First Trimester Abortion: Procedure, Types, Risks and Recovery
An abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy is safe and effective. If you’re considering terminating your pregnancy in the first trimester, consult with a gynecologist at Lisa Women’s Clinic. They will suggest the best ways to terminate your pregnancy in the first trimester. Reach out to our team to schedule your appointment today.
What is First Trimester Abortion?
A lot of women decide to undergo an abortion in the first trimester of their pregnancy, the reasons for which can be manifold. A first-trimester abortion is an early-term abortion performed within the initial 12 weeks of the pregnancy. Since the mother is still in the initial stage of her pregnancy, an abortion at this point is considered safe with very little chance of complications. Pregnancy termination at this stage can be done using medication or surgical methods (vacuum aspiration, dilation, & curettage), depending on the exact duration of the pregnancy.
First Trimester Abortion Methods
Medical Abortion
Women seeking an abortion of a first-trimester pregnancy up to 6 weeks are suggested a medical abortion, i.e. an abortion done with the help of medication (abortion pills). In a medical abortion, two pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, are used for a first-trimester abortion.
The two medications suggested for a medical abortion are supposed to be taken for set durations, a few hours apart from each other. Firstly, mifepristone is to be taken, which works by stopping the production of the hormone progesterone required for the pregnancy to continue. Within the next 24 to 48 hours, the woman has to take another pill, misoprostol. Misoprostol induces uterine contractions, leading to the expulsion of the pregnancy.
In the following days, the woman may experience cramping and bleeding as the pregnancy tissue is discharged from the uterus. The pain and bleeding may resemble a heavy menstrual period.
After the tissue is passed, the patient is suggested to see a doctor to confirm the complete expulsion of the pregnancy tissue. This is necessary as an ‘incomplete abortion’ can cause serious complications.
In most cases of early first-trimester abortions, surgery is not required. But, if there’s leftover tissue in the uterus, there may be a need for surgery.
Surgical Abortion
If a woman chooses to get an abortion in the first trimester but after 6 weeks and before 12 weeks, the doctor may suggest a Dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure. This is a surgical abortion procedure that only takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. It’s an outpatient procedure, which means the patient can return home the same day. It is performed in the following steps:
- The doctors use a speculum to dilate the cervix.
- A clamp is then used to hold the cervix and help the doctors perform the procedure with ease.
- Next, a suction or scraping device called a Curette is used to remove the pregnancy tissue.
