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The most common abortion procedures and when they occur

There are two ways an abortion can be done. Medical abortion ends a pregnancy through the use of medication. Surgical abortion, sometimes called procedural abortion, ends a pregnancy through a procedure performed by a health-care provider in a clinical setting. Whether a patient gets a surgical or medical abortion comes down to factors including the stage of pregnancy, the patient’s preference and state restrictions, experts said. Both are safe and effective, said obstetrician and gynecologist Nisha Verma, a fellow at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

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 Why We Should Stop Using the Term “Elective Abortion”

In abortion care, the term "elective" is often used as a moral judgment that determines which patients are entitled to care. Secular health care organizations that attempt to avoid controversy by allowing “therapeutic” but not “elective” abortions are using medical terminology to reinforce regressive social norms concerning motherhood and women’s sexuality because what distinguishes pregnant women with medical indications for abortion is that they originally wanted to become mothers or, in cases of rape, that they did not consent to sex.

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A Timeline for Your Abortion Options

If you’ve recently discovered that you are unexpectedly pregnant, you may be considering abortion but unsure about how long you have to make your decision. With so many different restrictions across various states, figuring out how soon and how late you can have the procedure can be confusing.

At-Home Abortion Is Here To Stay, Here's How It Works

These are the treatment options and what you should expect from the process.

How Late In Pregnancy Can You Actually Have an Abortion?

When you can have an abortion varies across states, plus there are medical concerns to keep in mind. Here's what you need to know to make an educated decision.

Options for second-trimester termination

Second-trimester abortion also carries higher financial costs to individuals, medical institutions, and society. Second-trimester abortion remains a necessary procedure despite higher risks and costs compared to first-trimester procedures due to advances in antenatal diagnosis; decreased access to timely, early abortion care; and medical complications of pregnancy in the second trimester.

Some Women ‘Self-Manage’ Abortions as Access Recedes

Information and medications needed to end a pregnancy are increasingly available outside the health care system.

The Abortion Backup Plan No One Is Talking About

Even in states with the strictest abortion laws, pregnant people have a safe, inexpensive option to terminate their pregnancies. But few know about it.

There's a New Website That Teaches People How to Do Abortions

A series of how-to videos shows providers how to do abortions with pills. But they can also help people who want to do it themselves.

What Are the Different Types of Abortion?

Most medical experts agree that abortion — whether medical or surgical — is safe. No more than 2% of people report complications, and most complications that do occur are easily treated with follow-up care.

What’s the Difference Between a Medical and Surgical Abortion?

"Both medical abortion and a surgical abortion are very safe options and have the same risks as with miscarriage management," says Leah Torres, M.D., an ob-gyn in Salt Lake City, Utah, who specializes in reproductive and sexual health. "Some people prefer medical because it is more 'private' and can be done at home. Some people prefer surgical because 'it is over right then and there.' Either way, both of these options should be available in the outpatient setting, just like treatment for a miscarriage is."

Resources

AbortionProcedures.com

Here's what you need to know.

Revolution in abortion care? Perspectives of key informants on the importance of abortion method choice in the era of telemedicine

In conclusion, although medical abortion suits most patients, this study highlights several important arguments for maintaining choice of abortion methods in the era of telemedicine. These include the practicalities of patient needs, inequalities in access to patient-centred care, the potential impacts on patients and providers, and moral concerns that result from denying patient choice.