Methods of Abortion

Methods of Abortion

Abortion is the name given to the process in which a fetus is

purposely killed due to personal or life threatening reasons. There

are 7 different methods of abortion available around the world. There

is the RU-468, which is a drug, which can be used after the mother

misses her first period. It works by cutting of the baby's supply of

progesterone. Without this hormone the baby cannot get its supply of

food and oxygen. A second drug is given afterwards which makes the

uterus of the mother contract, causing the baby to be expelled.

There is also the Suction-Aspiration method, which works by paralyzing

and stretching the cervical muscle ring. Once that is done a hollow

tube with a knife-like edge is inserted into the uterus and suction is

applied so the babies body is teared into pieces and the placenta is

cut from the uterus wall. Everything that has been sucked out from the

uterus is sucked into a bottle.

Dilation and Curettage is similar to the suction procedure except a

curette is used (a loop shaped steel knife) and is inserted into the

uterus. The baby and placenta are cut into pieces and scraped into a

basin. There is usually heavy bleeding after this method.

Dilation and Evacuation is done after the third month of pregnancy.

Usually Laminaria sticks are inserted into the cervix, as the cervix

must be dilated before the abortion. They are made of sterilized

seaweed, which is compressed into thin sticks. When they are inserted

they expand and enlarge the cervix. An instrument, which looks like a

pair of pliers, is then inserted into the uterus. Parts of the body

are torn off with a twisting motion by the pliers until there is only

the head left. The skull of the head is then crushed and pulled from

the uterus. The nurses must check that all the body parts have been

removed and none have been left in the uterus.

Prostaglandin Abortion involves the hormone prostaglandin, which

induces labor. The trauma of the birth usually kills the baby,