Abortion - elective or therapeutic

Alternative names:

elective abortion; therapeutic abortion

Treatment:

Most therapeutic abortions take place between 8 and 12 weeks of gestation. The procedure consists of dilating the cervix and removing the contents of the uterus by scraping (curettage) and suctioning the inner walls of the uterus.

Expectations (prognosis):

Legally performed abortions are relatively safe. Complications rarely occur. A first trimester legal abortion is physically safer for a woman than actually giving birth.

Complications:

Excessive loss of blood and/or infection are the most frequent complications. These complications are rare when the procedure is performed legally by a competent provider in an adequate facility. Teenagers may not be aware that they are pregnant until the second trimester and could increase the danger to their own lives with second trimester abortions.

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if an unplanned pregnancy occurs and information is desired about the choice of elective abortion.

Call your health care provider if an elective/therapeutic abortion has been performed and vaginal bleeding continues beyond what was predicted. (Excessive bleeding can cause shock.)

Call your health care provider if signs of infection develop, including persistent fever, foul odor to vaginal drainage, vaginal drainage that looks like pus, or abdominal pain or tenderness.