Used for women five to nine weeks pregnant, an RU 486 induced abortion can take days, weeks, or never happen at all. It typically involves three (or more) visits to the abortionist’s office over a two week period. In her first visit, a woman is given a physical examination, if there are no obvious contraindications (common red flags such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heavy smoking, allergies, etc. that could make taking the drug deadly or dangerous for her), she is given the RU 486 pills, which she takes in the presence of the abortionist. The chemicals in RU 486 block the action of progesterone – the natural hormone vital to maintaining the rich nutrient lining of the uterus. As a result, the tiny developing baby literally starves to death as the nutrient lining of the womb sloughs off. Two days later, during a second visit to the abortionist, the woman is given prostaglandin, which she takes orally or has inserted vaginally. Gradually, as the drug begins to take effect, she experiences powerful, painful uterine contractions which begin to work to expel the dead baby. In U.S. trials, about half (49%) aborted during the four hours they spent waiting in the doctor's office following the administration of the prostaglandin. An additional 26% aborted sometime over the next 20 hours; on the bus ride home, at work, in the shower, etc. The rest who aborted did so at some point during the following two weeks. Between 8% and 23% (depending on how many weeks pregnant the mother was) never completely aborted or didn't abort at all using the drugs. A third visit some 14 days from the woman's initial visit allows the doctor to confirm whether or not the abortion has been completed. If it hasn't, the abortionist will encourage the woman to undergo a surgical abortion to guard against the possibility that she will give birth to a child who may have been injured by the drugs. Possible side effects and risks of an RU 486 Abortion - Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, headache
- Severe cramping
- Incomplete abortion requiring an additional operation.
- Infection
- Heart palpitations
- Hemorrhage (heavy bleeding)
- Uterine perforation
- Allergic reaction to the medicines.
- Rupture of tubal pregnancy
- Emergency treatment for any of the above problems, including possible need to treat with an operation, medicines, or a blood transfusion.
- Psychological trauma from seeing the baby’s body
- Inability to get pregnant due to infection or complication of an operation.
- Rarely, death.
Suction aspiration is a surgical abortion procedure performed before 12 weeks gestation. It is also referred to as suction curettage or vacuum aspiration. A local anesthetic is administered to the cervix. A long tube is inserted through the cervix into the uterus and connected to a strong suction apparatus. The embryo or fetus and the placenta are torn to pieces and sucked out into a jar. Although the baby is extremely small, body parts are often easily identified. Possible side effects and risks of Suction Aspiration - Cramping of the uterus or pelvic pain.
- A hole in the uterus (uterine perforation) or other damage to the uterus.
- Injury to the bowel or the bladder.
- A cut or torn cervix (cervical laceration).
- Incomplete removal of the unborn child, placenta, or contents of the uterus requiring an operation.
- Infection.
- Inability to get pregnant due to infection or complication from an operation.
- Hemorrhage (heavy bleeding).
- Emergency treatment for any of the above problems, including possible need to treat with an operation, medicines, or a blood transfusion.
- Rarely, death.
D&C (or sharp curettage) abortions are usually done during the first 12-15 weeks gestation. In a D&C a tiny yet long, looped shaped knife - called a curette - is inserted into the womb. The abortionist uses the curette to scrape the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterine wall. Body parts are then pulled out piece by piece through the cervix. Possible side effects and risks of D&C Abortion - Cramping of the uterus or pelvic pain.
- A hole in the uterus (uterine perforation) or other damage to the uterus.
- Injury to the bowel or the bladder.
- A cut or torn cervix (cervical laceration).
- Incomplete removal of the unborn child, placenta, or contents of the uterus requiring an additional operation.
- Infection.
- Complications from anesthesia such as respiratory problems, nausea and vomiting, headaches, or drug reactions.
- Inability to get pregnant due to infection or complication from an operation.
- A possible hysterectomy as a result of complication or injury during the procedure.
- Hemorrhage (heavy bleeding).
- Emergency treatment for any of the above problems, including possible need to treat with an operation, medicines, or a blood transfusion.
- Rarely, death.
Used to abort unborn children as old as 24 weeks, this method is similar to the D&C. The difference is that forceps with sharp metal jaws are used to grasp parts of the developing baby, which are then twisted and torn away. This continues until the child’s entire body is removed from the womb. Because the baby’s skull has often hardened to bone by this time, the skull must sometimes be compressed or crushed to facilitate removal. Possible side effects and risks of D&E Abortion (Dilation & Evacuation) - A hole in the uterus (uterine perforation) or other damage to the uterus.
- Injury to the bowel or bladder.
- A cut or torn cervix (cervical laceration).
- Incomplete removal of the unborn child, placenta, or contents of the uterus requiring an additional operation.
- Infection.
- Complications from anesthesia, such as respiratory problems, nausea and vomiting, headaches, or drug reactions.
- Inability to get pregnant due to infection or complication from an operation.
- A possible hysterectomy as a result of complication or injury during the procedure.
- Hemorrhage (heavy bleeding).
- Emergency treatment for any of the above problems, including the possible need to treat with an operation, medicines, or a blood transfusion.
- Rarely, death.
