Fetal Development: Trimster 1

Abortion Methods: Trimester 1

--Medical Methods

Methods of Abortion Introduction

Home

Due to the size of the embryo and placental tissues at this stage in pregnancy, surgical abortion in the first trimester is fairly quick and uncomplicated.

Vacuum Aspiration and Curettage

The main method of early surgical abortion is vacuum aspiration, which can be accomplished using a handheld syringe (manual vacuum aspiration) or an electric pump (electric vacuum aspiration).(6) "In 1994, 97% of abortions were performed by vacuum aspiration (suction curettage)."(5) This method is a safe and simple way of emptying the contents of the uterus with minimal cervical dilation.(5) If necessary, the cervix can be dilated with a hydrophilic dilator such as Laminaria or Dilapan or mechanical dilation can be accomplished with Pratt-type dilators. A uterine aspiration cannula of appropriate size is then inserted into the uterus, and the contents are vacuumed out either manually or with an electric pump. Once the uterus appears to be empty, systematic curettage, or light scraping of the inner walls of the uterus, is performed to assess the completeness of the vacuum evacuation.(5)