a few hours and starts causing pains like labour pains. The uterus contracts and expels out the pregnancy just like in a normal delivery. There is no surgery or anesthesia required usually. Rarely, if medical treatment fails, a mini caesarian section (hysterotomy) can be done to remove the pregnancy.
Pregnancy of this duration is usually terminated by using a suction evacuation technique. This can be done under local or general anaesthesia. The mouth of the womb (cervix) is dilated and a tube put inside the womb to suck out the pregnancy. The womb is cleaned out using a curette. This procedure takes about 10 minutes
FAQ
Q.1. I have just discovered that I am pregnant. I’ve only been married 6 months and we are not ready to have a baby for another 2 years. I have been told that there are tablets for abortion available. Are they safe? Please advice.Neetu
Ans: If your pregnancy is less than 7 weeks, and has been confirmed on sonography, you can take the abortion pills under the supervision of your gynaecologist. These work well in most patients though occasionally there can be heavy bleeding or an incomplete abortion. If the pregnancy is more than 7 weeks but within 3 months, a suction evacuation can be done in which a tube is put into the womb and a cleaning is done. This is usually done under anesthesia. You must take proper contraception, so that an unplanned pregnancy does not happen again.