D&E Procedure Diagram
This drug causes a woman to go into labor at any stage of pregnancy. Itis generally used in middle to late pregnancy to induce abortion. The potent hormone-like drug, prostaglandin, is injected into the amniotic sac. It produces labor and premature birth. The process may take from several hours to several days. The unborn baby, in some cases, is born alive and placed aside to die. In order to avoid what abortionists describe as “The Dreaded Complication” of a live birth, abortionists now customarily kill the child first before evacuating the baby. Abortionists use ultrasound to guide an injection of lethal potassium chloride into an unborn baby's heart. Other abortionists use an injection of digoxin to cause fetal cardiac arrest. Sometimes salt is injected first, to kill the baby before birth and make the procedure less distressful for the mother. This method results in a very painful abortion for the mother. Prostaglandins are accompanied by serious problems of their own, including potentially lethal side effects.
Possible side effects and risks of a labor induction abortion: - Nausea or vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Fever.
- Infection.
- Complications from anesthesia such as respiratory problems, nausea and vomiting, headaches, or drug reactions.
- Inability to get pregnant due to infection or complication from an operation.
- A possible hysterectomy as a result of complication or injury during the procedure.
- Damage or rupture of the uterus (womb).
- The possibility of a live-born baby.
- Incomplete removal of the unborn child, placenta, or contents of the uterus requiring an operation.
- Hemorrhage (heavy bleeding).
- Water intoxication.
- Emergency treatment for any of the above problems, including the possible need to treat with an operation, medicines, or a blood transfusion.
- Rarely, death.
Similar to the Caesarean Section, this method is generally used if chemical methods such as salt poisoning or prostaglandins fail. Incisions are made in the abdomen and uterus and the baby, placenta, and amniotic sac are removed. Babies are sometimes born alive during this procedure, raising questions as to how and when these infants are killed and by whom. This is a major surgery with inherent difficulties, possible complications, and a potentially painful recovery. Possible side effects and risks of Hysterotomy Abortion - Injury to the bowel, bladder or other organs.
- A cut or torn cervix (cervical laceration).
- Infection
- Complications from anesthesia such as respiratory problems, nausea and vomiting, headaches, or drug reactions.
- Inability to get pregnant due to infection or complication from an operation.
- Scar tissue
- Hemorrhage (heavy bleeding).
- Emergency treatment for any of the above problems, including the possible need to treat with an operation, medicines, or a blood transfusion.
- Rarely, death.
This method of abortion (also known as a Partial Birth Abortion) was publicly unveiled in 1992 and is used to kill babies from 20 weeks through full term. Because the opening of the woman’s cervix must be greatly enlarged, the abortion requires three days with repeated visits for insertion of laminaria. These are pencil-shaped or tapered devices which are inserted into the cervix and gradually dilate the cervix by increasing in diameter as the laminaria absorbs water. Three days later the abortion is performed. The abortionist ruptures the membranes and drains the amniotic fluid. Using an ultrasound on the mother’s abdomen, the baby is identified and orientated within the uterus. Having turned the unborn baby inside the uterus so that he or she is feet first and face down toward the floor, the abortionist inserts forceps into the cervical canal and into the uterus and grasps one of the baby’s legs. The other leg with the remainder of the torso up to the baby’s neck is then pulled outside of the uterus. The head is usually too large to deliver, so a blunt scissors is inserted into the base of the living baby’s skull and spread apart to enlarge the hole. The scissors are removed and a suction tube is inserted into the skull and the brains are suctioned out. This kills the baby, collapses the head, and the child is removed. Then the afterbirth is cut away. To put the size of the unborn baby at 20 weeks of development into perspective, the majority of D&X aborted babies weigh about a pound, are approximately 8 inches in length (measuring from the top of the head to the bottom of the rump), and are fully formed, with feet roughly 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches in length. Babies born at this stage of development (19 or 20 weeks) have survived.
Possible side effects and risks of D&X Abortion - A hole in the uterus (uterine perforation) or other damage to the uterus.
- Injury to the bowel or bladder.
- A cut or torn cervix (cervical laceration).
- Incomplete removal of the unborn child, placenta, or contents of the uterus, requiring an additional operation.
- Infection.
- Complications from anesthesia such as respiratory problems, nausea and vomiting, headaches, or drug reactions.
- Inability to get pregnant due to infection or complication from an operation.
- A possible hysterectomy as a result of complication or injury during the procedure.
- Hemorrhage (heavy bleeding).
- Emergency treatment for any of the above problems, including the possible need to treat with an operation, medicines, or a blood transfusion.
- Rarely, death.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON ABORTION METHODS Alcorn, Randy, ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments, Multnomah Press, Portland OR, 1994.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR, 05/95, p. 29, Table 3.
Guttmacher, Alan, Family Planning Perspectives, May/June 1994, Vol. 26, p. 101.
National Right to Life Committee, Choose Life, “Pro-Life Leaders Protest New Abortion Drug Duo”, September-October, 1995.
Seachrist, Lisa, Science News of the Week, V. 148, n11, p. 165, “Drugs May Provide Abortion Alternative”, 09/09/95.
Texas Department of Health, “A Woman’s Right to Know”, 2003
The Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, (1973).
Willke, J.C., M.D. and Mrs., Abortion Questions and Answers, Hayes Publishing Co., Cincinnati, OH, 1990.
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