Abortion Services ~ Surgical
A surgical abortion is a relatively simple medical procedure. It generally takes from 3 to 20 minutes. The type of surgical procedure you will have depends on how many weeks you have been pregnant, counted from the first day of your last menstrual period. We perform an ultrasound during your first visit to measure the gestational age of your pregnancy.
- Up to 12 Weeks (first trimester)
- After 12 Weeks (second trimester)
- After the Abortion
- Emotional Reactions
Up to 12 Weeks (first trimester)
Preterm's physicians perform first trimester abortions (4 through 12 weeks) using silent vacuum aspiration to minimize any stress and discomfort.
You will be asked to undress from the waist down shortly before the procedure. The doctor begins by inserting a speculum into your vagina, and then opens it to hold the vaginal walls apart. Your cervix is anesthetized with a local anesthetic.
The doctor will then gently dilate your cervix, the opening to your uterus, by inserting and removing narrow, tapered rods, called dilators, beginning with one that is very small and gradually increasing the size. How far your cervix will need to be dilated depends on how many weeks pregnant you are. At 9 weeks, it would be about 9 millimeters (a third of an inch).
When the dilation is complete, the doctor attaches a small tube, called a cannula, to the suction machine and inserts the cannula into the opening of the cervix. The suction gently empties the contents of the uterus.
Some discomfort or menstrual/early labor type pain usually accompanies the procedure. We can help you manage the discomfort with calming and focusing techniques, but everyone responds to pain differently. You can choose from several pain relief options to help you be more comfortable.
After 12 Weeks (second trimester)
Our physicians perform second trimester abortions (13 through 22 weeks) using the safe and gentle dilation and evacuation (D&E) method. For patients more than 16 weeks, this generally requires two days for the procedure to be completed.
The doctor will tailor your care to insure the safest and gentlest procedure for you, depending on your medical history and how far you are in your pregnancy. Your patient advocate will go over the details with you, and we encourage you to ask any questions about what will happen during your abortion.
As with a first trimester abortion, the doctor will begin by inserting a speculum to hold open your vagina and will anesthetize your cervix, the opening to the uterus. Then the doctor will slowly dilate your cervix.
To aid dilation, you may have a pre-operative dose of misoprostol, an oral medication to soften your cervix, or the doctor may use laminaria (or “lams”), which are small rods that, when inserted into the cervix, slowly absorb water from the body and expand like a rigid sponge.
Once your cervix is dilated, the doctor uses suction to empty the contents of the uterus.
Conscious sedation or anesthesia are required for some second trimester abortions.
