RU-486 is a medical abortion that is used very early in pregnancy, no later than nine weeks after your last period.  Your doctor would either give you an oral dose of, or inject you with, Mifepristone.  This drug stops the natural function of your body.  The lining of your uterus softens and breaks down.  Two... Read More about RU-486 »

This drug was invented to fight cancer.  It attacks cells that are growing rapidly and prevents them from multiplying, which kills the embryo.  Methotrexate is usually given as an injection.  About a week later you insert vaginal suppositories of Misoprostol, which cause contractions.  This procedure is used up to seven weeks from the date of... Read More about Methotrexate (MTX) »

For this procedure you lie on your back with your feet in stirrups, and the doctor applies a shot of anesthetic to your cervix to reduce pain.  Your cervical muscle is stretched with cone-shaped rods until the opening is wide enough to allow the abortion tools to pass into your uterus.  Then the doctor guides... Read More about Suction Aspiration »

The doctors opens your cervix, as in a suction procedure, but in this case the abortion is done with a loop-shaped knife which is used to scrape the wall of your uterus, cutting the fetus and placenta into smaller parts-which are pulled out of your body through the cervix.  There is a higher risk of... Read More about Dilation and Curettage »

Because the bones of the fetus are larger and stronger by this time, the doctor uses a medical instrument resembling pliers to pull the fetus into smaller parts and removes those parts from your body through the cervix.  This procedure requires your cervix to be opened wider than with suction or D & C procedures,... Read More about Dilation and Evacuation »

Laminaria (a type of seaweed that expands when moist) is used to dilate the cervix over a two-day period.  On the third day, the membranes are ruptured.  An ultrasound is used to locate the lower extremities.  The doctor then uses large forceps to grasp a leg, and pull it down into the vagina.  After the... Read More about Dilation and Extraction »